Your Second Layer?

[ccarter]

Kuiu Peloton 97 or 200 down to the 30s or so.
Kuiu Kutana Hybrid 3defx if colder than that. It's fleece backed, and very lightly insulated in chest and sleeves, which is also more wind resistant.
Though I'd never hike anything steep or very far in it unless it was brutally cold, it does seems to offer better warmth and wind resistance than a straight fleece. It also easily goes on under my puffy.

 

[ccarter]

For you guys that carry a wind shirt, do you carry that in addition to a rain jacket? Or are you guys leaving the rain gear at camp and trusting that the weather man gets it right?

That said, it's fairly arid in most of the places I hunt, so I carry the Cabela's Space Rain jacket to ride out the occasional passing storm. This year, I used it as a windbreaker at times, and I was stunned at how much warmer I stayed. I actually rarely needed to put on my puffy just by keeping the warmth my mid layer was providing inside the shell.

 

[mtwarden]

If I know it's going to rain I bring rain gear (top/bottoms), if it's a slim chance I bring the Sitka Flash.

Later Fall here when it's cold (teens and below) I just bring the windshirt as precip is going to snow and dry snow at that.

 

[woods89]

For you guys that carry a wind shirt, do you carry that in addition to a rain jacket? Or are you guys leaving the rain gear at camp and trusting that the weather man gets it right?

That said, it's fairly arid in most of the places I hunt, so I carry the Cabela's Space Rain jacket to ride out the occasional passing storm. This year, I used it as a windbreaker at times, and I was stunned at how much warmer I stayed. I actually rarely needed to put on my puffy just by keeping the warmth my mid layer was providing inside the shell.

Mine will probably be in my pack or on my person whenever I'm going to be out in windy conditions under 40 degrees or so. If its going to rain I would pack rain gear as well, as my windshirt wets through fairly quick in anything but light precip.

Having used a wind layer that is actually breathable, I don't see a rain jacket filing that niche anymore. But I'm not a real weight weenie, either.

I've only had mine about a year, so I'm not nearly as seasoned as @mtwarden in their use.

 

[Bones]

yup- that's it

I've written Sitka about the Active Hoody- great piece for early season, but the lack of full sleeves isn't going to cut it mid/late season

they've got the right fabrics and fabric weight down pat, the hood is perfect- just add full sleeves- done

How quiet is this for bow hunting. I really like the idea, but wasn’t sure if it noise a deal breaker for bow hunting

 

[mtwarden]

How quiet is this for bow hunting. I really like the idea, but wasn’t sure if it noise a deal breaker for bow hunting

it's pretty quiet; maybe not quite as quiet as fleece- but very close

kind of makes sense as this is their tactical line, noisy wouldn't make the cut I don't think

 

[doverpack12]

I thought you were doubling up peloton 97s @Ryan Avery?
The past two years late season western Montana through spring shed season I’ve been going with short sleeve peloton 118 or Sitka core lightweight then the 97 and if colder the 240 instead of 97. When I gain the majority of my elevation before daylight switch out my short sleeve then put both 97 and 240 on for slower moving still uphill but hunting.
Best system I’ve found since going away from military surplus wool pants and waffle grid long underwear under wool sweaters about 2010.
If you are shredding a 240 you know the 97 won’t hold up long.

 

[manitou1]

I'm on the Peleton bandwagon too. I also use military grid fleece 1/4 zip tops frequently. A bargain for under $40.
Another favorite of mine that I use WAY more than anticipated is the Corrugate jacket from First Lite. Lightweight, packs small, stretchy and comfortable. I sometimes use this as a second layer when breezy but not awful cold. If pretty chilly with a breeze, I can put my mid layer on, then the Corrugate. When sitting and glassing, the peloton, a puffy, then the corrugate. B ase layer to start it all off, of course. After tweeking different things, this covers most of my needs. Will go with a heavier outer shell if it gets down pretty cold.

 

[manitou1]

For you guys that carry a wind shirt, do you carry that in addition to a rain jacket? Or are you guys leaving the rain gear at camp and trusting that the weather man gets it right?

That said, it's fairly arid in most of the places I hunt, so I carry the Cabela's Space Rain jacket to ride out the occasional passing storm. This year, I used it as a windbreaker at times, and I was stunned at how much warmer I stayed. I actually rarely needed to put on my puffy just by keeping the warmth my mid layer was providing inside the shell.

I carry a F.L. Corrugate if no rain is forecasted. It is one of my favs for wind and light precip. If heavier rain is anticipated, the rain gear (heavier and bulkier) goes in the pack.

 

[Formidilosus]

As @Ryan Avery posted, if you are moving and wearing a pack, it is counter productive to have insulation of any type on your back.


My general clothing choices for moving is either a short or long sleeve extremely thin base layer and a windshirt over if its below 30’ish or windy. Even still, at single digits with just the light base layer and the windshirt, the back is drenched in short order. This is the number one problem the people I hunt with have- drying their back out after moving. I spend a lot of time in late seasons hunting, and the Sitka Active jacket (and most other alpha jackets) is great, except that the back gets completely soaked through and then freezes once stopped.


It’s very hard to dry the back out. A jacket with Alpha direct and a windshirt or mesh back would be the way.

 

[Bump79]

I've rarely hunted without the Peloton 200 in the last 6 or 7 years. I find it to be great all around. Any heavier than that I have to remove that layer when really active. I hate layering up and down all the damn time.

I love a 150 gsm merino (or less or blend) base layer, Peloton 200, then mix from there based on activity and temperature.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

FL Cirrus Puffy. That with a merino wool base layer has been the absolute best combo for me.
I have Sitka medium and heavy core but always go back to the puffy as my 2nd layer. I also reverse the jacket every time I take it off which keeps it dry. Depending on temps, if I'm overheating, Cirrus comes off. Big exertion I take it off before I get started. This setup covers 90% of my needs.

If the weather changes, extreme cold, wind, rain/snow, my layering system will change.

I have Sitka puffy which is much heaver and a Sitka Jetstream (wind barrier) in addition to Sitka med/heavy Core which I can use as layer 2 if needed. Then Cirrus layer 3. I rarely if ever need layer 4 (Sitka Puffy) and layer 5 (Jet Stream).

 

[sneaky]

As @Ryan Avery posted, if you are moving and wearing a pack, it is counter productive to have insulation of any type on your back.


My general clothing choices for moving is either a short or long sleeve extremely thin base layer and a windshirt over if its below 30’ish or windy. Even still, at single digits with just the light base layer and the windshirt, the back is drenched in short order. This is the number one problem the people I hunt with have- drying their back out after moving. I spend a lot of time in late seasons hunting, and the Sitka Active jacket (and most other alpha jackets) is great, except that the back gets completely soaked through and then freezes once stopped.


It’s very hard to dry the back out. A jacket with Alpha direct and a windshirt or mesh back would be the way.

That's why I'm interested to see the zip up hoodie from Gulch Gear coming out later this summer. Alpha direct with Toray dot air face fabric. I wish there was a fix for a sweaty back while wearing a pack, but it's down to just mitigating the effect at this point.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[woods89]

I'm about ready to buy an affordable fleece hoody, cut out everything my pack covers, and sew mesh in the openings. It would look crazy but it would be interesting to see if it would be as functional in practice as it is in my mind.

 

[jd1006]

They make fishnet t-shirts that will move the moisture to the 2nd layer. And then the 2nd layer just needs to dry fast.

 

[Whiskey_Fish]

It’s very hard to dry the back out. A jacket with Alpha direct and a windshirt or mesh back would be the way.

Here’s to hoping we eventually get a Kelvin Active update with Alpha Direct. That stuff looks awesome.

I took the grid fleece out of my kit and replaced it with the Kelvin active for the reasons you mentioned. It’s the fastest drying insulator I own. I sweat when I’m cold even so I’m pretty screwed either way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gelton]

Sitka Traverse - the original not the cold weather hoody. I guess it's called the core these days.

 

[ThunderJack49]

Blaze orange WFS fleece vest.

 

[Dobermann]

They make fishnet t-shirts that will move the moisture to the 2nd layer. And then the 2nd layer just needs to dry fast.

Yep, covered here: https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/fishnet-base-layers-they-work-and-you-want-them.242971/

So now half of Rokslide are all back in Berlin in the '80s, it's just the second layer we're sorting out ...

 

[Flight452]

I had a depredation hunt a few weeks ago. I thought I had the flu. I couldn't get warm. What I noticed is that my black ovis merino was soaking wet and had turned into a thermal wick instead of offering any insulation. I had a spyder fleece over it and was able to toss the merino and use just the spyder which almost instantly warmed me up and dried me out.

It's more dense than polartec, but unsure what hunting brand would compare.

Thats good info, thanks. My cousin is a big time boarder/cyclist and recommended that brand to me.