As part of our Dynafit Tech Tips series, we bring you tips and how-tos to make sure you get the most out of your gear.
Hoods on helmets on hoods on hats. The ginger beard is a favorite springtime layering piece for sun protection. Layering is especially important on big exposed mountains where the climate can change many times like here, leaving the summit of Mt Rainier, WA. photo @alwaysadventuring.
Layering thoughts from skin to shell
It’s a beautiful crisp morning at the trailhead and powder fever is peaking. Cold hands swing like violent, off-time grandfather clock pendulums. Jumping jacks are jumped. Soon enough though, you are sweating from head to toe and your backpack hosts a jumbled mess of poly nylon insulated something or others. Just when it appears that ski touring might be best done in beach wear, the winds pick up and clouds roll in. Oh the joys! We have all been a swampy mess at some point only to have a weather change or summit winds strip the heat from our damp bodies like flash frozen seafood.
There is a myriad of apparel available for us ski tourists these days. The standard baselayer, mid layer, and shell system has spawned hybrids and sub-sects such as active insulation and increasingly breathable and protective shell fabrics. These evolutions are extending the useable temperature or activity range for each layer in a system, however, the need for a system still remains. Here are some tips that have worked for me with current apparel offerings and what I have seen work well with ski partners.
Base Layer
Wools or synthetics here, no cotton derivatives. Wool (generally the soft merino variety) will provide more warmth generally and then retain that warmth while wet. It is also more expensive initially and will have to be replaced sooner. Synthetics (polyester blends) will transport wetness away from the body better, and be less likely to induce sweating to begin with. Synthetic fibers do retain more odor since bacteria grows better on the fibers.
The decision between the two should usually be made with these properties in mind. I prefer wool, or mostly wool socks for odor prevention warmth retention while wet. Feet will always sweat, and for me, almost always be cold at some point. Currently I am wearing the Dissent GFX compression wool or wool hybrids. CEP fit fantastically but seem to conspire in tandem with my liners to develop a wicked stench. I have also been sporting Lenze 5.0 heated socks on colder days. These wool battery powered socks are spendy, but fantastic for people with circulation issues.
I go with a two part base layer system for top and bottom, an ultralight poly running T-shirt (Dynafit Traverse is my favorite) and poly boxer brief next to skin almost every day. North Face’s L2 Powergrid hoodie goes over the T in the winter months, Outdoor Research’s Echo sun hoodie during springtime. I remove the T shirt from underneath the sun hoodie on the warmest of spring days. For fast paced tours or warm days, try ditching the long johns altogether or swapping for thin running shorts over synthetic underwear. When wanting a bit more warmth on the legs, the Helly Hansen Lifa Merino pant is a great 2 for 1; synthetic Lifa technology next to skin layered with Merino for warmth retention.
Springtime often means dropping down to a sun hoody. Cal and I here in the OR Echo, Drew with a BD offering during a break on Mt. Adams, WA. photo: @alwaysadventuring
Mid Layer?
I usually find the use of a traditional midlayer, a dedicated insulating piece between base and shell layers, to be a cumbersome carryover from resort skiing. Insulation is rarely needed on an uphill, whereas weather protection often is. This requires the backcountry traveler to remove the shell, then insulator when warm and then put the shell back on to continue; vise versa when chilled.
Enter the “puffy over” method, where the shell becomes the second layer, with the insulator being the final piece of the puzzle. I will often wear my shell the entire day up and down, and only swap the insulator on and off as needed while warming in the morning, coming on to a breezy ridge or for the descent. I used an Arcteryx Psiphon climbing softshell before the advent of FutureLight. Now, the TNF Summit Series LT jacket, downsized once to fit trimly under the puffy, stays on car-to-car on all but the hottest of days. This method also requires a bit more of the top insulating piece — hood, tall face cuff, larger wrist cuffs, and touch of weather resistance.
Doug employing the ‘puffy over’ method on the incredibly windy Vocan Lanin, Chile.
For those moving at a slower pace, enduring super cold environs, or preferring traditional methods, there are great active insulation pieces coming out. Polartec Alpha, commissioned by the US military, was the first active insulation, and many sporting outerwear manufacturers have developed their own in-house. These synthetic lofts are extremely air permeable and hydrophobic layups that open more with heat and/or body movement to drain your swamp. I used the North Face’s Ventrix system, both jacket and knickers, extensively in the much colder and slower travel of Denali National Park with fantastic results. We have a test piece of the new VerticalX Air technology from Outdoor Research in the field currently, stay tuned for a review.
Worth a mention here is your avalanche beacon. Sorry, no new active insulating transceivers to report on, but if you use the chest harness, the layer which you place it over is important. You don’t want to remove and/or potentially drop it as your body temperature warms. Additionally, burying it as you re-layer on a summit is not ideal. This access conundrum led me to switch to pocketing mine in the pants. Neither method has become a gold standard amongst avalanche professionals as there are pros and cons for either. For this discussion on layering, if you keep the beacon in the chest harness, make sure that it is on your person and easily accessible with gloves on at all times.
Shells
Find a shell material that suits your environmental needs. Many inland skiers would be pleasantly surprised if they ditched the old three layer Gore-Tex for a softshell pant. If you’ll be moving all day and transitioning on your feet there is generally no need for a hardshell pant in intercontinental and continental snowpacks. Wash and re-treat with softshell DWR often to maintain water resistance. Newer supple and more breathable shells, headlined by the ubiquitous FutureLight, are worth a serious look for one stop shopping.
Moving quickly in thin shell pieces without mid layers last spring. Doug sets the punchy faceted boot pack last spring in FutureLight LT while Chris opts for a thin Arcteryx climbing softshell top and mid weight bottom.
I can hear our PNW brothers and sisters and others in maritime climes loud and clear, “Hey dude, I would be soaked from either precip or sweat with some of your continental methods.” Yes indeed your best system will often be hardshell over a base layer, though clearer or colder days may afford you some dry-country luxuries.
Head and Hands
Thin trail running style caps with mesh backs and no top button make for a great all day ‘head base layer’. The brim keeps the sun off the face and/or snow out of glasses and goggle vents while forehead sweat is captured by the fabric behind the brim. Add and subtract hoods, beanies and helmets over top as the day dictates. Keeping your head cool goes a long way with the rest of your body, as the head’s large blood supply near the surface acts as a great radiator.
Hand sweat management is crucial and usually dealt with multiple pairs of gloves. I have cold hands and start most tours in mid to heavy weight gloves, keeping the ultralights handy to switch to at the first sign of sweat. Some backcountry skiers are adopting the rando-race inspired two-in-one systems. These thin softshell gloves have a flip over mitt stored in a small pocket in the wrist. However, I’ve found the mitt usually feels loose with sloppy dexterity and a wet palm/fingers means a wet glove regardless of the built in overmitt.
Doug utilizing flip over mitt of the CAMP G Comp Warm, or Mickey Mouse gloves as he calls them, on Volcan Villarica, Chile.
Would love to hear from readers on their systems as well, particularly if our female readers would like to elaborate on what works best for them.
A few notes from M
Weighing in here as a lady in the bunch. For the under, under layers, I rarely go for a sports bra. The thick webbing characteristic of most bras will turn my back into a sweaty and then clammy mess when I’ve been moving hard with a pack on. I’ll typically opt for a synthetic bralette with only very thin straps if a racer back. I differ from Gary in that I almost always opt for a light merino baselayer up top (Icebreaker 200 weight) with a quarter zip. I’m constantly amazed at how much temperature regulation I can get simply from adjusting how much of my neck is covered.
For bottoms, I forgo a base layer on warm (40 degree plus) days, and employ either a light merino or synthetic tight for colder ones. If it’s a very cold day, I’ll wear TNF L2 over my merino top. I’m not a bit fan of fleeces, but find the L2 breathable and minimal enough to not be cumbersome while adding a comfortable dose of warmth. On par with Gary, I often opt for the shell over base layers and employ the puffy (down or synthetic) over shell at the top. Also worth noting, I always carry at least one buff that either insulates my neck or gets pulled into a headband over my cap.
24 comments
yeah I do the puffy-over, I have 2 weights of puffy, 2 weights of hooded softshell, long johns or nekid inside soft shell pants all dependant on the temps. IMO no base layer will really be giving you much warmth, I don’t think merino does much more if any than poly, if I’m going to be near a washing machine (day trips) poly is fine and it doesn’t disintegrate like merino but wool doesn’t stink on a hut trip so I just wear the merino t-shirts which are also cheaper. I actualy did a few seasons touring with just a soft shell no base layer/puffy over and it worked fine.
The mesh back hats with no buttons are good cuz they don’t put a dent in yer head, hats from a chopper outfit won’t have buttons to go under a flying helmet, I use a head band over the brim/ears, pull up the hood if its really inclement, wool socks compression are good for big days, I get cold hands and gloves wet out so I just carry 2 or 3 pair
I used a lightweight base and a thin fleece mid-layer in the skin track and added a shell for the down for a loooong time. Just this season I started experimenting with the same shell (large pit zips open) over a slightly heavier base and stuffed the mid-layer in my pack “just in case”. I’m finding that I almost never need the mid-layer and am much more comfortable, probably because I stay more dry. I totally underestimated how well my shell breathes and how much sweat got stuck in the mid-layer. I think it’s a game changer for me.
I like hoodies and hoods. Less fiddling. An extremely lightweight Patagonia hoodie is next to skin, then a slightly heavier TNF hoodie over that; hooded shell on top. Often that’s enough, but if really cold a mid-weight fleece ¼ zip tee is worn over the hoodies. The Pat hood, if needed, is worn on the noggin, under the CAMP helmet, to which I’ve glued a soft foam DIY visor (so, no need for a bill cap). Colder or windier? Pull the TNF hood or the shell’s hood or both over the helmet. The CAMP helmet is light and very well ventilated; it stays on up and down, and now has a visor! Why don’t all helmets have soft visors? Soft, so goggles can get past them.
With this system no pieces get lost or misplaced, and since the hoods are light, hood management is easy. Oh, and yes, I pack a hooded puffy for periods of extended stasis or extreme cold, which normally don’t happen. A good thing about down puffies is that they can take up a lot of space or hardly any in the pack.
Pacific Northwester, here. We need hardshells more.
Mittens/gloves: I find that a light-weight liner or slightly fleecy glove under a shell mitten works 90% of the time for an average day tour in the PNW (not the high alpine peaks). Remove shell if it is dry, add fleecy mitten if colder. I usually have an extra pair of liner gloves in my pack.
I used to have Mountain Hardwear softshell bibs which have great zipper vents on the thighs, and carried a full side-zip shell pant. I wanted to start carrying my beacon in a pocket, so last year I started wearing the Roam 3/4 bib by Trew (they stopped making it right when I got it *sadface*), which has great venting. I have lightweight Icebreaker 3/4 length baselayer under it because I hate the clammy feel of hardshell on skin.
Up top I usually have a sythetic zip-neck top. I have a light Mammut softshell vest that has become my go-to mid-layer for most days (not warm spring). What goes over that is totally dependent on the day, but mostly either an uninsulateted soft shell (OR Ferrosi) or hardshell (OR Ascentshell what is now Interstellar, was called something else when I got it). Insulating layer for stops and colder moments is a synthetic-fill puffy that can go over or under the jacket. If colder temps are expected, or a lot of stationary time (teaching, SAR, etc.) I also have a down jacket.
Hat is usually a running cap, and I have a close-fitting fleece skull-cap that could go under a helmet, as well as the hoods on the jackets. I also bought for backpacking a separate synthetic puffy hood from enlightened equipment that I may experiment with hoodless jackets for ultimate versatility.
I am sold on CRAFT base layers top and bottom for high output non-clammy moisture management. Then Icebreaker merino top and bottom and Patagonia techface fleece for all day breathable softshell(Colorado)these R1 and R2 pieces can dial in my temp without need for constant stripping.
OR Cirque pants. Gore-tex hardshell and puffy stay packed unless needed. Multiple wool buffs for neck and face. Ortovox lobster mitts with wool liner and insulation fot the coldest tours.
I got a good deal on an Ortovox Piz Palue jacket this year and have been pretty happy with it. I thought it was going to be useful as a light puffy but it actually breathes so well that I’ve been uphill touring in it as a replacement for my R1 Patagonia hoody–and haven’t had to transition to a heavy hoody on the summit. However, full-price for these seems a little steep and you might be better off saving that money for a ticket to Switzerland where you could buy your own Swiss sheep. Shout out for their system regardless…
I’m cursed with fat cheeks and even fatter vanity. I like chest pockets because pockets and extra insulation around my midsection (of the clothing kind) get me fat-shamed on social media.
Whoa there; just looked at that secondary northface “baselayer” and it sure looks just like a typical modern gridded fleece midlayer ala patagonia r1 etc. Am i missing something here? Is it really that much cooler?
Mebbe its just that im a biggish dude or need to get my thyroid checked but ive literally never felt comfortable uphilling with a hardshell on and basically dont do it unless its snowing or just cold (under 20* preferably colder) and windy too. Just sweat way to much even with only a thin base layer underneath. Even downhill i get really warm.
So i generally feel rather envious that people can uphill with a fleece midlayer and a shell of any kind, softshell or hard.
I usually uphill with either a short or long sleeve base depending on temps and a OR ferrosi jacket which still usually comes off after the first 15-20 min most days. Kind of feel that stretch-woven jackets like the ferrosi shouldnt be lumped into any kind of “shell” category whatsoever seeing as they have no membrane. Never any bottom baselayers besides boxers unless it under 20*.
I used to always put on my shell to ski down but almost alway find it too hot with my pack on. Tried skiing with just the thin puffy over the ferrosi or even just the baselayer. This works ok with just the baselayer if it’s colder but often too warm still. For five years now have skied most non-stormy downhills with just a baselayer and ferrosi jacket. Result is the shell lives in the bottom of the pack as a backup piece and typically only use the puffy for a few minutes leaving the trailhead or taking breaks on ridges or peaks etc. Could almost ditch the puffy but think its important to carry as a backup emergency layer.
I’ve ski toured for 20 years now and have always struggled with this problem. Really blows me away that people can uphill with their shell and not become an utter swampy mess. Ive given up and do the great majority of my uphilling with just a baselayer and maybe the ferrosi.
Id really love to see a post on clothing tactics big sweaty guys could use while ski touring. So many of these type of articles seem to be for the skinny-cold crowd.
I come off as a OR ferrosi shill here but guarantee im not. Would like to hear if there are other similar but even lighter weight and more breathable jackets out there. Thinking of picking up a ferrrosi VEST or something comparable to start the day with under the jacket and provide just a bit more warmth and wind protection for downhilling while still maintaining maximum breathability.
FUTURELIGHT if it lives up to the hype may be the next touring shell, BUT it’s still a hard shell and i can still hardly believe it will breathe as well as stretch-woven fabric.
And im not giving up my beer dagnabbit.
Hey Rolly,
Ya its a bout the thinnest grid fleece possible, thinner than r1, but still a fleece. We’ll rarely start a tour above 20f in the winter, and then will be up high for the remainder of the day. And ya Im about as rail thin as it gets but am not a generally cold person. Cal, pictured in the group photo isn’t a big guy but runs very warm. He wears that OR sun hoody everyday and almost always ends up in just it at some point.
FutureLight is definitely worth a look, it is as stretchy as a soft shell and thinner. I almost think its a disservice to call it a hardshell, more of a hybrid. Enjoy those beers!
I love the Ferrosi, too. When i think it is a little too much I substitute a running jacket which is super light, highly breathable, but blocks just a little bit of wind and will be OK in a light mist.
No love for VESTS?!?! I’m a super sweaty guy too, but I’ve been able to dial things in pretty well with a vest and a temperature-appropriate base layer top. Or, truthfully, a Dynafit Speedfit Jacket with the sleeves cut off. It’s got Windstopper in the front, venting holes in the back, deep interior skin pockets, and a hood. With the zipper 2/3 down, it dumps a ton of heat, and zipped up, it blocks the wind really really well. I’ve worn it for hot spring tours, frigid dawn patrols, and soupy Mt Hood snowstorms. If I’m carrying a pack, I’ll have a shell & puffy wadded in the bottom, but I’ve gone entire seasons without pulling them out. If the vest had back pockets like a bike jersey, it would be perfect.
I’ll second the vest luv!!
Agree on the vest – years ago Performance Bike had the perfect weight in-house vest with wind block in front, and breathable fleece in back. And being bike wear it had a zipper closure back with 3 pockets. I started wearing one skiing, and several buddies followed my lead. I’ve yet to be able to find a suitable replacement so now I go with chest hair as a base layer, and Driclime over that. Works 90% of the time.
Along the lines of the vest comment above, I have become a huge van of the OR Refuge Hybrid Hoody. It only has insulation across the front, which is perfect when wearing a pack. The thin fabric on the sleeves is just enough to provide a little wind protection, and the hood is handy on a windy transition.
I’m a furnace but with cold hands. Hand warmer packets in mitten shells solve the problem. Maritime touring means my running gloves are wet by lunch, so I carry a spare, plus backup compact wool mittens.
I wear a Patagonia vest on backcountry ski patrol and it inspired me to try a thin vest as a mid layer. The pockets are great. Note, the rear lumbar pocket is practically useless with a pack.
Thanks everyone for the comment and suggestions, some great input here. It’s what makes WildSnow such a valuable resource and community.
So many different approaches and that’s a good thing. The perfect layering system is subjective. I find it useful to hear what other people do because you never know what little tweak you can employ that really dials it for you.
I go with all hoodies. Wool hoodie base layer, synthetic mid-layer hoodie and a hoodie shell. That way you always have a hoodie available. Happy New Year!
I’m a PNW tourer and I’ve been wearing softshell pants almost* exclusively for the past 4 years. I have not had an issue with soaking through even on the snowiest of days. I produce a lot of heat, and the softshell has been a blessing.on long Coastal climbs. If it’s snowing, it’s freezing, so water is not an issue. The only issue I’ve had is when dropping elevation below freezing level and snow turns to rain….but for that, I always carry a light gore-tex pant shell in the bottom of my pack.
*I have a pair of Arcteryx composite hard/soft shell pants that I prefer in the spring, but mostly because they are lighter coloured (grey) and reflect the sun’s heat better….they can also zip tight at the cuff so that it makes running-shoe approaches easier.
I agree with Glen that softshell pants have worked great for me in the PNW. I use the hybrid ones from OR but have had some issues with durability.
I also second the recommendation of a vest for a mid-layer. I have a down one that packs down to almost nothing, and it adds a lot of warmth. I run warm enough that, usually when I’m skinning I am in my baselayer (R1 or similar) without the shell, but the vest is an easy way to regulate that.
Chiming in from Wilson, WY. I typically roll with Patagonia Cap Air Hoody Top (adjust hood up and down depending on the wind etc.) and a LW Cap Bottom as baselayers. On the up I’ll rock an older BD Dawn Patrol Hoody soft shell jacket and a pair of Patagonia Hybrid Pants. On the hands I’ve been pretty happy with OR vert gloves on the UP. On the transition I’ll shed the BD layer to let the Cap Air dry in minutes and pop on a Patty Micro Puff hoody and a Patty 3L over that. I’m curious to see how ditching the BD layer will go and just throwing the Micro Puff over the 3L will go.
In 1999, Mark Twight described the theory of all the layering systems described here. We all know it’s the way to go but most brands are still stuck on base->mid->shell.
Is it the differences between people that messes it up for the gear makers? Or is the idea of an action suite to hard to sell?
I run hot so I use a NWAlpine black spider hoodie (read R1) as a base. It breaths when enough that I can use it alone for spring.
On top of that I’ll add a nano air vest if it’s cold/windy.
If there’s precip or a lot of wind then the Westcomb polartec neoshell goes on. Breaths amazing and you can feel the wind go through it.
Finally the nano puff pullover comes out of the bag if I’m stopped or it’s gotten ridiculously cold.
LUCASM, Gary and all,
I subscribe to and use exclusively the action suit concept described by. Mark Twight in his book Extreme Alpinism. I also strictly use merino wool base layers and next mid layers close to my skin, then layering soft shell and light insulating or waterproof breathable layers as needed depending on conditions. When I stop or am less active in transitions or eating I’ll don the puffy or hard shell as needed but never remove the action suit of base/ mid layer/ soft shell. I only add insulation or hardshell or both as needed. This works very well in keeping you warm when stopped and also drying out your inner layers by holding your body heat in and evaporating any sweat molecules or excess vapor molecules from the base layers.
Merino and synthetic base layers are not at all alike other than where you wear them. Merino fibers being a natural fiber are much more complex and there is real science behind the process of Heat Absorption that keeps you warm when it’s wet unlike synthetic fibers. Basically the merino wool fiber has a hydrophobic cuticle outer shell and hydrophilic inner cortex. The outer shell allows capillary action to move sweat/ water molecules along the fiber and the inner cortex absorbs the moisture as vapor through the heat your body generates. The cortex then holds the warm vapor and releases it more slowly allowing your body to self regulate temperature. Since the water is released as vapor it does not create the same cooling affect as evaporative cooling of water molecules as happens with synthetic fibers which cannot absorb the moisture but instead just spreads it out to evaporate which then cools you down. Merino can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water vapor before it becomes saturated. Synthetic fiber cannot absorb any water vapor since they are extruded filaments made from petro-chemicals. Synthetics will cool you down faster which is a benefit when it’s warm and you’re sweating more profusely. Merino works to cool you in warm temps but works a little more slowly since it absorbs the water vapor and reaches saturation but you may not get as chilled as with synthetics from a gust of wind as can happen at times. The other benefit of the merino fiber is the anti microbial properties which controls the odor from sweating and you can wear the layers multiple days without a degradation in performance or excessive odor.
I use merino zip-t as a base, grid fleece, dense faced hoodie as mid and usual outer climbing layer. Arcteryx shell, light down vest and one of various puffy jackets depending on weather. I like having lots because I love being toasty on long breaks at the top or bottom of runs. What works best for me is to somehow beat the rest of my crew by 10 minutes to the top. I’ll strip skins while sitting, add layers and be well into my thermos of soup when they arrive. It’s the soup that’s my secret weapon for comfort the rest of the day. While sitting there, my puffies warm me up and my base layer dries out. The infusion of hot food means my metabolism changes from sweating to digesting. I’ll have a cozy first run and leave a lot on for the next climb. Somehow I just don’t sweat as much during the digestion period. I’ll finish my soup at top or bottom of second or third run to prolong the effect. Late in the day, if I haven’t yet needed them, I’ll don my insulated over pants for last run. Love getting to my ride warm and toasty! I live in the PNW so many days are too warm to need all I carry, but it all goes along (in variations) every time. Never know when I’m gonna want to sit down, soak it all in, and talk with a critter or grandfather tree!
I’ve been using the puffy over method for awhile now. Any recommendations for a puffy that has a bit more warmth/weather protection/abrasion resistance than the Atom LT? Internal drop-in pockets for skins or gloves would be a plus. Been looking at the Atom AR, OR Refuge Hooded Jacket, Rab Xenon, but other suggestions with some first hand experience are appreciated.