lowlands wrote:Experience, what I have, is from hiking and sport climbing. I've done a lot of top rope climbing and am signed up for a lead climbing course that starts on the 7th of January.
Not sure if you're a member of Sportrock, but be aware that if you are, I think you get a 20% discount at EMS (which is only a mile or two from Sportrock Sterling)
Here's my layering system:
Baselayers: Minus33 Merino Zip-T or REI MTS Zip T (available in Tall sizes... I'm 6'3") on top, REI MTS Midweight (again, in Tall) on bottom. I don't frequently use the bottoms. It has to be pretty cold for me to need them. I also wear ExOfficio boxerbriefs.
Then I'll have maybe a exp-weight zip-T (like a light fleece) if it's cold enough.
Then I have softshell pants (REI Mistral, in long inseam) and softshell jacket (I have a few... generally prefer the hooded Outdoor Research Mithril, which is waterproof if I expect nasty conditions or the MtnHardwear Alchemy if I expect clearer conditions)
Full-zip Goretex pants (OR Furio). I like these because they are tough as nuts but they are on the heavy side at 20oz. I definitely prefer goretex with a fly zipper because they let you keep your harness on top of your softshell pants where it belongs so you can add/peel the goretex layer later, just sticking your belay loop/carabiner through the fly hole.
Goretex Jacket - OR Mentor - excellent jacket, not too overpriced, quite light (17oz). However, if you don't expect the weather totally nuke on you, something lighter (10oz) such as the MtnHardwear Quark is my next choice. Not as adjustable on the hood though so if you're not wearing a helmet or a baseball cap, the hood is annoying.
Puffy Jacket - For winter use I have a MtnHardwear Subzero SL... It's warm and water-proofish, but it's heavy. Feathered Friends makes some much lighter stuff that is just as warm. I'd like to replace it with a FF Volant. For spring/fall or higher altitude summer, I have a Feathered Friends Helios. Ultralight, warm enough. For summer lower altitude, I have a Mtn Hardwear Hooded Compressor (synthetic). All these puffy layers are sized to be the outermost layer, as you generally are going to pull it out when you stop for rest or when you're at camp and you want to be able to throw it on without having to take other things off.
I don't yet have puff pants but I am considering some. The use of puffpants is limited to some specific applications (such as allowing a lighter sleeping bag or for extreme cold weather). They are bulky and heavy to carry and probably not necessary if you already have softshells, goretex, and baselayer bottoms.
Socks, I use Smartwool. If I'll be out for a long time, I use liners to eliminate blistering, but for all other trips, I just go single layer and I try to let the callouses build.
Gloves, I have a wide array and I def don't take it all on each trip. Light liner glove, windstopper fleece glove, windstopper hard-face glove, waterproof lightweight glove, insulated one-piece glove, insulated mountaineering glove w/ removable liners, insulated mountaineering mitten, etc. You take the range of handwear you'll need to cover the conditions you might see. I especially like the insulated one-piece gloves because liners can be a hassle if it's wet outside and your hands don't want to slide in easily. Some people use Seam-Grip (a tent/gear seam-waterproofing product) on their gloves to make them work better in the wet.
Headwear, I have a MtnHardwear Microdome, and a Windstopper Dome (warmer), as well as a light merino wool balaclava if it's super cold. I use Julbo Nomad Zebras since they work from dawn through dusk, as well as a pair of light-tint ski goggles with spherical lenses for when it's nasty outside and the glasses aren't enough.
Boots, I wear Nepal Evo GTX for most conditions. I'd like a lighter pair for summer alpine climbing and something else a bit warmer for the coldest winter stuff.
This could keep going forever, but really you just need to spend some time out there and see what other people are using. It will all come together.