showlett wrote:What about this setup:
A Marmot Sun Bowl Gore-Tex hardshell for $119
A Mammut Hooded Winstopper softshell $50 (incl shipping from China)
While I have not done Shasta, I have done Rainier dozens of times by a dozen routes.
Only taken a down jacket once and that was in Nov. I wouldn't suggest any of my climbing partners or clients bring a down parka on Rainier, ever.
So imo nix the down jacket idea. Goretex? I don't generally climb in the rain..that said living in Seattle. It doesn't breath well enough for most climbing activity unless it is cold and even though I have used it for years I have now stopped using it almost all together.
Soft shells? The newest soft shells are expensive and work a majority of the time and then they don't. Anything but light rain is one of the "doesn't work" environments. But for cold and windy conditions they can be pretty good depending on the garment and quality of the soft shell.
The Patagonia R1 Hoody someone else mentioned is a must have imo. You can buy the same basic product and exactly the same material from Mountain Equipment Coop in Canada for $70.
In your place I would buy one good shell and it wouldn't be Goretex. Then a R1 Hoody and figure out what to layer over it out of the pilel/fleece garments you have now own.
Be worth your time I think to read the link I posted above on winter layers as well.
