Kuiu kenai vest? Insulating mid layers

[Kspence49]

I’ve got a lot of my bases covered clothing wise but one area I haven’t really settled on is insulating mid layers. I own a jetstream and an axis jacket, I like both for different purposes, I also have an ambient jacket, a peloton 240, some peloton 97s, and some other odds and ends. I have the static cold weather gear covered as well, down for packing and Sitka blizzard for just sitting not far from the car.

For short hikes from the truck I was considering either a kuiu kenai or Sitka aerolite vest with a peloton 97 over a merino t-shirt, and then having one of my soft shells over the top if it gets colder or when I slow down/stop for a bit. I’m mostly a truck hunter right now not a multi day backpacker, couple miles at most. I live in an alpine desert that deals with wind much more than rain so I value breathability and wind protection over waterproofing. Does anyone run a system like I’m describing? Would the Kenai or aerolite vest be useful for this scenario?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Anything that's really breathable is going to suck in a cold wind.

 

[Kspence49]

Anything that's really breathable is going to suck in a cold wind.

True, but it doesn’t bother me as much when I'm active as long as it isn’t SUPER cold and windy in which case I usually will either not go out or will wear my heavy cold weather gear. I’m more talking 35-55

 

[fngTony]

Too much back sweat from wearing a kenai on any kind of exerting hike. The peloton 97 under a wind shirt (Patagonia Houdini) was better with sweat and wind.

 

[Kspence49]

Too much back sweat from wearing a kenai on any kind of exerting hike. The peloton 97 under a wind shirt (Patagonia Houdini) was better with sweat and wind.

Interesting, good feedback. What does your layering over the wind shirt look like when exertion reduces?

 

[fngTony]

Interesting, good feedback. What does your layering over the wind shirt look like when exertion reduces?

Well the wind shirt isn’t a staple in my line up but when I use it in the scenario you mentioned I put my down jacket over it. That set up still wasn’t quite right and I went to an Outdoor Research Deviator hoodie which is like your ambient but a lighter grid fleece across the back and underneath the arms. The rest of it is a similar insulation to the ambient and has a face fabric that is a little more breathable than the Houdini. I think that is a good balance of warmth and breathable. I used the Deviator extensively this year in the Colorado alpine and I like it more than the kenai.

 

[ElDiablito]

I don’t have a “system,” but I do have the Kenai jacket and vest and both are among my favorite Kuiu pieces. Great (for me) for high exertion activity. Not real wind resistant though as stated.

 

[Kspence49]

I don’t have a “system,” but I do have the Kenai jacket and vest and both are among my favorite Kuiu pieces. Great (for me) for high exertion activity. Not real wind resistant though as stated.

When do you find yourself using the jacket over the vest and visa versa?