EISPIRATEN

Hola-

Gotta clothing question- leg wear combos for insulation, rain, etc…

Here is the 411.. .. have travelled in 35+ years from backpacker to climber/ backcountry skier to trail runner to mt biker, plus years of being a Dad, etc… now that my son is backpacking, I am back in the game.

But one bottom line is I have big gaps in my equipage for all-weather hikeaneering in the high country. Like today, if I wanted to hiked up Baldy Bowl and beyond in rain, then snow…

So first question- ---- legs?

What do you roll? Capolene or equiv plus some stout-but- semi-waterproof outer pant?

And what about overnight trips when you don’t expect rain nor snow slogging? Shorts and then Capolene inners to slip on underneath?

I’ve been eBaying a look at some rain pants which are likely the 2 ½ ply fabric (so not really meant as outerwear except when raining)- thinking that is essential ..

Thoughts?

p.s. cross posting on Summit Post.. .

I usually just wear a good waterproof pant with some wool boxers. I only wear insulating layers on my legs if it's very very cold, or when I'm in camp or sleeping. That said, I am a fan of being colder as I overheat quickly.

I currently use some sorta side-zip REI pants, kinda snowboardish pants.

Today, I went out in the rain. I just wore nylon hiking pants under my rain pants. If it were colder, I would wear long johns (capilene or what-have-you) under my hiking pants. If it were truly cold, I'd wear fleece pants and/or expedition weight long johns.

Full zip rain pants are really cool, cause you can put them on if it starts raining without taking off your boots.

I don't allow my skin to touch the goretex material since oil from your skin will defeat the goretex.

Lastly, I always wear enough clothing that I can take off the rain pants if I want to.

HJ

I dig my Capilene 3 bottoms. Those plus softshell pants have been perfect for just about anything the SGs have thrown my way. If you expect rain, go with hardshell pants.

patagonia guide pants good for SoCal and Sierra except for extreme weather.

Depending on temperatures and wind:

Light (up to 20mph) to no wind, temps from low 40's to low 60's - I wear REI Mistral pants only (yes underwear too). These are soft shell pants (rated windprrof up to 10mph or so and very, very water repellent), 4 way stretch, side zip from bottom of pant to high calf area. Very tough and sturdy. Also very stylish if I may add.

Med winds (15-30mph), temps from low 40's to upper 50's - I wear same REI Mistral pant with light capilene or similar long underwear. Or, if I know temps will warm up later in day or I'mon strenuous hike, I will wear my REI Acme pant. These pants I believe are rated windproof to about 18mph and very water repellent. I wear these without thermal bottoms unless the temps drop below 35 or the wind kicks up high. then I wear light weight thermal bottoms.

Heavy winds, or wet conditions and temps below upper 30's. I wear the REI Taku pant. These pants completely wind proof and water proof. Depending on how cold the standing temps are and how strenous my hike or climbing is, I will wear medium to heavy weight thermal bottoms. When around camp (in the snow) and I'm not too active, I will put on a pair of fleece pants under the taku pants.

Everyone has there own method, but this works very well for me. Good luck and have fun. Glad to hear you getting back into it.


~EnFuego

thnx for the 411...

here is my current score...

eBayed these North Face nylon combo pant/ shorts for $30 inc shipping



and got these nearly new Pantagonia rain pants for $45 inc shipping



so that's a 3 season set up if i include Capolene or equiv

just a question of what i need in the colder climes.... backcountry skiing or winter overnighters