Kodiak goat- mid October

[hawkhunts]

I’m trying to wrap up my last little bit of gear for my Kodiak trip and am trying to decide on what to use for my outer layer shirt, if I’m not in rain gear.
I’m thinking of it in two stages- the hard sweaty parts, ascent and descent I’ll probably just have a merino base under my Kuiu Katana rain paints. On my upper, a merino t shirt with a Sitka traverse zip T or my old kryptec borealis. Will definitely change out of the base layers at camp the first night, I will be soaked.
During the hunt itself, if I’m not in rain gear, it will be Sitka timberlines over merino base layer, and on my upper a merino t, a merino quarter zip (first light kiln). I can top those of with either the borealis, or the traverse. Problem is neither of those is great at cutting wind.
I’m considering adding a kudu peloton 240 hoodie for my outer layer instead of either the borealis or traverse. I do have the old Sitka heavyweight hoodie as well, but that may be too much. I’m not usually a hoodie guy, I normally just run a quarter zip and a neck gaiter, but being able to pull a hood on and off to keep the wind and cold off as necessary makes a lot of sense.

 

[Cyril]

I’ll be interested to know exactly what you land on because I will be in the same place at the same time in 2027. For now, my intent is to hike in with kuiu strong fleece 190 quarter zip over merino t if it is not raining with first lite corrugate foundry pants over nothing.

I personally find the strong fleece to be batter through brush and more wind resistant that the peloton line. Really hoping to not wear rain gear in the climb but we will see.

 

[hawkhunts]

I’ll be interested to know exactly what you land on because I will be in the same place at the same time in 2027. For now, my intent is to hike in with kuiu strong fleece 190 quarter zip over merino t if it is not raining with first lite corrugate foundry pants over nothing.

I personally find the strong fleece to be batter through brush and more wind resistant that the peloton line. Really hoping to not wear rain gear in the climb but we will see.

I’ve been hiking all spring with the Borealis shirt -mostly in the high 30’s and 40’s. My merino t shirt is usually so wet I wouldn’t try to let it dry from inside out, it will have to come off. But the Borealis could go right back on for the hunt. If iI had a little more confidence in it cutting the wind I’d just use that as my outer layer. I can always put on the shell if the wind is really chilling me, but I’d much prefer a t shirt/mid layer/windproof outer. If I can find a better option than the Borealis I would switch it out (but I sure like that piece)

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m usually hiking in a kuiu merino t shirt alone or under a lighter kuiu merino 1/4 zip. I also have the Barney’s wool shirt to throw over that. Those all dry out pretty well and don’t stink after several days of hiking. Other than that, a puffy vest and a rain shell is all I take.

Some of those new insulated wind shirt type things look sweet but I’ve never tried one.