Mountain Logic Gear Guide
Apparel and Layering
Mountain climbing demands a lot from your body. One of the biggest challenges in cold environments is regulating your body temperature, which is critical for optimum performance. The best way to stabilize your temperature is through layering. Layering allows you to:
a. Manage body temperature efficiently
b. Minimize sweat
c. Insulate from the cold
d. Protect from wind, rain, snow
There's a ton of info in this post, so we've grouped it under a few sections below. Just click the tab to get the information you're interested in!
Baselayers
Also known as next to skin, long underwear, first layer, and performance layer. The baselayer is the first layer of your system regardless of weather. It is a quick drying, fast-wicking, non-cotton layer that moves moisture, sweat, and vapor away from your skin and quickly transfers it out. Breathability and moisture management are its primary function.
Here are some of our suggested Baselayers:
Watch
The Logic behind Baselayers with Peter Whittaker and Melissa Arnot
Hardshells
also known as outer shell, rain shell, waterproof layer, shell layer, wind shell. The hard shell layer is your armor against bad weather....snow, rain, sleet and wind are all blocked by the hardshell. It is your protection against the elements. This jacket is made of water and wind-proof material (such as Gore-Tex®, eVent®, WeatherEdge®, or Dry.QTM ) with an attached hood. Hard shell jackets don’t breath as well as other layers. This is your insurance policy that only leaves your pack in the worst conditions.
Here are some of our suggested Hardshells:
Watch
The Logic behind Hardshells with Peter Whittaker and Melissa Arnot
Parkas
also known as loft layer, puffy. This is your biggest, baddest, protection from the cold. It should feel like you are wearing half of a sleeping bag. It can be synthetic or down but should have ample insulation... 600 to 800 fill down or around 200g of synthetic insulation. This is your outermost layer. At rest breaks on the mountain it helps trap your body heat. It also keeps you warm when hanging around camp.
Here are some of our suggested Parkas:
The Logic Behind Baselayers
Also known as next to skin, long underwear, first layer, and performance layer. The baselayer is the first layer of your system regardless of weather. It is a quick drying, fast-wicking, non-cotton layer that moves moisture, sweat, and vapor away from your skin and quickly transfers it out. Breathability and moisture management are its primary function. A loose fitting sun hoody or quarter zip is usually a good option.
Here are some of our suggested Baselayers:
Watch
The Logic behind Baselayers with Peter Whittaker and Melissa Arnot
Lower Body Layering
Lower Body Layering should consist of 4 layers: underwear, baselayer, insulation and hard shell. They function as a system; the same as your upper body layers.
Our favorite insulation layer is a soft shell climbing pant because we love softshell features: breathability, light wind and weather protection, and freedom of movement thanks to four- way stretch fabric.Make sure your hard shell pants have full side or 7/8 zips.This will make it easier to get them on quickly over your climbing boots and crampons when the weather's nuking.
Here is some of our suggested Lower Body apparel:
