What can you recommend that is light weight and works well?

I want to end up with the following:
1. t-shirt baselayer that is light,and good at wicking persperation

2. long sleeved baselayer that is light and good at wicking persperation but is designed to be a bit warmer.

3. fleece or similar wam layer in long sleeves that is sufficient in ~40 weather.

4. I have a lightweight rain jacket/windbreaker.

My goal is to be able to wear the t-shirt alone when it is really hot, wear the long sleeve alone when it is a bit cooler, wear them both together if necessary.

Either option could be work with the rain jacket/windbreaker .

Then if it gets a bit cold, I would add the fleece jacket which would need to be tight fitting enough to fit under the athletic cut rainjacket/windbreaker.

Do you have any suggestions for brands?

Zack,
I now use a four layer system similar to what you discussed. Base layer (short or long sleeved), insulation layer, a rainshell, and one more; a windshell.

I was refining this system last weekend. Here's what I recommend, quoting your original post..

1. t-shirt baselayer that is light,and good at wicking persperation
- Outdoor Research M's Sequence T., Merino blend, short sleeved. Merino blends keep the stink down and the polyester dries quicker than pure merino. Get this in a light color for hot days.

2. long sleeved baselayer that is light and good at wicking persperation but is designed to be a bit warmer.
- Montbell MW merino 1/4 zip top, long sleeved. Rationale: Merino feels warmer than poly/blends and reduces flash evaporation. Going uphill pull up the sleeves and unzip, going down drop the sleeves and zip up. Get this in a light color for hot days. If you want poly, Capilene is popular (but not with me).

3. fleece or similar wam layer in long sleeves that is sufficient in ~40 weather.
Down to 40F probably all you need is a windshirt over your base layer.. A windshirt is a windbreaker with breathability; it can be worn when active without retaining condensation. It prevents some conductive and convective heat loss and blocks rain at least until you can put on your shell:
- Patagonia Houdini or 2007 Marmot Ion (not the 2006)
Now your insulation layer..
- REI Woodland fleece jacket, full zip. Rationale, nothing breathes better than fleece, and under the windshell it is quite warm.
- Going colder than 40? bring a Montbell Thermawrap jacket, action jacket, parka, or vest instead of the fleece.
- Going colder than 30? bring both.
When you stop or belay, pull the fleece or thermawrap OVER the windshirt; then re pack it when you move. I recommend dark colors for solar heating.

4. I have a lightweight rain jacket/windbreaker.
OK, but for the benefit of other readers, here are my recommendations.. The windbreaker was re-defined as a windshirt and discussed above. For the rainshell:
- Good: Cheap Gen 1 goretex ECWCS parka from ebay (remove lining)
- Better: The North Face jackets in HyVent fabric, such as the DIAD
- Best: eVENT rain jacket, ex; Integral Designs Thru-Hiker (order one size larger than normal) This one fabric is the exception to needing a winshirt and separate jacket. It is breathable enough to be both (and costs as much).

Of course, all this is what worked for me; I have yet to buy the ID eVENT jacket, everything else I have used and can vouch for.

So with this system you only have 6 items hanging in your closet; short, long, windshirt, fleece, thermawrap, shell. Take four of them and you will have 6 combinations (permutations, really) as the trail conditions change.

Since I'm already rambling; might as well mention bottom layers: Montbell merino long underwear, zip-off REI Summit pants, Montbell UL windpants, Patagonia full-zip Micro Puff pants, and Red Ledge full-zip rain pants.
5 more items hanging in your closet, 6 permutations.

Similar systems for headwear, gloves, and footwear. Closet's starting to get full now..

1. Patagonia Capilene

2. Patigonia Wind Shield top

3. Montbell Down Inner Jacket

4. Driducks Micropore Rainsuit jacket

In warmer weather I omit layer 3. In colder weather I beef up layers 1 (heavier weight) and 3 a little bit.

I especially love the Patigonia top with the wrist cuffs and thumb holes. They went on sale at REI Outlet this last year and I took out a loan so I could load up on them. I still am using the first one I bought.

I love the Montbell Down Inner Jacket but it's a very delicate piece of gear. When around a campfire wearing the Driducks jacket is a must... the slightest spark burns it instantly.

On edit I will add that I can PROVE that this is the system I use on a regular basis... look at my avatar photo. I don't have the Driducks jacket on but I do have layers 1-3 on in the photo.

I also consider my headwear to be part of my system. I wear an ear-wrap or knit cap in cold weather (Turtle Fur).

Then there is my hand insulation. I have three layers. 1) Coolibar fingerless golves 2) Possom Down Gloves 3) OR Rain Claw Mitts ... I start with layer 1, pull the Possom Down Gloves over this, and then the OR Mitts over this when it gets cold in camp of it rains. I am thinking of replacing the OR mitts with the new eVent rain mitts but haven't gotten around to it.

Edited by jjpitts on 04/17/2007 07:53:49 MDT.

Hey James, I have a few Capilene base layer items, but none have thumb holes. I did some quick searching and couldn't find any. Which model/item is it with the thumb holes and wrist cuffs?

Thanks

I believe he is referring to the Patagonia Wind Shield. It has the cuffs and thumb loops.
Steve

Hrm.. I still can't find it. Do you have link or is it something they don't make anymore?

The r1 hoodie has thumbholes.

I had to dig around to find this for some reason. Perhaps it is a good think I loaded up on these. I love them for running in during the Fall.

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/patagonia/wind-shield-top/