Mid Layer Clothes

[bald tires]

I know that this subject has been beat to death and beyond. But I am still undecided for my trips for next summer. I typically hike in August in Yosemite or SEKI.

In the past I have worn a long sleeve button down shirt and nylon convertible pants as my base layer. When it gets cold I add a turtleneck. I don't like having to take off my shirt to put on the turtleneck. Next layer is a fairly heavy down jacket, no hood, long underwear, and a fleece beanie. I add a poncho when it rains. I have only worn the poncho twice. Mostly only wear the down jacket in the evenings or mornings at camp. Rarely wear it when hiking. The long underwear i sleep in. Rarely wear it when hiking.

Due to life events beyond my control it has been 10 years since I have been backpacking. One side of me says just wear what you have always worn. The other side of me says don't be stupid. You are in your mid 70's and need to bring warmer clothes. Better layers.

This is what I am currently thinking. Base layer a long sleeve T shirt and nylon convertible pants. The mid layer is where the problems start. Everything I read says a fleece with a hood for the mid layer. I don't like hoods. I bought a pullover fleece that was on sale online for a mid layer. It seems rather bulky. But I have no experience with pullover fleeces The fleece has a tag that says "Standard 100". I believe that refers to the weight of the fleece. My heavy down jacket barely fits over the fleece. I also have a light weight down jacket with a hood and a light weight down jacket without a hood. Both of these easily fit over the fleece pullover. Xmas is fast approaching. I like to give my kids some suggestions for Xmas presents.

I stopped in the local REI (if you can call a 50 mile drive local) last time I was close to buy some socks. I like REI wool socks. I looked at their fleeces and didn't see anything that seemed lighter weight than the fleece I just bought. I don't know what to do. I don't want to get another fleece to only find out it is the same as the one I just bought.

Are there other options to a fleece as a mid layer?

[OutdoorRandy]

I stopped taking my fleece layer and now take a long-sleeve T-shirt (REI Sahara). It's lighter and smaller. My rain shell doubles as my last warmth layer in camp. I realized that I rarely needed it for rain so why not have it double as a warmth layer.

I hike in convertible pants and a long-sleeve button down shirt (standard issue), mostly for sun protection. I can pull the T-shirt over my button down shirt at a break if necessary. I do not like the T-shirt against my body. I sleep in the T-shirt and very light long john bottoms. They stay clean and I sleep pretty warm. I do have a hood on my light down jacket (10oz).

[Harlen]

Hello Mickri,
When you wrote:

My heavy down jacket barely fits over the fleece. I also have a light weight down jacket with a hood and a light weight down jacket without a hood. Both of these easily fit over the fleece pullover

I thought I would write in my 2 cents:

It is super important to fit your layers to each other. Just make sure that there is space between each subsequent layer. I had trouble finding a final shell that fit loosely enough over my biggest winter down jacket, and finally had to go with a "extra-extra large" to do it. So now I have one shell for winter and one for summer. Anyhow, you already know the importance of the "air layers" between your clothing layers, I guess I am just emphasizing that point. Good luck on your trips; it's great that you are getting back out there.

[bobby49]

This whole discussion is a little weird, since we don't know what elevations you camp at, so we don't know what the temperature might be.

I dislike having to remove one lower thinner layer so that I can put on a heavier layer. As a result, each of my layers goes on top of the last layer. For the day, my basic layers are one thin polyester t-shirt, then a long sleeve button down shirt. In the evening, I put on a thicker polyester sweater. It used to be a pullover, but I added a front zipper. Then in the early morning, I need to get breakfast when it is cold, so I have a lightweight down inner jacket for warmth. There is also a thin rain jacket in case of rain or wind. If it happens to be cold at night, like below freezing, I can wear some of those layers inside my sleeping bag. Below the waist, I wear polyester trail pants. If it gets cold, I have some thin "pajamas" that pull on over another layer (made out of a non-woven fabric). I have some very thin rain pants in the event of rain or wind. Most importantly, I wear a standard ball cap during the day, and if it gets cold, there is a light down beanie. When sleeping, whatever clothing I am not wearing is stuffed into a sack to become my pillow.

[bald tires]

The trips I am thinking about for next August and maybe into September are the Rae Lakes loop or hike from the Ansel Adams Wilderness over to Red's Meadow then up to Tuolumne Meadow. Then back down through Yosemite and over Isberg Pass back into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. I expect it to be fairly cold going over the passes and in the mornings. Evenings too once the sun goes behind the mountains to the west.

Here is a thought. Start with the long sleeve T, then add a wool shirt followed by my light weight down jacket with the hood if needed. Final layer a wind/rain jacket that fits over either the wool shirt or down jacket. Been looking at several of the less expensive rain jackets.

Another possibly crazy/off the wall thought. I spent most my life on ocean racing sailboats. Foul weather sailing gear is bulky and heavy. In moderate weather I had the neck portion of a turtleneck that I would wear to cover those in between times when it got a little cold for just a shirt but not cold enough to go to full foul weather gear. I don't know if you can still buy those. Probably have to cut up a turtleneck.

And I like to keep base pack weight down as much as possible. But I am not a fanatic when it comes to saving weight. My current base pack weight is around 16 lbs.

[bald tires]

Did an experiment this morning. Put on the long sleeve T base layer and then my turtleneck over it. The turtleneck added some warmth but not like the fleece or one of my lighter down jackets. Put the fleece on and got a significant increase in warmth. Temp was in the low 50's and no wind.

Going to put everything in my pack today to see how much space the fleece takes up.

[mkbgdns]

yes--seriously consider bringing warmer stuff. I'm 75, and have experienced a significant loss in cold tolerance in the last 10 years. now, everybody's body and metabolism are different, and I've lost weight (insulation) (ok, ok--some muscle mass too). but I encourage you to experiment with your clothing combinations in different weather. hack for your neck--I have an old silk (nearly weightless) balaclava that I wear around my neck to add warmth.

[paul]

For me, the only fleecy layer I will use now is Alpha Direct. Far and away the most warmth for weight of any fleece, though you need a shell over it to block any wind. Best sorce I know is Senchi Designs.

[bald tires]

I have pretty good cold tolerance. But once I get cold it is harder to get warm. I am thinking of upping base pack weight to include extra warm clothes. And I have been losing weight. My goal is to get down to the weight when I graduated from college. 200 lbs. Maybe as low as 195. I am already down to 209 lbs. So not that much further to go. We spend countless time and money obtaining lighter gear but you never hear about people trying to lose weight. I will be down 30 lbs if I get to 195. That's huge. We can't save anywhere the weight with our gear that we can save by losing body weight.

[paul]

I, too, have found I need a little more clothing as I get older. But not a lot more. And I agree, it takes me a lot longer to get warmed up if I once get cold. My metabolism just seems to respond and adjust more slowly. So I have to pay more attention to managing my layers so that I don't start to get cold.
I think it is wise, if you are getting back into backpacking after not having been out for a while, to play it safe and bring a little extra in the way of clothing. If you find you don't need it, no big deal; but it's no fun to be cold all the time. After a trip of two you'll have a better idea what you need. The biggest difference for me is that I sleep a lot colder, so I need warmer sleeping gear.
As for losing weight, watch out that you don't lose muscle mass. Very easy to lose muscle mass once you get over 60, and hard to gain it back.

For your neck warmer, try a buff. Works fairly well for that, and can be light hat or ear warmer or face covering as well.