Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 19:55:43 GMT -8
Hello,
I’m planning a Thru-Hike of the AT for next spring, and I’m planning on starting in late February or early March. As such, I’m thinking I’ll need some sort of jacket to wear. I have always preferred fleece jackets, and regularly wear and stay plenty warm in them in temperatures below 0 degrees, however I’m open to going with a down jacket for their weight and packability.
Basically, what are your opinions on insulating jackets for a thru hike? Fleece or down, and which company/model would you recommend?
Thank you all!
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 24, 2015 20:20:18 GMT -8
I'd say look at insulating systems, not just one jacket. For something that long you're going to encounter a lot of changing conditions and that means being able to adjust your insulation by having layers.
That said I do like down for its lightweight and packability when it gets cold enough.
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Post by rwtb123 on Aug 25, 2015 4:56:45 GMT -8
Well,I would consider either a down or imitation down like synthetic.Basically the down would be more compressible and better around camp while the synthetic would be better hiking particularly if you generate a lot of body heat.This down jacket looks interesting www.mountainhardwear.com/mens-ghost-whisperer-down-jacket-1560901.html though pricey and here is a link comparing and contrasting down vs. synthetic with a few synthetic options. www.outdoorgearlab.com/Insulated-Jacket-Reviews/Buying-AdviceAnd check whiteblaze I have seen a few threads where they are talking about the water resistant down like the one I linked vs synthetic and also vests vs jackets.I personally like vests in layering systems for hiking but they may not be ideal for around camp where you are likely to be spending a lot of time as a thruhiker. |
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Aug 25, 2015 9:26:20 GMT -8
down would be more compressible and better around camp
My recommendation is down jacket. No vest.
The Ghost-Whisperer has rave reviews. I'm a Western Mountaineering fan and use WM Quickflash. This is a thru-hike. Forget the fleece, it's heavy, bulky and you don't need it.
Here's my thru-hike rationale:
First: You want top and bottom SmartWool Micro weight base layers or facsimile. Why? Use nightly as your sleeping clothes. Has potential to reduce your sleeping bag rating and associated weight. #1 reason to use as night clothes... mitigate sleeping bag stink. Bonus: Cold when hiking? This is your base layer.
Second: Since you are thru-hiking that means you will be out 9-12 hours per day, accumulating high mileage, working up a sweat regardless of the ambient outside temperature or weather conditions. Cold weather may not be a significant factor. Until you stop hiking.
Therefore making and breaking camp, preparing and eating breakfast and dinner, lunch stops are high probability cold zones. At day end, chances are, if you are cold, tired and hungry, you will be accelerating your activities to get in your shelter and sleeping bag as soon as possible. Down is warmer than fleece.
The hardest daily task is emerging from your sleeping bag. That down jacket will aid in your mental motivation to arise.
And finally, if you are cold and miserable while hiking, a down jacket is your bombproof back-up mid-layer, insurance policy.
As for the jacket, Arc'Teryx Beta LT Hybrid Jacket goes on sale at REI August 28th with a $100 price reduction. There are a gazillion choices here. For extended high mobility treks, I prefer a lightweight outer layer, with good wind and rain protection, a hood, arm pit ventilation and a collar.
One other recommendation relating to the cold and miserable factor: Gloves: Cold hands during wind and rain or snow not fun. Fox River Ragg Wool Gloves. Retain warmth when wet.
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Post by ctp631 on Aug 25, 2015 14:03:24 GMT -8
Are you looking for an insulated jacket to use on the move or for camp?
Some experienced lightweight hikers might wrap up in their sleeping bag in camp to save weight/space in their backpack instead of having an insulated jacket. Or they will hike to a certain location and fix dinner away from where they want to set up camp while they are still warm from hiking. Then after they eat they will hike till they are ready to sleep for the night, set up camp, and go immediately to sleep using the warmth they created having set up camp to help warm sleeping bag.
If you are looking for insulation to use while moving I like the combination of a long sleeve base layer, windshirt and 100 wgt fleece vest.
For camp insulation I just bought a Patagonia Down Sweater but haven't used it yet of course.
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Post by rwtb123 on Aug 26, 2015 1:50:19 GMT -8
One thing to consider is that given the early start time you are more likely to encounter extreme winter weather particularly at higher elevations and less likely to encounter other thruhikers at least for the cold weather part.So there will be less social aspects around the shelters or need to get to the shelter early to insure space but more possibility of hiking or getting caught in extreme conditions.So you could employ some of the type techniques ctp mentioned keeping in mind you will have the shelters to fall back on so not have to set up camp per say.I think people have pretty much given you the options and trade offs you will just have weigh what you think your hiking/camping strategies will be and continue read up on all this as much as you can.In don't even know if they make hiking jackets with zip off sleeves but that would seem to be an ideal solution if they did.Also keep in mind with a winter weather start you will not be able to keep your pack weight as light as with a later start but once the weather warms up y0u will be able to send the winter gear home to lighten the weight.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 28, 2015 19:37:15 GMT -8
I like my North Face "Red Slate' micro puff synthetic jacket. Maybe not quite as light and compressible as down but much more water resistant which is why I bought i. I once forgot my rain jacte had it endured an eight-hour downpour keeping me pretty dry the whole time.
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Post by ecocentric on Aug 29, 2015 8:06:06 GMT -8
The new water resistant down products may be a game changer, but most of my experience up and down the Appalachians has been wet, some of the winter trips have been very wet.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Aug 30, 2015 5:55:23 GMT -8
Hello, I’m planning a Thru-Hike of the AT for next spring, and I’m planning on starting in late February or early March ..always preferred fleece jackets ... open to going with a down jacket for their weight and packability. Basically, what are your opinions on insulating jackets for a thru hike? Fleece or down, and which company/model would you recommend? Thank you all! A buddy of mine just finished an AT thru starting in Feb '15 and had a few below zero nights early on. Down is king in a camp situation but then some PCT thru hikers last yr were hit by a storm in August and, going hypothermic wish they had fleece for hiking insulation. A UL fleece pullover (MHW has a sub-10 oz. one) and a UL down hooded jacket (using Sierra designs new "Dri-Down") are my current choices but I hang out at the camp with my buds. A thru-hiker can just set up camp if it gets too cold though, wearing more layers, Maybe thru hiking I'd go with my Patagonia R1 hoody and buy a water-resistant down vest (SD again since they've done away with the heat-losing arm holes at the expense of gear-geekiness) . I'm probable more partial to 1 "hoody" as I can simplify my pack list. . |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 30, 2015 15:56:29 GMT -8
Fleece gets wet and you're just as screwed. Leaving off the waterproof layer for a poorly thought out shortcut is a recipe for chills whatever the insulation layer.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 30, 2015 16:37:59 GMT -8
Fleece gets wet and you're just as screwed. Can't say I totally agree with that. When fleece gets wet you can wring it out and it dries relatively quickly. Might stil be damp but it does have some insulating value. If down gets wet, you're screwed big time for a long time unless you have days of sunny weather or a nearby laundromat with a big dryer. Fleece even trumps synthetic micro-pusffs in most cases. Still, it 's wise to cover it with a waterproof layer when it's appropriate. Can't argue that. |
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Post by 1camper on Aug 31, 2015 19:37:31 GMT -8
Your choice of rain shell would determine what insulation I'd choose and maybe not the same combination for the early start as later on. For instance, in the colder conditions I'd want a full zip hooded rain jacket and a hooded insulated jacket. As temps got warmer I'd go with a poncho and a lightweight fleece hoodie.
I love down but keeping it dry on the AT will take some diligence. Once it gets wet you might as well just find a laundromat. Synthetics might be worth the weight penalty.
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