pauldawes - I think I am now more like you since I made my personal decision about how I manage rain, I too am now more than happy to spend good money on baselayers and mid-layers. And yes it is an 'each to their own' view in the end but I'm just looking for ideas that perhaps I haven't really considered before in my quest for 'the best' and to keep my rucksack weight down.
I am confident about somethings, for example, I prefer synthetic baselayers when I'm hiking and camping, but only for one reason, they are easier to wash and more importantly they dry quicker. When I run I'm happy to use bamboo and merino baselayers because I can just throw them in the washing machine when I get home.
I like to wear a shirt with a collar, so that's been very easy to solve. Its the next layer that's always been tricky for me. From reading the various points raised, it does suggest to me that a softshell might be my answer? If I bought one I could then do away with the need to even think about fleeces etc, and from what I've read so far a softshell is easy to wash and to dry as well?
By doing this my maximum layering in cool to coldish weather could be, base layer, shirt, softshell and wind jacket. If it was even colder then I could also wear my down jacket over the softshell, plus my windjacket if need be. Buying a softshell seems to also offer the possibility of a little bit of weight saving, and carrying fewer items as well?
Because of the way I hike and camp, to cover my torso and to cope with all (or most) weathers I would then take with me two base layers, two shirts, one softshell, one wind jacket, one down jacket and one waterproof.
So going back to 'pauldawes' entry this suggests to me that if I go down the softshell route I need to give careful consideration to the warmth factor in particular.
And if it rains I would then use my waterproof.
I think lockdown is affecting my brain, I keep getting into all sorts of little projects to pass the time, so thanks to everyone for indulging me.