Need help figuring out layers in unfamiliar weather

Ben2world, thanks! I should have mentioned that my hiking boots are solid black and will be wearable the rest of the trip, thankfully. In looking around, I had put the Houdini on my possibilities list along with the Marmot DriClime windshirt (women's version seems to be the Stride). It looks like they do a good job of blocking wind and being lightweight but also somewhat breathable. I would imagine the wind is what's going to make me most cold-- as long as the sun is out, even mid-50s I'd probably be ok hiking in one layer plus a wind blocker. I hadn't thought about an UL down. Do you tend to wear that above or below the wind jacket? I suppose it solves somewhat the same problem as the merino mid-layer sweater I had on my list, but may be more light weight for packing.

By the way, I also think convertible pants are terrible, but they were a panic purchase on the way to a tropical hike last year. I never even unzipped them. Trying not to make panic purchases this time around.

I'm thinking the driclime may be good for my husband. He'll need fewer layers than I will. The houdini would probably be good for him too though. I have a highly rated fleece and a houdini in my cart for myself right now. Can't bring myself to get a down, I know I won't wear it when I'm home but I will wear a fleece. Now if I could just find some pants that fit... at least I know what to look for on those.

Thanks, that's right in line with the plan I'm beginning to form, with a fleece-type jacket instead of the UL down. I didn't know nylon socks were a thing, I'm going to have to look into those. Wool, no matter how nice they say it is, always makes me itch and I can't stand it. Tried some nice Icebreaker tights once and wanted to scratch my legs off by the end of the day.

Wool is one of those things where the more you wear it, the more you get used to it.

A lot of good advice here and you already have a sound approach. You'll never get more flexibility than what you'll get out of mix-n-match layering.

The largest climate difference I've encountered in a single trip has been Toronto & NYC (awful January weather), Buenos Aires (hot!) & Ushuaia (rainy, comfortable) Argentina, and Antarctica (snow gear). I made the trip with two carry-on bags, mostly due to the snow gear taking up a carry-on on its own.

I'm a warm body, so I'd pack a bit different than you, but for your trip (with a warm place to sleep every night) I'd likely stick to the following:

- 1x wind/rain shell, pants and jacket, zippered armpits & inseam for ventilation. These can be found in pack-down-to-pocket size relatively easily.
- 1x thin-medium weight wicking base layer, wool or poly as comfort and availability allow. The HH Dry is what I use.
- 1x insulation mid-layer, for me that's just a full-zip poly fleece top and poly fleece bottoms (ie PJ pants). To be honest, I actually never wear the bottoms outside of a deep freeze, so they'd likely be left at home. Depending on the potential for colder days, I might double up on the tops.
- 2x trendy adventure pants. In my case those would be two pairs of Royal Robbins with x% spandex for comfortable stretch and/or a nice fleece lined nylon shelled pant
- 1x cool tuque/watch cap, maybe with a pompom at the top?
- 2x pair of polypro glove liners (Auclair are my poison)
- 2x city shirt. Can be substituted with stylish hiking shirts.
- 1x hiking boots
- 1x slip-on flats, the kind that are pared down and basic looking enough to go with everything, and pack nearly flat.
- 1x swim shorts. Always. Never forget the swim trunks.
- Socks to taste
- Backpack to taste
- gear bits: 1L bottle, universal power adapter, camera/SD/batt/charger, etc.

On the trails I'd just wear the base top and add the insulated and wind/rain tops as necessary. I opt to rely on my mid layers for warmth more than my base, so rather than bringing a thicker base-layer for colder days, I'd more sooner bring another or better mid-layer top. A stylish hiking shirt can be worn over the base for more warmth than just the base, but less than the mid (also for more modesty than just the base). I've got silly-warm hands, so I don't find I ever need more than thin glove liners, even when climbing ice. For colder hands, perhaps a combination of the glove liners and some fleece mittens for those bitter days.

The same idea for city-spelunking, but likely without the base. An alternative to the two pairs of footwear would be one pair of dark-coloured hiking shoes.

With a poly base layer, I might suggest bringing two as poly is not unlike black socks: the longer you wear it, the stronger it gets.