What do you wear during fall/winter months?

M

markisharp

Joined
Jul 24, 2010
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Just like the title says, when preparing for a camping/hiking trip during these colder months, what do you wear? Give us your Base-Mid-Outer layers. Pictures are a bonus!

Also give us a little run down on why you chose what your wearing! I expect some people here to be all about new age fabrics and others who love their natural fibers, so lets see what your wearing.

I (my wife) currently revamped the closet and whats in it. Somehow my stuff got lost so this will also be great to give me ideas haha.
 
I have come to rely especially on one piece of clothing for cool and cold weather outdoor activity: the zip turtleneck polypro undershirt. With it unzipped, it's cooler than a crew-neck and allows for lots of cooling ventilation. When zipped, it's as warm as, well, a turtleneck, which is pretty effective at helping you keep warm as it covers part of your neck where a big blood vessel or two are close to the skin.

I process a lot of moisture (that's my euphemism for "sweat like a horse") and the ability to fine tune my upper layer ventilation really helps keep me dry when active, which really helps keep me warm when I'm not active.

I also prefer polypro (or Smartwool) long johns and socks, with thin polypro or silk sock liners for really cold weather.

I have the polypro zip turtlenecks and long johns in three different weights for different temperatures (I work outdoors every day so I have a good cold-weather wardrobe).

I like pants of supplex or heavier nylon, depending on the temperatures, or wool if I think I'll be needing to sit close to a fire to stay warm in the evening. My upper body midlayer is usually a zippered fleece with the weight depending on the temps or for colder temps, or a packable down sweater/jacket when it's very cold. For my top outerlayer, I like either a thin breathable jacket/shell (Marmot Precip), thick breathable jacket (North Face Mountain Jacket), or a wool mackinaw (Johnson) for fire resistance.

I really like a 100%-wool visored ("Radar") cap or watch cap, or a fleece-lined ballcap with drop-down ear warmers. For very cold weather, I have a Mountain Hardwear ski hat of really dense and thick synthetic knit that is very warm; too warm for most temps.

For my hands, fleece gloves with rubber grippy dots on the palms and fingers for mild cold, wool gloves for colder weather and fleece mittens with waterproof/breathable shells for really cold weather.

Having good cold-weather outdoor clothes makes it enjoyable and even fun to be out in nasty weather!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Well it isn't usually very cold here. But if I am out hunting I tend to wear Under Armor long underwear bottoms and a synthetic short sleeve Nike dri fit top. If it is really cold I will wear a long sleeve polypro or silk top over the short sleeve base layer. Next would be some good wool socks. Again if temps dictate I will throw on a pair of polypro liner socks.

Next I will usually wear Carhartt pants or standard BDU pants. If its really cold I will wear some insulated bibs over that. Colder yet I switch the Carhartt/BDUs for some Cabela's fleece pants.

Up top over the base layer I will usually wear any tough button up shirt. Then a fleece or down vest. Over that goes a Filson Outfitter coat with a mid-weight wool liner. If its colder than that I wear a parka that matches the above bibs. The bibs and parka are warm, waterproof and easy on and off. The only problem is they are very loud.

For boots I wear my custom Wesco Firestormers. If I am just sitting on a varmint rig I occasionally will just wear some rubber wellingtons. I think they are warmer than the Wesco's. They also suck if you have to walk far!

I really love wool socks and have yet to find something better. I'm not huge on my furthest outer layer being wool or fleece because it collects burs bad. Also, wool kinda falls apart after lots of washings and my stuff gets dirty and washed alot. On socks, which are less money and generally fairly short lived it isn't so much of an issue.

Oh! I have several different stocking caps, both wool and polypro. If it is raining I throw a Wool Western hat on. If I have to wear something over a stocking cap or under a hood I have a Filson baseball cap. It is really neat with a leather sweat band...but sadly the band has kinda disolved and I need to send it back.

I've got several pairs of gloves that all basically suck. I need to upgrade in that dept. I just haven't found any TOUGH insulated gloves.
 
For "cold" Jeans and a hoodie. For COLD (28 and under) Carhartt Pants, Carhartt Boots, Carhartt longjohns, Carhartt shirt, and Carhartt coat. (I'm sponsored by them)
 
Uppers under 35F:
Base layer is a Duo-Fold wool blend shirt under a thin fleece 3/4 zip shirt with collar.
I add a mid-weight fleece vest with full zip-up high collar if it's really cold.
Over that I have a mid-weight shell with pit zips that is either on me or strapped to my pack.

Bottom under 35F:
Typically just a pair of cargo pants under gore-tex rip-stop shell pants.

I may experiment with capilene base layers this winter.

I tried the under-armour uppers but after I work up a sweat and then stop, I feel chilled especially if there's a breeze that works it's way down my upper layers. Once I get chilled, i have a hard time getting warm again.

Gloves:
Just inexpensive wind-stop fleece. I keep a pair of thin leather works gloves for fire duty.

Hat and ears:
Big fan of 180's ear muffs. I wear them everywhere under about 40F.
I keep a fleece cap with full ear coverage if I'm not working up a sweat. Heavy baseball cap and 180's if on the move.

Socks:
Wool hip-wader socks that go over my knees. I usually fold them over once at the top so they are just under my knee. My knees are old and this is like wearing a brace on each knee.
 
Lotsa wool... Eddie Bauer, Helly Hansen, TNF, Dale of Norway, Woolrich... EB signature flannel,
if it's sloppy wet, an oilskin drover's jacket (reminds me, I have an Eddie Bauer B9 parka from last winter's clearance in the back of the closet...) and a pair of wrist length rawhide gloves with USMC issue wool liners. I have more hats than I know what to do with...
 
I pretty satisfied with my layering system as it gets me through major shifts in temperatures during the spring and fall.

I'm currently using a silnylon Equinox anorak as a waterproof outershell...really compacts down well, but not the best choice with high humidity.

Depending on the activity and distance, I'll be sporting a Swanndri wool shirt or Polartec fleece top.

As a versatile mid-lay, I picked up an Ice Breaker light-weight wool hoodie last spring. What a great piece of clothing!

For ventilation adjustment and when I need long sleeves with adjustable temperatures, but still give me quick drying, I rely on synthetic, long sleeve button shirts. Columbia and 5.11 are my most used tops. If my T-shirt gets soaked or it's just too hot for the base-layer T-shirt, I can wear as a stand-alone.

For a base layer, I typically go with a synthetic T-shirt or tank top. I will say if it's cold and dry, I really like wool T-shirts (Smartwool, Icebreaker, Ibex).

During the summer, I use shorts and convertible pants the most. As the season shifts, I'll go with dedicated pants. Current go-to pants are 5.11 Versa-Tac or Craghopper cargo pants. Undershorts are the very effective Ex Officio mesh variety...good comfort and fast drying.

Of course wool socks and even if in Chaco's and it's cold, I'll still be looking like a goober with wool socks:D

The Buff/Recon Wrap neck gaiter is always in the pocket and a pair of thin glove liners isn’t too far. Even if I'm wearing my Filson packer hat or a synthetic ball cap for lighter treks, I always have a fleece watch cap.

For overnight/backpacking, I have a mini-compression bag (compresses down to the size of a softball) that holds a spare pair of wool socks, Smartwool zip-neck thermal top and Polartec silk-weight long underwear. This is typically my cold-weather sleeping gear and if needed, additional layering. If I'm planning on being around water or expect to get wet with cold weather, I'll add in a pair of Ex-Officio amphi pants...they compact down well and are good in/around water or when needing to dry out my primary pants.

If it's really cold (not as bad as I'm use to down here in GA except up in the mountains), I'll upgrade to a Gore-Tex parka and ECWCS pants.

Layering is critical, especially if the temperatures or your activities vary widely. I am more than comfortable hiking in shorts and a light top with temperatures in the 30-40's, but when you stop to take a break, you really need the ability to regulate body heat and perspiration. Layering makes that so much easier and gives you so many more options.

ROCK6
 
It can get extremely nasty here in deep winter. I wear Carrhart Jackets exclusively , with a hoodie underneath. Poly-pro long johns don't go on till it hits at least 0 deg.F , or if I'm heading in the bush.
I found a neck-warmer makes a big difference , along with the ubiquitous woolen toque. I always keep an extra set of clothing in the Jeep,from underwear to outerwear. Every coat contains a knife.:D
 
I use light merino wool (Patagonia Merino 1 or 2) as a base layer- top and bottom. Darn Tough merino socks (wear these year round actually)- best socks I've found after trying close to every brand out there

mid layer will vary w/ temp- some times a wool sweater, sometimes a down vest, sometimes a down jacket

pants either wool whipcord or fleece

outer layer if needed- usually a windshirt, if lots of precip is expected I have a couple of light goretx shells

light wool gloves and a light wool cap (heavier wool mittens and balaclava in the pack if needed), also a buf

my wife uses a similar layering system, it's easy to adjust on the fly and easy to add subtract layers when needed

bythecabin.jpg
 
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im near the gulf coast, so anything in the 35-45 degree, carhardt jacket, its lined. under 35....:D.... i ad a sweatshirt and underwear.
 
In Florida it just does not get that cold. I don't really have 'special' clothing for the fall.
Jeans or heavy canvas pants usually take care of comfort. If the temps are below freezing, I'll slip on a pair of poly pro long johns.
Flannel shirts, wool shirts, maybe a fleece over that. I have poly pro base layer for the top if it gets much below freezing.
Wool cap tops it all off nicely.
 
Those of you in places where it does get cold (a relative term depending on what you are used to) might check into mil-surp aviator's clothing. Not all of it is great for mobility, but I picked up the wool gloves and overmits, a pair of trouser liners (quilted synthetic insulation), tanker cap and a few other items. While not as ski-slope fashionable as a lot of the high-tech brands I see mentioned, they are the schnitz for keeping me warm without lightening my wallet too much.

Trouser liner label: LINERS, FLYERS, CWU-9/P TROUSERS MIL-L-27546 (USAF)

bgbajt.jpg


These can be found at many milsurp stores or on the bay for $20 or less.
 
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