Multi-purpose winter clothing system

Hey all,

my bulky ski pants and jacket just don't cut it any more.

Does anyone have a bib/shell combo that works equally well for:

- ice climbing
- skiing (really almost anything works since there's a lodge...)
- winter summits - snowshoe/ski through deep powder, potentially high winds and cold temps at the top

I am in New Hampshire.

My clothing system right now is a bunch of cheap layers of wool/synthetics, waterproof (nonbreathable) rain shell pants if needed and bulky ski pants.

I'm looking to pare that down to a wool base layer, a puffy, and insulated, hopefully waterproof shell pants.

But sometimes, you can't have it all.

I am sure you will get all kinds of advice, but this is what works for me. Of course you need to consider how fast you heat up and how much physical exertion is taking place. Hiking I might only be in my base later bottoms and soft shell pants and a light weight base layer on top. The brands I have are a mixture of what I could find on sale, what fit the best, gifts, recommendations, etc. You will probably get a million responses on the best brands as well. All have worked well for me.

This is typically what I would wear on a day out in Huntington Ravine ice climbing.

bottoms:

Base Layer: Capilene 3 bottoms (substitute wool if you would like)
Soft Shell: Pants: Patagonia Alpine Guide
Hard Shell: (if its really cold, windy, or snowing hard): Arc Teryx Beta AR

Sometimes I just do the base layer and the hard shell pants too.

Top:

Base Layer Shirt: Capiline 2 1/4 Zip or Capilene 2 T-shirt
Insulating Layer: Patagonia R1 Hoody
Soft Shell Jacket: The North Face, but I am not sure on the name.
Hard Shell Jacket: M10

In my Pack: Down Puffy Jacket (Marmot Ama Dablam) and BD mercury mitts.

I like wearing Gaiters, especially is high snow. OR Crocodiles, I also Like BD.

If you specifically want bibs, I have a friend who really likes his black Diamond bibs. I can't speak for them personally, but he likes them.

blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

Not opposed to pants but I've always liked bibs.

I sweat real quick when I hike so I am usually down to base layer and max vents on the pants. I let the bib part hang.

In your opinion do you prefer having a soft shell and hard shell on the pants/jacket and only packing in the hardshells when you expect you'll need it? Rather than a hybrid set up

Thanks for the reply. good example. ever skiied or hiked long distances uphill in it and found it to work out well? i assume a grand worth of clothing will do the trick for just about anything I'm going to do in the next 5 years ;)

I use the Marmot ROM jacket or the Mammut Abililus jacket for climbing hiking and skiing if I'm not going to fall. I like lightweight softshells with different layers underneath. I use mid layers from CAP2 to micro puffy jackets as needed depending on temperature. I always wear silk base layer.

. I wear soft shell pants unless I'm sitting on a lift or backcountry skiing in BC. It's always deep in Whistler.. Well except this year. Unless the snow is deep you don't need hard shell stuff. I mostly wear a pair of TNF tka 200 weight fleece pants for mid layer and a Patty Cap 1 silk base layer.

I do wear a hard shell arcteryx outfit and a soft shell mid layer when split boarding in deep snow. Look for pants that have a full zipper down the side. I usually unzip when skinning then zip up and pull out my hard shell outta my pack before the descent.

You can have it all but you better fill out that credit card application!

SteveMarshall wrote:Not opposed to pants but I've always liked bibs. I sweat real quick when I hike so I am usually down to base layer and max vents on the pants. I let the bib part hang. In your opinion do you prefer having a soft shell and hard shell on the pants/jacket and only packing in the hardshells when you expect you'll need it? Rather than a hybrid set up Thanks for the reply. good example. ever skiied or hiked long distances uphill in it and found it to work out well? i assume a grand worth of clothing will do the trick for just about anything I'm going to do in the next 5 years ;)

I have not owned any hybrid type jackets or pants (hybrid owners can offer insight), but I can say that I like the versatility and layering options of the hard shell and soft shell combo. With a wide variety of temps, conditions, precip. that you will encounter I feel that you can be prepared for most situations. When I really want the full weather protection the hard shell is what gets the job done. I have hiked long distances up hill. If I am hiking up hill for a long period of time (for example the approach from the parking lot up to Huntington's Ravine) I am down to base layer on the top and just my soft shells on the bottom, then when I get to the climb I will add layers accordingly. Since my hard shells have full zips, sometimes I will wear just those over my base layer so I can really get some air flowing (again all depends on the temps outside and precip at the time). I agree on having full zips on the hard shell pants. Not only for venting options, but having the option to open the pant legs all the way open to put them on over mt. boots. I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions.

I'm just south in Massachusetts, but I climb and ski in NH and Vermont. I have the sort of system you are describing, a bunch of $20 polyester sweatshirts and fleeces, one insulating top layer, ski pants, and a nice shell. I like this system because It is layers, so when it's 60 and raining, I'm comfortable. Same as 5 degrees, 15, 30, pretty much whatever. I'm i high school student, so income is low and I can't afford all that fancy stuff. I have quality where I need it, and no name brand underpants or anything pointless like that. Good socks, good gloves, good raincoat, good puffy, you get the point.

Working hard carrying a 25 lb pack uphill for an hour or two WILL give you a wet back. Doesn't matter how much you spend on your shell and other layers. So then it's all about how fast can you get rid of that moisture. Polyester base layer is my answer. I've spent enough time with wool as a base layer to know that the wet back will last for several hours if I'm in wool. Base layer on my legs is another story, and I really like my wool longjohns.

Gunkiemike I have learned this too, and it kinda sucks

A thought about pant zip vents: They are handy and comfortable when they work, but you don't want to rely on them. If hiking trail makes you sweat, breaking trail through deep snow is going to turn you into a sauna. All the vents will do in this case is serve to pack snow up against your legs. Also, if you hit a mystery tree well while hiking, you might as well give up on water resistant clothing. That said, the option is nice.

My daily system for winter ice in Montana and apine wherever:

Bottom - Batura 2, Capeline or wool base, OR Alibi pant (the cuffs fit perfectly over the Baturas)

Top - merino base (because it's comfy), R1 hoody (incredibly useful), Knifeblade pullover (a specialized piece that works great for climbing, but sucks for everything else), hat, maybe some down or Primaloft if it's cold or I'll stop moving