Cold weather clothing for people like me, who sweat a lot.

Grease

Grease

Joined
May 10, 2012
Messages
1,812
Hey guys. I'm planning my first winter overnight-er this month, and I need some clothing tips. I'm pretty well versed on how to dress for cold weather trips, but what I need are material and possibly brand suggestions for some good breathable moisture wicking layers, both tops and bottoms. Basically, I don't want to feel damp all the time.
 
There are a lot of good clothing options, but unfortunately the most promising are prohibitively priced. Just like with knives, designers have started to incorporate space aged technologies into outdoor gear, and just like with knives, the equivalent of ZDP-189 and Carbon Fiber causes prices to quadruple.

I guess the most important consideration is your price range - you're obviously going to need some good insulated clothing since you're in WA, but it really depends on price.

Arc' Teryx makes some of the best cold weather solutions available, but you could spend up to $1,000 getting outfitted. If you were a professional guide or something the cost might be justified (or a millionaire), but since this is your first time camping it isn't in my opinion. I have been able to accumulate a small amount of high end outdoor clothing over the last 5 years though, and it does help when you use it as part of a system. The new materials weren't arbitrarily chosen as marketing gimmicks - but there is diminishing return. North Face is cheaper for a Jacket, and uses many of the same materials. I have an Arc' Teryx hoodie that was given to me, and with a pair of Merrell hiking boots I got last year are the two most worthwhile and comfortable pieces of clothing I have for hiking in the fall/winter. Unfortunately I have never been able to test the Merrell boots over a long hike yet.

Look at
Outdoor Research
Patagonia
Companies that Make Hunting Apparel

Gore-TEX is great for footwear and outer layers. It is water proof
Merino Wool is a fine cheaper material
Some cotton and polyester blends work great too

You might be just as well off to take $200 to Wal-Mart and look for cheaper alternatives to start. There should be clothing available with the properties you're looking for. You may not like hiking in the cold, and if that's the case spending 800$ on gear will be a huge mistake.

ETA- In my opinion, your base layer, outer layer, footwear, socks, head cover and gloves are the most important purchases. Just don't use a material in the intermediate that defeats the benefits of a quality piece of clothing you wear over or under it. If you're going to spend, do it in those areas.
 
Last edited:
A Justice said:
You may not like hiking in the cold, and if that's the case spending 800$ on gear will be a huge mistake.
Click to expand...

Oh there's no risk of that. I often joke that the stork gave me to American parents instead of Eskimo parents by mistake. I love the cold :)
 
Take a look at the USMC or USGI stuff. It can be found inexpensively on the Ebay. Personally, on a budget, I'd pick up the polartec long under wear, polartec mid layers and the primaloft outer. Bring extra under layers and socks in addition to the under layers and socks you think you need. Then pack another pair to change into while those are all drying out.

Also, it depends on how cold or wet it's going to be. Go out on the peninsula and it's a whole different deal than in the cascades or on the east side.
 
Layering is the way to go. I personally love charged cotton shirts from under Armour myself. They are great for keeping dry.
 
Chris Pierce said:
Also, it depends on how cold or wet it's going to be. Go out on the peninsula and it's a whole different deal than in the cascades or on the east side.
Click to expand...

We'll be up in the central Cascades, and our campsite elevation will probably be around 4500 feet. Should be below freezing the whole time, so it shouldn't be too wet...
 
Lots to choose from in terms of brands and materials.
Try mohair/ bamboo socks if you can get them. Great at wicking sweat, keep you warm etc. The bamboo is an anti- bacterial. They also dry out really quickly if wet.
+1 for Gore Tex lined boots.
I find cotton under shirt/ outer shirt, light weight fleece and a soft shell work well for dry weather. Wet weather will require a waterproof shell over that.

The North Face has some good stuff, find an outlet that sell it, or the others stated above, but get ready for hemorrhaging.

Down sleeping bag with a good ground insulator/ mattress should see you sleeping well.

Enjoy.
 
Underarm zippers are worth their weight in Gold. Close them when its too cold, open them when you sweat. Its especially useful when you carry a backpack while hiking. The shoulder straps usually create isolated air pockets under the arms which heat up a lot when active. Not with open zippers.:thumbup:
I got three identical fleece jackets with zippers from Mountain Hardware 2 years ago for roughly $60-80 each. I wouldn't need another one for a while but hope they still make them.
Warm enough when bicycling in -20C. I guess my temperature preference is like yours. :)

edit:
They still make them
"Men's Mountain Tech Jacket"
The side pockets are a bit high but that helps accessing when wearing a backpack were normal height pockets would be covered by the hip strap.
 
Yeah. Zippered vents are awesome.
Bamboo socks. I bought a bunch because the label said that they were super wicking and anti-bacterial. They did not work for me at all. When I wore them I my feet were always sticky and felt wet. My boots would steam when I took them off, my feet itched, no good at all. I threw them all away. But I was wearing them for work, running around, lifting heaving things, etc.
 
Baselayer should be quality synthetic if you plan to sweat alot. I have used underarmor cold gear and finnsvala polypro net tops and bottoms to great effect.
If you want less stink and can deal with slower dry times wool is an option.
Helly hansen makes a hybrid wool/synthetic in their warm series that i like.

AVOID cotton and bamboo like the plague. Both suck up water and hold it forever.

Top layer
For a belay jacket down is the warmest for weight but sucks when wet. I would go for a jacket made from primaloft one. It is the highest loft synthetic. Check out a blog called cold thistle if you have time... the guy who writes it knows a lot about layering and reviews many belay jackets.

Shells either soft or hard can be had to stop the wind and let out the damp.

Midlayer
Fleece or wool depending on activity. Fleece dries faster and weighs less. I actually like to wear primaloft as midlayer as well when things are not too sweaty. Arcteryx lt down hoody seems to get rave reviews everywhere so that is on my list as a midlayer / softshell.

If you want to stay dry then start off the day a bit cold. It is easier to deal with sweat preemptively.
 
As sideways said, "...start of the day a bit cold. It is easier to deal with sweat preemtively."

I'm a major sweater when I exercise as well, and I always overestimate how much clothing I need to wear while active!

That being said, I've found I prefer polypropylene to polyester as a next-to-skin layer. I have two REI midweight polyester base layers and, while they're warm enough when dry, when I soak 'em with sweat, I get COLD and these things take forever to dry. Perhaps ironically, my best cold-weather, active-use base layer top was a shirt I nabbed at Wal-Mart 14 years ago, when such things were still available for bargain prices. The top had a laminated-style construction of wool/polyester on the outside and polyester/polypro on the inside. That baby cost me all of $14 and kept me warm, even when it was soaking wet. That shirt's the reason I like polypro and wool for cold-weather activities.

Sorry I couldn't be much more help, Grease. I've heard nothing but good about Polartec's Power Stretch series. A search of bargain outdoor clothing stores will turn up some decent prices.
 
Grease said:
Hey guys. I'm planning my first winter overnight-er this month, and I need some clothing tips. I'm pretty well versed on how to dress for cold weather trips, but what I need are material and possibly brand suggestions for some good breathable moisture wicking layers, both tops and bottoms. Basically, I don't want to feel damp all the time.
Click to expand...


I think brands are less important now than they were in, say, the 80s and 90s when synthetics were being developed. IMO, since then, the improvements have been pretty incremental and good for us, the core products have become comodities.

My core system is polyester inner layer, pile (better than fleece) mid layer due to its ability to vent and a light nylon full zip shell with pit zips. This allows heat to be dumped under exertion. On the legs, I dress light and use full side zip warm up pants like those from Marmot or Craft. Again, ability to vent while on the move is key.

More details on my thoughts here:
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/clothing.html
 
I don't do much winter backpacking. I'm a bit of a wus. :D That said I have a pretty good system for feet because mine like to sweat. What I do is put some foot powder in a polyester liner and then throw a mid weight wool sock over that. Dry and toasty all day.
 
Do you sweat all the time?
Or only during physical labour?

If the second one - use some natural down sweater as isolation when you dont move, and polartec when you move. when moving, remove hardshells - no matter how breathable, they do not breath enough.
 
layer up!!! no need to spend tons..

Layer 1: sweat wicking synthetic next to skin.. Smartwool (Merino wool) is great... synthetics are great also, but will smell if you wear multiple days..
Layer 2: Hoody like Patagonia R1, Marmot Thermo or Arcteryx Konseal, Ibex (Merino wool) or similar
Layer 3: Wind and Waterproof hardshell.. I like my Tad Gear Stealth... any decent brand will do. rei/patagonia/arcteryx/outdoor research/Rab/etc...
 
A good quality sleeveless vest on top of sweatshirt keeps you warm with out over doing it
 
Last edited:
Consider RiversWest. I have a set and it is wonderful as an outer layer. I have a touch if hyper hydrosis and sweat a ton. The rivers west has arm out and leg zippers to assist in releasing moisture.

I believe they also sponsored some if the fisherman on the discovery channel show, Deadliest Catch. Over good stuff and can be found inexpensively on a site named cascade direct.
 
For extreme cold:
Base layer ECWS level I
Second layer ECWS level III
Third Primaloft level 7
Fourth Goretex shell

The US army ECWS stuff is amazing bang for the buck
 
Grease said:
Hey guys. I'm planning my first winter overnight-er this month, and I need some clothing tips. I'm pretty well versed on how to dress for cold weather trips, but what I need are material and possibly brand suggestions for some good breathable moisture wicking layers, both tops and bottoms. Basically, I don't want to feel damp all the time.
Click to expand...
As a winter-loving Canadian, most of the season I'm out back-country skiing, and sweating a lot. Having tried many different fabrics and layer setups, I've found nothing is breathable enough to keep up, any base layer will get soaked. After 40+ years, I've recently found that not wearing a base layer at all works best. For the upper body, I wear only a wind-resistant, breathable softshell jacket with a hood. The material is thin and doesn't hold much moisture so it feels ok and dries quickly. Keeping the waist drawstring loose for ventilation when too warm, tighten to keep the breeze out. In the pack, I keep a thin wind-breaker and/or down jacket to wear while stopped and either a merino wool or poly base layer to wear in camp. Goretex or other hardshells can't be worn while in motion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top