Hey all, long time listener, first time poster. I'm planning for a NOBO thru-hike in the year 20someday and have been meticulously researching each piece of my gear, trying to strike that glorious balance between budget, weight, and "it was in my closet already". I've settled on what I think is a pretty good list for a normal early-to-mid-March start, but now I've run across a question for which I need the experts' advice. The question is: should I add a windshirt? Here's what I have planned so far, both winter and summer gear combined (which will of course be mailed to/from home as required):
Hike
Nike Dri-Fit s/s and/or UA Tech Tee
UA ColdGear Evo l/s crew
Land's End Polartec 100 wt quarter-zip fleece
North Face Horizon II pants
Gray lightweight mesh-like shorts (had them forever and they're lighter than anything I can find in stores -- got lucky here!)
Camp/Sleep
Mountain Hardwear Micro Ratio down jacket, no hood
UA ColdGear thermal henley
Stoic Alpine Merino 150 bottoms (could be used hiking if needed)
Other stuff
Frogg Toggs UltraLite2 rain jacket and pants (DriDucks, basically)
2-3 pairs Darn Tough light hikers (or other wool ski socks shoved in the back corner of that one drawer)
OR Versaliner gloves
Brixton Heist beanie
So... enough? Or could a windshirt find its way into this list? I'm leaning "no" (as would Skurka, I think) as I could just use the rain gear as needed, but at the same time I wonder if either a Marmot DriClime could replace the fleece, or a Patagonia Houdini could work on top of the fleece. Those of you who have experience in the normal climates of the AT and hiking with windshirts, what say you? Thanks for all the help!