January 24, 2021

Layers

This is by no means an exhaustive discusssion of every known piece of insulating warmth known to man, but more of a run through of some of my favorite things along with some general discussion.

Shells

This is a separate category that I address elsewhere under "rain gear". However, a shell or wind-shirt has a lot more utility that just rain gear. Honestly, a good shell is perhaps the most foundational piece of weather related gear a hiker or mountaineer carries. A shell used to be called a "parka", but you don't hear that so much anymore. You hear about shells and hoodies. I ended up talking about these at the end of this page, so keep reading.

To hood or not to hood

In the wilderness, you want a hood. In town, a jacket without a hood might be a sensible choice. Choosing a jacket without a hood is probably driven by some drive for a certain look independent of performance. Trust me on this -- if you are sitting around shivering waiting for someone, waiting for the sun to rise, or whatever -- you want a hood for the added warmth and protection. If it is raining, you definitely want a hood, and a good one.

Down or synthetic

It is all about tradeoffs. Down used to be more expensive, but some of the fancy synthetic pieces I will discuss shortly are as pricey as any down gear. Down still wins for how well it compacts and the warmth to weight ratio. The big downside with down is that if you get it wet -- game over.

Patagonia R1 Hoody

This is widely recognized as a fabulous piece of gear. Everyone should own at least one. Too bad the sleeves aren't longer.

Patagonia thermal weight capilene hoody

In warmer weather, a lighter version of this, once called R-0.5, next marketed as "expedition weight capilene", and now sold as "thermal weight capilene" is fantastic. I almost always have one of these, along with a Patagonia Houdini "shell" in the bottom of my day-pack protected in a handy old potato bag. If you can figure out what Patagonia is calling this item this year, you should get one.

Arcteryx Atom LT

Lest you think that only Patagonia makes quality gear, I'll mention this next. There is something magic about this rather thin piece that makes it ideal for many conditions that aren't flat out severe. You can get a lighter SL version and a warmer AR version (where AR stands for "all 'round" according to some authorities). Most people however feel that the LT hits a special sweet spot. Also Arcteryx caters to athletic builds and people with long arms. I have aways been somewhat puzzled by how Patagonia makes the proportions of their upper body clothing suited for shorter and rounder physiques rather than athletes. I have this unpleasant sneaking suspicion that they are pitching their gear towards the urban "want to look like a cool outdoors person" rather than the real climber types. The price on the Atom LT is actually less than the Patagonia Nano-puff, so the choice is clear.

Patagonia Nano-Air

I own a Nano-Air. I can never remember if it is a nano-puff or nano-air, and have to look at photos to get myself straightened out. The nano-puff has a bunch of stitching on a 2 inch spacing while the nano-air has none of that. The difference goes much deeper than looks. The nano-air is designed for extreme breathability and ventilation, i.e. use while quite active. The nano-puff is more the sort of thing you want to wear to stay warm while inactive (though the Arceteryx Atom LT might be better yet). Wind will go right through the nano-air, which is what you want if you are really active. Otherwise, layer it under a shell. Once you layer it under a shell, the differences are moot. A shell is a fine idea from another angle, namely that the nano-air is rather delicate. The nano-puff is "rated" to 28 degrees, while the nano-air is "rated" to 32, which is not a difference that will knock you over. Wind resistance is the big difference. Forget the Nano-puff, get an Atom LT, and maybe a Nano-air to go with it -- or maybe not.

Arcteryx Alpha-FL

This is my elite shell. Bulletproof rain protection without being too heavy. There was a part of me I had to beat into submission that really wanted to buy the Alpha-SV, but I won the battle, got the "FL" instead and have no regrets. If you are mountaineering in the Himalayas on a regular basis or doing lots of winter ski tours, the SV might make sense. I read comments by one fellow who owns both the FL and the SV and says he grabs the FL 9 times out of 10. You also have to consider that "FL" (fast and light) from Arcteryx is going to be a more serious shell than many companies standard offering.

Patagonia Houdini

Just get one. There is never an excuse not to carry it and it can make a huge difference when you need it. It is by no means rain gear, but is one of those things (like thermal bottoms) that pack an incredible punch for the size and weight.

Outdoor Research Helium

I don't own one of these, but I ought to. I had one in hand doing some sewing repairs and decided that it was a very nice piece and worth having. It sits between the Houdini and the Alpha-FL. It is real rain-gear if you need it and light enough to consider carrying all the time regardless. The price is right too for a piece of real rain gear. For a few dollars more, get this instead of the Houdini -- the only downside is that it won't pack quite so small. 
Patagonia Houdini --       $99 3.7  ounces Nylon with DWR
Outdoor Research Helium - $110 6.4  ounces Pertex Shield 2.5 layer
Arcteryx Alpha FL    --   $450 11.4 ounces Gortex Pro N40 3 layer
Arcteryx Alpha SV    --   $800 18.0 ounces Gortex Pro N100 3 layer

Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's backpacking pages / tom@mmto.org