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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: gunwharfman on 14:56:21, 17/05/20

Title: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 14:56:21, 17/05/20
The one hiking area of my body which I'm always thinking about is my torso and how to keep warm and cool no matter what the weather or what time of the day or night it is. I know the subject has been done many times but it still interests me a lot. I am always thinking about how to lighten my carry weight as well so for me the two subjects are linked.

I am confident that I want to wear and do wear certain items of clothing, a base layer and a waterproof outer layer (if it's wet) and a thin windcheater (if it's dry) for me is a must, its what goes in between the two that is always of interest to me.

I now have two Columbia hiking shirts which I plan to use over my baselayers, so working on the principle that my shirts is the inner garment and the waterproof or the windcheater is the outer garment then what is best to go in between? I have worn a full zipped fleece or my lightweight Alpkit synthetic full zipped warm jacket and I prefer the Alpkit jacket, it handles perspiration better in my view than my fleece. I've often thought of buying a gilet as well?

I would like to find a way of layering so that no matter what time of the year I can put things on and take things off at will to suit the weather conditions at the time and keep my rucksack weight as low as possible as well. It may be easy to some but I've never felt that I've really cracked it in the way that I would like to.



Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: ninthace on 15:34:36, 17/05/20
When i saw the thread title I thought it might be about the use of gingham or taffeta to make hiking clothes more appealing.
Being primarily a day walker these days, I tend to look at the weather forecast and the route and select my wardrobe accordingly.  As the day warms up, my pack may get a bit heavier if I take a layer right off as opposed to just undoing the zips.  If it rains hard, my pack may get a bit lighter.
In summer my base layer is usually a safari shirt with a light fleece outer layer and the option of a lightweight fleece jumper.  I always have a wind/waterproof rolled up in my pack to keep the draught out if I have miscalculated.  In colder weather, I substitute the shirt with a proper base layer, still with the lightweight sweater and perhaps a thicker fleece.
I avoid wearing a jacket if I can, but I will usually have one in my pack unless I am totally sure of the weather.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: Apache on 16:35:31, 17/05/20
Nothing revolutionary I'm afraid.


Base layer as a minimum is Montane Primino 140 long sleeve. The 220 is just too thick for Summer. Long sleeves to wick sweat and protect from the sun.


Outer shell for both protection from the wind and rain is a Marmot Precip. Simple and lightish.


Mid layer is The North Face 1/4 zip Polartec 100 Glacier Fleece. This is very simple with no pockets or pit zips etc.


My theme is light, simple layers.


I currently carry the Craghoppers compresslite jacket for when it is really cold or when stopped. I am looking to replace that as it is relatively heavy and quite bulky for the warmth. I was thinking of Montbell Superior Down Parka but that is a lot of cash!
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: richardh1905 on 16:48:42, 17/05/20
Mid layer is a fleece, cheap, of varying weight. For really cold weather I have fibre pile lined fleece jackets by regatta and Hoggs of Fife - not the lightest but toasty. Currently I wear a cheapo lightweight fleece by Regatta - I like a full length zip for temperature control.


No point in spending lots of money on base or mid layers, IMO, save it for a good waterproof outer.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: WhitstableDave on 18:51:01, 17/05/20
I'll put in a plug for the Rohan Spark Vest - a gilet that I've found to be a big success.  O0

It weighs just 150g (if I remember correctly) and it packs down extremely small, but it's surprisingly warm. Mine is reversible, with a black side and a blue side. There's a zipped pocket on the blue side and hand-warming pockets on the black side. Unfortunately, Rohan has a habit of changing features while retaining the name, so whereas mine has a full-length zip, the current model has poppers.

The gilet works extremely well as a mid-layer and equally well as the outer layer of two.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: ninthace on 19:07:17, 17/05/20
I have 2 fleece gilets but they have not been a great success.  If I wear the gilet, I end up with cold arms and a warm body.  If I put a jacket over the top, I feel like a trussed up chicken and the combination is too warm on the body.  Perhaps I am not a gilet person or they only work in certain conditions.  They are certainly popular with the farming folk round here who seem to live in them.  Perhaps I am wearing the wrong kind of shirt with them, maybe a more pronounce check and a flat cap?.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: Pitboot on 21:03:42, 17/05/20
As I walk "warm" I usually wear a merino t shirt, sleeve length dependent on the temperature, with a windproof jacket over the top if needed. The waterproof jacket stays in the pack until required, which is not very often.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: archaeoroutes on 21:08:14, 17/05/20
Gillets are great.
I have a Paramo Torres for colder weather, a Mountain Warehouse fleece one for cool summer evening, and a multi-pocketed canvas thing for casual walks.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: Ronin83 on 22:50:46, 17/05/20
Gilets can be useful. Personally I don't really get cold arms much and it always baffled me why I would need an equal amount of insulation on my armpits?? I think all jackets, mid layers etc should have some kind of mesh on the pits, but rarely ever do.
Same goes for legs. I don't need base layer AND trousers on my balls and bum, just on the legs. Mesh would help there too. I often just pack waterproof overtrousers instead for wind resistance.



Also, I've recently found a very thin sport fleece (berghaus pravitale mountain light) keeps a very constant temperature and good breathability. Coupled with the rab borealis for a bit of wind resistance it's a good set up. Still need a waterproof just in case though.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:11:59, 18/05/20
A while ago I bought and now use mesh boxer underwear, so much better for hiking or running than the normal underwear that I wear routinely when at home. They only cost £3.99 a pair from Decathlon, they are elasticated and cling to my skin, and when I walk or run it feels as if I'm not really wearing anything at all, but, I am 'gripped' comfortably in all of the right places! They also wash clean in an instant and dry very quickly.

I'm trying to move in the mesh direction with my base layers as well. I've just ordered a mesh Brynge 'string vest' but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm hoping that if the reviews are right I might be able to move away from my 'clammy and damp' merino and bamboo types. I wore my merino base layer when I went running this morning, it's now soaked in perspiration and to me, that's its major weakness, it then takes a long time to dry.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: ninthace on 12:34:36, 18/05/20
I remember my dad wearing a string vest and matching underpants.  He used to complain that the pants made his bum look like a golf ball.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: BuzyG on 14:00:32, 18/05/20
I remember my dad wearing a string vest and matching underpants.  He used to complain that the pants made his bum look like a golf ball.
I'm just glad that was back in the days before digital cameras.  ;D
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: BuzyG on 14:07:09, 18/05/20
I got a reminder of the performance of modern base layers yesterday.  After all this cool weather and mainly short walks locally, I was daft enough to wear a cotton T shirt, for a proper walk, on a warm day in the middle of Dartmoor.  I ended up wearing just trousers and sunscreen, whist it hung from my pack drying.


What did I say about digital cameras again.  ;)







Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: ninthace on 15:23:52, 18/05/20
No need for layering on my walk today.  Such fine weather - all I needed was my Trusty Tilley, polo shirt and lightweight Craghoppers.  Best of all - no pack!
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: jb101 on 15:25:13, 18/05/20
I would recommend a pertex smock which don't seem to be mentioned a great deal these days .They are very lightweight,pack very small and can be used as a mid layer or shell as wind resistant.


ATB
James 
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 19:13:22, 18/05/20
It was very sunny today, it was hot(ish) but there was a brisk cool west to the east wind today. I decided to try a short test of the items I've recently bought, a Columbia walking shirt, and a Brynge 'string vest' made from 100% polypropylene. I started off with just my shirt on, it was light and comfortable but I soon felt chilly so I put on my Brynge vest and then wore my shirt on top. I found that once I was properly dressed and my shirt buttons were done up I felt warmer. My Brynge vest has short sleeves, my shirt has long sleeves and as I walked on I found that my arms felt cool but my torso felt warm and comfortable. Tomorrow I'm going to wear my Brynge vest with my bamboo base layer on top when I go running. My bamboo top rapidly gets wet from perspiration, it will be interesting to find out if the Brynge vest helps to improve my situation or perhaps makes little or no difference at all?
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: archaeoroutes on 08:00:06, 19/05/20
+1 for Pertex windproof
I have a 20-odd year old Montane one tgat lives in my rucksack all summer and gets quite a lot of use.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 12:00:20, 19/05/20
I ran this morning with my Brynge vest on and instead of using my bamboo base layer I used my synthetic baselayer, they seemed to work well together. I noticed it, particularly when I stopped and started to cool down. There was a very light breeze and I didn't get that 'cold' feeling as my sweat cooled. I'm going to have to use it a lot more I think to help me make a judgement as to whether I will buy another one.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 19:00:37, 21/05/20
I think my new Brynge 'string vest' will help me to save carry weight. Normally I carry 2 baselayers, one wearing, one on my rucksack washed and drying (and still heavy from its water content) but I now think I can get away with just one base layer. The Brynge is made from 100% polypropylene and when it's wet it dries in a couple of minutes. I've tried a 'dummy run' with it, I wore it on a run and when I go back home I just jumped under the shower with it on. I always use shampoo so just washed in the usual way, rubbed my hands up and down the vest to 'clean' it, then took its off, squeezed it, made sure it was properly rinsed, then got dressed, took it downstairs into the garden and it was ready to be used again within a few minutes. The fabric neck area and the bottom of the vest fabric area (1/2" wide) were still wet but that would dry very fast once it came in contact with my body heat.OK, not much of a weight-saving but one less item of clothing to worry about.
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: forgotmyoldpassword on 21:04:27, 21/05/20
I use Brynge thermo kit for winter sports.  It's very good but I'd be overheating massively if I wore it any other time of year.  Worth persist with it though, for the same reason as you GWM, it keeps you very dry so if you're doing stop/start activity then you don't chill when you take a break, is pretty light and works well with a windproof.  As much as 'layering system' is about having options in your pack, who wants to be faffing around all day when you're outdoors?  Something which keeps you in the ideal range for most of the day and that's why I don't think my layering system is likely to change much.


For 3.5 season use: base layer (140 short sleeve merino or poly base layer in warmer months), mid layer (fleece in my pack) and outer (wearing a windproof, light waterproof in the pack)


I'd like to find a use for the fancy 'hybrid' garments coming out now with different insulations in different parts of the body but at a certain point I've lost interest in buying a whole new gear system when the gear cupboard is overflowing.  At that point I've learned it's a great time to use the available dosh to try out a new hobby/travel so you can collect a whole new type of stuff, even if I do fail now and again and end up picking a slightly different version of what I already have  :)





Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:05:18, 24/05/20
I have two merino baselayers and find that they make me really itch, mainly across my chest so they get very little use, in fact I wish I had never bought them. I only use them when I have no choice for running when all of my other tops have been used, are in the wash, or are still drying. When I know I'm going to use my 'itchy' I travel to my run start point wearing an old black pyjama top, it looks like a 'T' shirt and on arrival, I put the merino on. I can run for up to an hour (assuming the air is cool) before the itching really starts, across my torso and underarms mostly, and when I get to my end of the run point I quickly take it off and put the pyjama top on again to travel home in.

I'm really hopeful that I can now begin to wear my merinos regularly and get proper use out of them. For the last two days I've worn my Brynge 'string vest' and my merino baselayer over the top of it. I've then gone running, sweated a lot and surprise, surprise, no noticeable itching! I'm now hopeful that because the merino wool is not really touching my skin in the same way anymore, I will be able to get full and better use out of them. Will I ever take them on a multi-day hiking trip? I'm just not sure yet but if by running use, with the aid of my Brynge string vest and my itching problem really is solved then I might.

 
Title: Re: Any new or creative ideas about layering?
Post by: ninthace on 14:29:58, 24/05/20
You're itchy - how do you think the sheep feels!?