What jacket to bring early season high country

[scarboy11]

I have a size large scout vest from Kryptek for sale brand new

 

[tttoadman]

Same as most here. I ditched the soft shell jacket. I have a C4E raincoat and a kelvin light vest.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm a BIG fleece fanatic, but they aren't as warm as I'd like them to be for glassing or other low activity times when it gets a little chilly. So at under 10oz and very little space, my down puffy fits the bill very well.

 

[rodney482]

Ascent
superdown
north face rain jacket

 

[Hawkeye]

Base layers (light and heavy) Usually carry a few with me incase I need to change into dry clothes from sweat.
Superdown Jacket (Always with me)
Chugach NX for rain gear and wind block. (always with me)

 

[jmez]

I think a lot of this depends on your internal thermostat. If I were going to put a down jacket or coat on it would need to be getting close to single digits.

I wear a light merino top 90% of the time early season. I have a Kryptec hunting shirt, rarely ever put it on, Kryptek vest and raincoat. That is all I take in with me. If I get chilly glassing or sitting I throw the vest on. I have yet to have to put the rain coat on for warmth, even when windy. I think I'm going to ditch the hunting shirt this year and just take the baselayer, vest and rain coat.

 

[scarboy11]

Like how everyone has there own setup and what works for them. That is what it's all about. As for me I always have my base layers they are lightweight, depending on the time of year I will leave behind the base later bottoms. Then I have a camo long sleeve, vest, super lightweight jacket and rain gear. Reason for my question was I have heard nothing but great things about the dcs guide jacket and want to know if it can take a pounding and get you through it.

 

[rodney482]

Temps get in low 40's and im glassing the superdown goes on.
40's are quite common in Sept in the high country

I dont have gear for single digit temps with me in Sept.

I think a lot of this depends on your internal thermostat. If I were going to put a down jacket or on it would need to be getting close to single digits.

I wear a light merino top 90% of the time early season. I have a Kryptec hunting shirt, rarely ever put it on, Kryptek vest and raincoat. That is all I take in with me. If I get chilly glassing or sitting I throw the vest on. I have yet to have to put the rain coat on for warmth, even when windy. I think I'm going to ditch the hunting shirt this year and just take the baselayer, vest and rain coat.

 

[5MilesBack]

Temps get in low 40's and im glassing the superdown goes on.
40's are quite common in Sept in the high country

I dont have gear for single digit temps with me in Sept.

I agree. The only single digit temps gear I have on me is my legs..........to get me moving. I hardly sit in double digit temps, I'd never sit in single digit temps.

 

[jmez]

Temps in the 40s I wouldn't even have the vest on, just a 180 merino base layer.

 

[Nick Muche]

Take two layers of merino, a rain jacket and a lightweight puffy.

 

[5MilesBack]

Temps in the 40s I wouldn't even have the vest on, just a 180 merino base layer.

When it gets below about 90, I start to get chilled. Probably why I'm always on the move, gotta keep the furnace burning.

What happens when it hits 70......do you melt, take off your top, or both?

 

[rodney482]

Temps in the 40s I wouldn't even have the vest on, just a 180 merino base layer.

Temps were 40's wind was 20mph and it was cloudy...
I had them all on!

 

[jmez]

My ideal temp would be about 50. I don't like the heat.

I also take a 30 degree bag and sleep with it unzipped and folded back most every night.

 

[BroodBuster]

My Sitka Cloudburst never really leaves my pack. I do live in Wa . Although I've really only worn it once while hunting and that was as a windbreaker in 0* windy weather.

I love my Marmot puffy vest!

And a wool or fleece beenie is probably the most important thing to have to keep warm in the mountains. It's like the old mountaineers saying, "if your feet get cold put on a hat."

So to answer the original question I would never under any circumstance leave my rain jacket at home.