- Layering
- Basic
- Inner layer (underwear): sweat wicking
- material: options (polyester, nylon, merino wool, silk)
- synthetic (wicking: 5, durability: 4, odor-resistant: 3)
- Possible materials: polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, or other blends
- merino wool (wicking: 4, durability: 3, odor-resistant: 5)
- wicks wel; cools; moderately durable; naturally odor resistant
- silk (wicking: 2, durability: 2, odor-resistant: 2)
- ceramic/wool
- moderate wicking; suppleness; not naturally odor resistant
- weight: light, mid, heavy
- lightweight - moderate to cool temps
- midweight - cold temps
- heavyweight - below-freezing temps
- Middle layer (insulating): heat retaining
- material: generally, thicker means warmer (wool, wool-blend, polyester fleece [100,200,300])
- fleece is breathable, but wind blows right through it
- down insulated jackets
- compressive; fill power 450 - 900; loses insulating efficiency when damp
- synthetic insulated jackets
- similar to down, but not as compressive as down
- Outer layer (shell): shields from natural elements
- waterproof/breathable shells
- best option for full-on squall conditions
- water-resistant/breathable shells
- soft shells
- waterproof/nonbreathable shells
- Cold-weather layers
- midweight polyester long underwear top and bottom
- a jacket with synthetic insulation
- midweight fleece pants
- waterproof/breathable rain jacket & pants
- Rainy-weather layers (cool temps)
- lightweight polyester long underwear top & bottom
- lightweight fleece jacket
- synthetic hiking pants
- lightweight waterproof/breathable rain jacket & pants (w/ plenty of vents)
- Hot-weather layers
- polyester briefs & a short-sleeve synthetic tee
- convertible nylon hiking pants
- lightweight wind jacket