The early season layering dilemma every hunter faces

[JJMarsh]

There's a moment every early season when I question all my gear choices - usually around 9 AM when the sun hits the ridge and my supposedly `breathable` jacket turns into a personal sauna. Last year's elk hunt taught me the hard way that most technical fabrics can't handle the swing from frosty dawn glassing to midday climbs.

While researching solutions, I came across Rivers West's approach to versatile layering that seems to address these exact challenges. Their focus on weather protection without sacrificing mobility caught my attention, though I'm wary of marketing claims after previous disappointments.

What's your experience been with jackets that promise to handle these mountain extremes? Have you found any that truly deliver on temperature regulation when you transition from sitting to stalking? I'm particularly interested in real-world durability - too many `technical` fabrics fail after one season of brush and pack straps.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

Thats a tall ask. And the solution you are seeming is a layering system, not just a jacket. Nothing that protects during cool morning glassing sessions will be suitable for climbing in. Anything with pit vents will help, but you may still find yourself stripping down to base layer when hiking/climbing and then layer up when stationary. It is just the way it is.
I can almost 100% assure you anything advertised as waterproof is going to be terribly not-breathable and will need to be shed during high exertion. In my testing, the garments that were more water resistant suffered during breathability testing.

I am curious what you have tried in the past and found to be not durable. Your post with the shout out to rivers west gear just screams to me as a subtle attempt to advertise for them…i could be wrong, and likely am wrong, but what have you tried in the past to make such sweeping claims of technical fabrics failing after one year or so?

 

[Maverick1]

During the month of September, I wake up, put on two merino shirts (long sleeve, short sleeve), a pair of pants, hiking boots, and start hiking uphill. The effort involved in going uphill keeps me sufficiently warm. When the sun hits the ridge and things get warm, I take off the long sleeve shirt and wear the short sleeve by itself. Mid day I wear shorts. When things cool down I put more layers on. Repeat the process each day. For later in the season hunts, add a jacket of some sort. Nothing really works well for stationary glassing and hiking - two very different activities.

@JJMarsh - Are you affiliated with Gritroutdoors in some way, shape, or form? 14 posts total, 2 have links to that website.

 

[wapitibob]

I don't have an early season layering dilemma; I wear a core lt wt, then a mid wt, then either a 90% jacket, a kryptec kratos primaloft jacket, or a Mountain jacket. This combo has worked for a long time minus the Mountain jacket as that was a last year purchase but it's usually getting picked before the 90% now.

 

[Alpine4x4]

Just use a layering system. Lightweight base long sleeve (Kuiu Gila, FL Wick), a breathable thin insulation layer (Peloton 97), and a light windproof jacket/outer layer (Peloton 240) packed you can put on once you cool down from the hike. Strongfleece works too, just no wind resistance. If you get real cold something like the Kiln packed that can be put on when you stop can work too, but that just seems too warm for early season.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

Loincloth and moccasins for early season desert.

 

[LongWayAround]

I am curious what you have tried in the past and found to be not durable. Your post with the shout out to rivers west gear just screams to me as a subtle attempt to advertise for them…i could be wrong, and likely am wrong, but what have you tried in the past to make such sweeping claims of technical fabrics failing after one year or so?

That's pretty much what I read too

None of my higher end stuff has "failed" due to pack straps in a year.

 

[N2TRKYS]

It’s pretty simple to me. I use a layering system. When I get cold, I put a layer on. When I get hot, I take a layer off. Jackets are definitely a stationary item for me. I don’t wear them when I’m moving.

I’ve been wearing the same items for over 10 years, some even longer.

 

[TaperPin]

The old timer mountaineers always suggested to shed enough layers when active to always be slightly cool to reduce perspiration and moisture build up. It’s still sage advice.

The trend to oversized chest harnesses definitely makes this more of a pain in the butt, but not shedding and adding layers throughout the day is like peeing into the wind.

 

[K_pem]

I started using a mesh merino next to skin with a Core LW or sun shirt over it as my "base layer," then put on an active insulation mid layer w/ mapped Evolve or Alpha next. Keeps me PLENTY warm and gives tons of versatility in terms of layering for weather.

When it gets real cold I will add a vest as needed and a Windstopper jacket like the MTN Evo.

 

[NXTZ]

The trend to oversized chest harnesses definitely makes this more of a pain in the butt, but not shedding and adding layers throughout the day is like peeing into the wind.

I’ve fought with this for an embarrassingly long time-absolutely a first world problem, but having to drop the pack and bino harness to shed a layer has always pissed me off.

Finally this spring I ditched any half zip layers and will only use a full zip if there’s any chance I’ll be sweating and needing to drop a layer. I wear my bino harness directly over my base layer, and can just throw a fleece jacket on over that and leave to top half open around the harness. Works for me, and makes the layering/bino harness clusterf*** way less annoying. Kinda embarrassing it took me this long to figure out but hey, maybe it’ll help someone else.

 

[Poser]

When it gets too warm for the jacket, take the jacket off.

 

[mtnbound]

There's a moment every early season when I question all my gear choices - usually around 9 AM when the sun hits the ridge and my supposedly `breathable` jacket turns into a personal sauna. Last year's elk hunt taught me the hard way that most technical fabrics can't handle the swing from frosty dawn glassing to midday climbs.

While researching solutions, I came across Rivers West's approach to versatile layering that seems to address these exact challenges. Their focus on weather protection without sacrificing mobility caught my attention, though I'm wary of marketing claims after previous disappointments.

What's your experience been with jackets that promise to handle these mountain extremes? Have you found any that truly deliver on temperature regulation when you transition from sitting to stalking? I'm particularly interested in real-world durability - too many `technical` fabrics fail after one season of brush and pack straps.

I find them to kind of work within a small temperature range and with limited amounts of exertion. IMO they must have pit zips and be a full zip even to be somewhat effective. If I am going to be exerting myself in pulling a incline
or dropping into some hellhole and it’s above 40 degrees, I find it’s best to be in a base layer and just start cold as I will warm up. Once I stop and cooldown and shift to a hunting or glassing mode then I might throw it back on depending on the temperature. I personally feel that a good wool shirt is still the best active insulation one can have.

 

[Bowhunter50]

The solution is simple - layers. You take off layers when you get hot and you add layers when you get cold.

You should start off cold when you’re about to climb or hike a lot. It’s uncomfortable at first but it’s better than stopping to take off layers when you overheat 10 minutes into a hike

I agree with what others have said. This feels like an advertisement…

 

[BBob]

"The early season layering dilemma every hunter faces"​

I have no such dilemma's.

I agree with others, reads like a shill

 

[WeiserBucks]

There's no dilemma, only people who don't understand layers.

 

[butcherboy]

Not a dilemma with me. Layers. Remove and add as needed. Definitely sounds like an advertisement.

 

[Swamppirate]

I’m not to proud to hike in to hunting area in my underdrawers and then layer accordingly…..