Shell and Mid-layers for a March 2013 thru

[nickamante]

Hey guys, I'm working on my March 2013 Thru-hike gear list and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for outer and insulating layers. I'd love to hear your thoughts on:


Shells for Rain/Wind/Snow
I'm finding it tricky to cover all my bases with a minimum of gear. Starting in March I'm worried about snow protection in addition to rain/wind. I think the Packa is a great idea and I like that it keeps the back of the pack/straps dry, but I'm not sure how it'll handle colder temps or high winds (anyone who can speak to that?). Also taking off the pack during rain presents a problem so I'd probably want either a back-up tarp or jacket for that situation.


I've been thinking I could get a Packa and a light weight rain/wind jacket for the colder months, then send the jacket home in the summer and potentially swap out the pants for a rain kilt, but that's starting to sound like gear overkill to me. I'm curious what combinations you guys have found work well.

Here are my top picks so far:
Top: GoLite Malpais Trinity (http://www.golite.com/Ms-Malpais-Trinity-3-Layer-Liteshell-Jacket-P905.aspx) ($80, 7oz), Sierra Designs Hurricane (http://www.rei.com/product/837383/sierra-designs-hurricane-rain-jacket-mens) ($74, 12.5oz), and/or Packa (http://www.thepacka.com/) ($115, 12.5oz)
Bottom: REI Ultra Lite (http://www.rei.com/product/794209/rei-ultra-light-pants-mens-30-inseam) ($50, 11oz), GoLite Currant Mountain Paclite (http://www.golite.com/Ms-Currant-Mountain-Paclite-2-Layer-Pant-P46645.aspx) ($80, 7oz)



Insulating Mid-Layer
I'm eyeing up several jackets; on the warmer side the Patagonia Down Sweater (http://www.rei.com/product/770806/patagonia-down-sweater-mens) ($200, 11oz) or MontBell Alpine Lite Down Parka (http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=70&p_id=2301361) ($209, 14.7oz). On the lighter side, the MontBell EX Light Down (http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?p_id=2301344) ($200, 5.6oz), the Patagonia Nano Puff (http://www.rei.com/product/809225/patagonia-nano-puff-jacket-mens) ($200, 12oz) or the MontBell UL Thermawrap (http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=73&p_id=2301161) ($155, 9.3oz).


For a March start, would I be ok with one of the lighter choices? What about down vs synthetic? I opted for a down bag, but it'll be in a waterproof stuff sack... I imagine keeping the jacket dry is gonna be trickier.

[swjohnsey]

You need a water/windproof outer layer. Any of those will work.

Your insulating layer will mostly be used when you are not moving. I would use fleece because it is much cheaper and you don't have to worry about keepin' it dry. I would be sure to add balacava/hat and mittens with water/windproof outers. I wouldn't use anything from Montbell, nice stuff but not very durable and their customer service sucks.

[colorado_rob]

I use the MB Thermawrap in mixed (meaning sometimes wet) conditions, like what we'll have on the AT (I'm trying for a NOBO 2013). I have never had any durability problems with MontBell products, and I own a lot of them. Since I've never had to use the MB customer service, I have no comment on that aspect.

I'll probably supplement the thermawrap with a relatively light (10 oz) micro-fleece insulation layer at the start and through the smokies, then mail the Thermawrap home. the combo of a base layer, micro-fleece, therma warp and waterproof jacket (see below) is very versatile, warm and pretty darn and light.

For a WP jacket, I find it hard to believe anything can beat a $20 set of Dri Ducks, 11 oz total for jacket and pants (pretty close to 5.5 oz each piece). No, one jacket will not last the entire trip, but at $20, who cares if you need 2 or three of them? I use these all the time in Colorado, never been disappointed.

[Zipper]

I love my Montbell UL down jacket and have it with me camping in any weather - it makes a good pillow too with my other clothes! Maybe this is overkill for most, but I had a long sleeve layer that was some kind of soft synthetic - this was what I hiked in when it was cold. If it was colder I added a super-light fleece. For even colder or windy or rainy I had a rain shell - very light E-vent material made by Integral Designs. Before that I had Dri Ducks and they worked great too but they're far more delicate. I'll second the Balaclava, and I have a buff too. I never hiked in the down jacket so didn't need to worry about sweating into it, but wore it during breaks and at night. Kept me super cozy. I wore every single one of these layers, occasionally all of them at once, in all kinds of weather. They are still the ones I take with me, plus one sleeveless layer under all of it. Have a great hike!