My gear/pack layout from base layers to binos

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Thought I was stealing this secondhand find - until I got it and looked at the collar.

View attachment 1007095

I would guess this is an older version because it’s not made in the same location and not 100% wool. Not sure if it’s worth keeping?

I mean it's probably still pretty good, especially if you got it for cheap. Heck wear it as a beater and put it through it's paces.

 

[9487329]

I would guess this is an older version because it’s not made in the same location and not 100% wool. Not sure if it’s worth keeping?

Still a great piece. Will have most of the benefits of full wool, and will be a bit more durable to snags and abrasion. I definitely wouldn't personally get rid of it.

 

[atmat]

Thought I was stealing this secondhand find - until I got it and looked at the collar.

View attachment 1007095

I would guess this is an older version because it’s not made in the same location and not 100% wool. Not sure if it’s worth keeping?

If I were you, I’d keep it.

If you don’t want it, let me know the price and I’ll probably buy it from you. I imagine it’s still a sweater I’d enjoy running — even if just around the house or yard.

 

[Dobermann]

Thought I was stealing this secondhand find - until I got it and looked at the collar.

View attachment 1007095

I would guess this is an older version because it’s not made in the same location and not 100% wool. Not sure if it’s worth keeping?

Would be interesting to contact Atlantic Rancher and find out if it was even theirs, or was a knock-off ...

I've seen knock-offs of obscure brands I would never have thought China would know about - or that there'd be a big enough market for. On the other hand, when I first saw a secondhand Kifaru pouch in Realtree or Mossy Oak or something, in some kind of fluffy material, and co-branded Cabela's, I thought there was no way that could have been real ... but it was.

 

[Ajsomp]

Would be interesting to contact Atlantic Rancher and find out if it was even theirs, or was a knock-off ...

I've seen knock-offs of obscure brands I would never have thought China would know about - or that there'd be a big enough market for. On the other hand, when I first saw a secondhand Kifaru pouch in Realtree or Mossy Oak or something, in some kind of fluffy material, and co-branded Cabela's, I thought there was no way that could have been real ... but it was.

It’s a darn good knock off if it is. I threw it on today with temps in the 20s and wore it with a T-shirt and my puffy. Was fantastic

 

[Ajsomp]

Would be interesting to contact Atlantic Rancher and find out if it was even theirs, or was a knock-off ...

I've seen knock-offs of obscure brands I would never have thought China would know about - or that there'd be a big enough market for. On the other hand, when I first saw a secondhand Kifaru pouch in Realtree or Mossy Oak or something, in some kind of fluffy material, and co-branded Cabela's, I thought there was no way that could have been real ... but it was.

Confirmed with Atlantic rancher, it’s an older piece- circa 1996. Could have fooled me- it’s in great condition

 

[atmat]

Confirmed with Atlantic rancher, it’s an older piece- circa 1996. Could have fooled me- it’s in great condition

… so I take it you’re not selling it to me?

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Confirmed with Atlantic rancher, it’s an older piece- circa 1996. Could have fooled me- it’s in great condition

That is awesome. I never luck out and find cool stuff like that. I'm always looking too.

 

[24valve]

That is awesome. I never luck out and find cool stuff like that. I'm always looking too.

Not an Atlantic Rancher, but similar wool content to the one @Ajsomp found: https://www.ebay.com/itm/376554165893

 

[Ajsomp]

… so I take it you’re not selling it to me?

I mean I’ll sell anything not tied down…but I might keep this around. Looking at almost two feet of snow this weekend so I may need something for shoveling

 

[WyldGoose]

… so I take it you’re not selling it to me?

What size are you? There’s a few of these AR wool/acrylic blends on eBay right now…

 

[Dobermann]

@fwafwow: Seeing as I was part of the 'mean girls' club that talked you into a 1911, what are your reflections on the Ranger Sweater vs Quarter Zip, now you've had them for longer?

You might be able to talk me into one ... but there's no way we're ever meeting up in public, or we'll all be dressed the same ...

 

[Ajsomp]

@fwafwow: Seeing as I was part of the 'mean girls' club that talked you into a 1911, what are your reflections on the Ranger Sweater vs Quarter Zip, now you've had them for longer?

You might be able to talk me into one ... but there's no way we're ever meeting up in public, or we'll all be dressed the same ...

I feel like the 0-600 S2H is going to look like this soon

 

[Dobermann]

I feel like the 0-600 S2H is going to look like this soon
View attachment 1007586

I think that's the only thing I'm happy about not being able to get over there for the class ...

Keb or Sarma trousers, Aclima woolnets, maybe a Ranger sweater in my future, Hestra gloves, and Vivo Forest Escs ... sigh ...

If only Form didn't have to be so gosh durned right about stuff all the time.

I think I'll have to rebel, and get a Rab Neutrino Pro instead of the SG Grumman. And I'm not wearing no "taboggan" on my head. Or a sled. But I do have a beanie ...

 

[fwafwow]

@fwafwow: Seeing as I was part of the 'mean girls' club that talked you into a 1911, what are your reflections on the Ranger Sweater vs Quarter Zip, now you've had them for longer?

You might be able to talk me into one ... but there's no way we're ever meeting up in public, or we'll all be dressed the same ...

I know what you are doing. And you’re doing it again. I don’t own the quarter zip, but I had thought about it recently. Do you read minds? Or have you hacked into my search history?

I have the regular Ranger (two colors) and the cardigan. I like them both a lot, but the cardigan is my favorite. My only gripe is the logos. I’ve thought about taking them off, but I’m sure I’d eff it up and leave holes.

 

[Dobermann]

I know what you are doing. And you’re doing it again. I don’t own the quarter zip, but I had thought about it recently. Do you read minds? Or have you hacked into my search history?

I have the regular Ranger (two colors) and the cardigan. I like them both a lot, but the cardigan is my favorite. My only gripe is the logos. I’ve thought about taking them off, but I’m sure I’d eff it up and leave holes.

Ooops. I wasn't doing it again ... promise! I'd genuinely forgotten you got the cardigan rather than the quarter zip. Personally, I can't quite imagine wearing a cardigan in the backcountry, but hey ... you did just buy a 1911!

 

[fwafwow]

Ooops. I wasn't doing it again ... promise! I'd genuinely forgotten you got the cardigan rather than the quarter zip. Personally, I can't quite imagine wearing a cardigan in the backcountry, but hey ... you did just buy a 1911!

I'm guess I'm going for a retro-mod Fudd look. I do feel like a grandpa when I wear that cardigan. I justify it because why go 1/4 zip when you can go full zip - plus buttons?!

 

[Ajsomp]

This east coast weather gave me an opportunity to test gear in 20 degree temps and sleet/snow. Put some of the recommendations above to the test for about 3 hours.

Today I rocked the woolshell pants, mesh base layers, merino short sleeve T-shirt, Atlantic rancher sweater mentioned above, Patagonia Houdini, elk skin gloves, wool beanie, vivobarefoot trackers, injinji liner socks and yak wool socks.

Temperature when I started was 20 degrees. As I started shoveling I had to ditch the sweater. I imagine hiking in that sweater it would not be my preferred, unless it was super cold. I tend to run hot, and this was no different than what I’m used to hiking. Used the Houdini over the Woolnet and T-shirt and was still pretty warm but not sweating noticeably. The sweater is nice, I’m sure it is better as 100% merino but I don’t know if I need it. I’m still split on if this or my first spear wool pull over is a better layer.

Hands were not cold as the gloves were mostly dry (only started to get colder later when the leather got wet). Swapped to a set of wool lined leather gloves when I stopped shoveling.

Feet were nice and warm. Didn’t end up feeling cold until I did some post holing in the snow to help my kids sled and then stood around for a while. Still not uncomfortable but would probably need some water resistant boots with some liner or some mukluk style for sitting when glassing.

The Houdini ended up getting wet, it wasn’t making me cold but I would have been better served with a rain jacket as the water/wind barrier. I ended up switching later when helping the kids sled and I was doing less active work.

Woolshell pants definitely need suspenders vs a belt. Just no way to keep them high enough based on how they are cut. I’ll look to remedy that. They were warm and did their job all afternoon despite getting some snow on them.

Wool beanie always works. No need to change it. I have a knit and standard style from duckworth.

Overall I feel good with my choices. If I were weight conscious the Atlantic rancher might not make the cut, but it’s nice. Everything else works as it has before. If I was doing extended cold weather I’d probably get some mittens or something similar. Still need to settle on a set of down puffy pants before next season.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

This east coast weather gave me an opportunity to test gear in 20 degree temps and sleet/snow. Put some of the recommendations above to the test for about 3 hours.

Today I rocked the woolshell pants, mesh base layers, merino short sleeve T-shirt, Atlantic rancher sweater mentioned above, Patagonia Houdini, elk skin gloves, wool beanie, vivobarefoot trackers, injinji liner socks and yak wool socks.

Temperature when I started was 20 degrees. As I started shoveling I had to ditch the sweater. I imagine hiking in that sweater it would not be my preferred, unless it was super cold. I tend to run hot, and this was no different than what I’m used to hiking. Used the Houdini over the Woolnet and T-shirt and was still pretty warm but not sweating noticeably. The sweater is nice, I’m sure it is better as 100% merino but I don’t know if I need it. I’m still split on if this or my first spear wool pull over is a better layer.

Hands were not cold as the gloves were mostly dry (only started to get colder later when the leather got wet). Swapped to a set of wool lined leather gloves when I stopped shoveling.

Feet were nice and warm. Didn’t end up feeling cold until I did some post holing in the snow to help my kids sled and then stood around for a while. Still not uncomfortable but would probably need some water resistant boots with some liner or some mukluk style for sitting when glassing.

The Houdini ended up getting wet, it wasn’t making me cold but I would have been better served with a rain jacket as the water/wind barrier. I ended up switching later when helping the kids sled and I was doing less active work.

Woolshell pants definitely need suspenders vs a belt. Just no way to keep them high enough based on how they are cut. I’ll look to remedy that. They were warm and did their job all afternoon despite getting some snow on them.

Wool beanie always works. No need to change it. I have a knit and standard style from duckworth.

Overall I feel good with my choices. If I were weight conscious the Atlantic rancher might not make the cut, but it’s nice. Everything else works as it has before. If I was doing extended cold weather I’d probably get some mittens or something similar. Still need to settle on a set of down puffy pants before next season.

I wore a wool anorak, t-shirt, and army combat pants shoveling in 12 degrees today and was drenched. I would have had a heat stroke with all the gear you had on.

 

[WhoGarrDen]

Same winter storm as Ajsomp, but we got a lot of dry snow. 19F high for the day, winds were 10-14mph while I was out. Up top I had a cheap costco synthetic long sleeve under the closeout model Kuiu Peloton 240, wool beanie and a thicker cotton blend scarf. Wool liners under standard cheap insulated gloves (something like this). Bottoms were Costco 32 degree heat thermals under the Costco fleece-lined pants, darn tough socks with injinji liners, and uninsulated boots. Total clothing cost somewhere around $200 if you don't count the boots.

Shoveled the driveway (decent pace, trying not to sweat) - wool liners and scarf were too much. Definitely want a thinner scarf that is JUST enough to block the wind, and no glove liners when being that active. Then played a round of disc golf (2.5hrs...kept losing them in the snow). While standing still waiting on my buddy to arrive in the wind, my upper body got cold and I threw on the 32 degree packable down jacket and was perfectly fine being static without a wind block. Trudging through 7-10" of snow as no one had walked the course all weekend was plenty to keep me warm, but with stopping to search/throw, etc. was keeping my heart rate down pretty low.

I think I'm set with this for a while...just need some puffy pants and better scarf - might try Forms cotton shemagh at the risk of looking like a desert operator. Got the M7 set as a backup in the pack if needed when the wind gets too bad or precip turns to sleet/rain. Worried I might need some kind of boot blanket when stopping for more than an hour though... Someone hook me up with a budget option there?