I find myself needing to add or subtract insulation layers more often than I'd like when hiking in 30-45 degree temperatures.
Ie: adjust as the day warms up, the elevation gets higher, the terrain gets steeper, the wind picks up, or I enter a long shady stretch of trail...
I wear a base layer top, t shirt, wind shirt, boxer briefs, hiking pants, hat, and liner gloves while hiking in 45 degree weather, and am comfortable.
For chilly sections, I need to add a fleece shirt --- which I have to put under the wind shirt for it to hold any warmth in.
For breaks, I add a fleece jacket under the wind shirt --- and I would also like to add some fleece tights under my pants to keep my legs warm.
Is there a way to make this easier --- so that layers are added and subtracted on the outside, rather than under my wind shirt and hiking pants ?
I've been using a separate insulation layer and wind shell since I've read that soft shells don't dry quickly. Is this the case ?
Also, the soft shells I've looked at were all much heavier than an expedition base layer + wind shirt (but seemed to have no thicker fleece). Are they warmer in proportion to their extra weight --- or just lots more durable ?
Thanks.