Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 2:24 pmWhen it's that cold, I skip the laminates and use a Patagonia Ascentionist, which I think is discontinued. It's a light (<1lb) shell that's plenty water-resistant, stops wind even in the Whites, and breathes very well. I'm sure there are others out there.
This frees me up weight-and-bulk-wise to replace my R2 fleece with a Compressor, or even add the compressor on top of the R2 when things get really bitter. The total package is much more versatile than a heavy jacket.
I do backcountry hunting and own a Sitka Coldfront jacket. It's very similar to the above Patagonia item: durable waterproof softshell with light fleece lining. It's certainly warm, but far less versatile than my Ascentionist.
This frees me up weight-and-bulk-wise to replace my R2 fleece with a Compressor, or even add the compressor on top of the R2 when things get really bitter. The total package is much more versatile than a heavy jacket.
I do backcountry hunting and own a Sitka Coldfront jacket. It's very similar to the above Patagonia item: durable waterproof softshell with light fleece lining. It's certainly warm, but far less versatile than my Ascentionist.