Going on a first snowy trip in ages and unsure what to wear! I expect 4-5 hours a day of hiking (straightforward terrain), plus some snow shoeing and maybe cross country skiing. Temperatures around -5 to -10 min, probably closer to former.
I have the jacket in the pic which is excellent for city snow and very warm and waterproof. But not sure if it is right for what I am doing? For one it in itself is quite chunky so not sure it would fit all the layers underneath and so far my search suggests I should be looking for hardshell I can combo with fleece.
Or maybe it’s ok? I can still fit a fleece underneath it… but worry I’d be too hot! Thank you for any advice
I think you’ll probably be a bit too warm for vigorous activity in a coat like that. I’d recommend a base layer, your fleece, a puffer, and a shell. You could probably skip one of those layers, but layering is key. It’s great to be able to peel off layers as you get too warm
Depends on how extraneous the hike is. You could be sweating and this looks heavy and not breathable. Better to layer with close to body forming flexible and remove when needed
Layers. It’s all about layers. Base layer of wool long underwear to start, waterproof shell for your last layer. Maybe a wool sweater or fleece jacket in between. Before you start take some layers off so you’re cold. You’ll warm up once you get working. Immediately put those layers back on when you stop. Stay hydrated, bring extra clothes/socks, and have fun.
More details…length of hike, elevation, ect? If you are going to be in high elevations this would be a great jacket to change into at a rest point. Maybe too long to wear during hiking depending on exertion. Layering is best but if you have space in you pack it is cheaper to have a bulky jacket than paying for all the high end layer options from REI type stores.
@Marley
Shouldn’t be high elevation - more forests than mountains…. Definitely seems more like a rest point or city walking jacket according to all comments. Will try and layer, there has to be some medium end clothes! (High end seems silly if I don’t go often but still want it to last and my country gets cold too!)
If you really want to get into the nerdy details, Andrew Skurka outlines the idea of layering for conditions in great detail in his Core 13 gear article. I’ve more or less followed this guide for my last 8000 miles of backpacking. Check it out if you want to wrap your head around layering.
