Synthetic insulation vs fleece

[fightthenoise]

You don't need it if you're soaking it with sweat. You're sweating because you're generating too much heat. Take it off when you're sweating.....or better off, before you're sweating. When I used to hunt the later rifle seasons, I'd always start out in the single digit temps with just my base layers and then whatever my normal hunting shirt and pants were. I'd still sweat. But when I'd stop or slow down, I'd let myself stop sweating and then put on the heavy insulation.

This is about where I’m ending up. Just start out in one layer even though it may feel like I’m about to freeze to death, and just modulate temp using exertion instead of clothing.

To me it just seems like a waste to carry a fleece around if it’s not that warm, so it doesn’t contribute what a equally weighted active insulation piece would when stationary, but it’s too hot to hike in.

I’m leaning toward finding the warmest piece out there that weighs what a fleece would. That way at least my maximum warmth ceiling is as high as it can be, and the temperature floor is dictated by my base layer thickness. I’m leaning toward an active insulation piece like a Kenai so I can at least cook myself dry before I put my down puffy on.

My current setup is
First Lite merino base of a thickness depending on the season
Mid layer (?????)
Montbell down puffy
Rain shell

 

[rbljack]

I was watching a video from kifarucast today and it had Aron and Frank doing a scout trip. In that video aron was wearing a piece from swazi that looked like a pretty nice piece also. I wasn't camo, but it was a type of fleece and had a hoodie on it. he also said it had the kangaroo pockets so he could run his waist belt of the back thru the hand warmer pockets. Might be another option. I don't recall what he called it though. I Think it was a piece he would wear around camp more than an active layer though.

 

[elkduds]

I agree w 5 Miles: Preventing or @ least minimizing perspiration makes everything else simpler. When starting my day I layer for how warm I will be in 30 min instead of now. Climbing a mountain in the dark, I don't need an insulated layer even around 10-20 degrees. I can vent my pants, wear thinner gloves, fleece earband over thin ballcap, unzip my chest base layer. Dumping heat from head, neck, hands can reduce sweating, and no undressing is required to adjust those layers. You don't even have to stop hiking,

My setup for starting off w a 30+ min climb to sit and glass before 1st light, in temps from around 15 degrees when starting: Boots, merino blend socks, maybe gaiters. light or midweight base layer pants, NOT insulated. Fleece backed softshell pants w vents open, like Sitka 90%. Shirts: lightweight 1/2 zip merino base. Maybe a softshell fleece vest, mostly unzipped. 90% type jacket, vents open. Gloves only thick enough to keep fingers from getting cold/stiff. uninsulated cap, fleece earband. I'll feel cold on my neck, chest, head, hands and under the open vents when I start hiking. On the hike in I'll adjust to keep from sweating, if possible. Or take the elevator.

When time to stop climbing or sit: close all vents, replace earband w beanie, add fleece neck gaiter. Add thin (100 wt) fleece 1/2 zip under, over or instead of vest. Switch to insulated gloves. I also have an old puffy jacket in my pack that fits under, over or in place of the soft shell jacket, and a fleece balaclava. Lots of combinations possible w that. If it will be above freezing during daylight, I might not need the beanie, vest, balaclava, insulated gloves, neck gaiter or puffy. Here in CO it is better to have another pound of warm clothes, regardless of the weather forecast. No longer a fan of hoods unless they are detachable.

 

[spacemonkey]

I almost always use some sort of vest as a second layer when active hunting. Base layer is a FL wick (Chama in colder weather), then a FL Sawtooth vest or Peloton 240 vest.

Sawtooth is warmer but the Peloton is real light with great windblock.



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