Dress for Mountain Success

Most people know that weather dictates what you’re supposed to wear. Lighter clothing should be worn in the summer, heavier clothing in the winter, and a rain jacket when it is raining.

This basic understanding is not enough to thrive in the mountains. Dressing smart with technical layers is easily done and can make all the difference when adventuring in the mountains.

Technical layering is designed for temperature regulation. Wearing proper layers can turn a miserably cold, mud infested rain shower that you can’t wait to escape into an enjoyable journey through a rain forest-like atmosphere that you don’t want to end.

In most cases, proper layering will simply help you perform more optimal for the energy you exert. In severe cases, wearing proper layers can mean the difference between life and death.

Let’s jump into the fundamentals of the different layers and when to use each of them. Remember, every layer is design for a different purpose.

Base Layers

The first layer closest to your skin is called the base layer. This close-fitting layer is designed to wick moisture as you sweat and spread that moisture throughout the garment. Base layers are made of wool or synthetic materials such as capilene and polyester.

*Do not use cotton as a base layer because when cotton wicks, it cools and does not spread your moisture throughout the garment’s fabric.*

“For colder conditions I prefer wool to synthetics because I find wool keeps me warmer, even when wet.” – Rob

Your activity will dictate the base layer you choose. Not every activity is better with wool. Synthetic materials are more durable than wool when they come in contact with objects like sharp rocks.

Base layers come in different thicknesses; the thicker the layer, the more insulating.

“I never paid much attention to thicker base layers because even in colder conditions they can easily make you overheat. I stick to base layers with higher wicking power and use other layers to help insulate my body heat when I am not exerting as much energy.” – Rob

My Go To Base Layers

---

Mid-Layers

The second layer, called the mid-layer, is used to insulate by trapping body heat. Fleece and wool are common materials used in mid-layers. These garments also come in different thicknesses so buying the right one will depend on factors such as location, activity, and how easily you perspire.

Puffy down jackets can also be used as a mid-layer, typically, for very cold weather. They are made out of down or synthetic materials. Down jackets are warmer, lighter, and pack down smaller than synthetics but down losses insulating abilities when wet. Synthetic jackets are heavier and not as packable as down but when wet synthetics keep most of their insulating ability.

“I tend to only wear a puffy jacket, as a mid-layer, on very cold days while resort snowboarding and while resting during hikes and climbs.” – Rob

My Go To Mid-Layers

---

Outer-Layers

The final layer is designed to keep the elements out. This outer layer, also known as a shell, guards you from wind and/or water. Almost all shells allow some body heat to pass through them, known as breathability.

The amount of “Breathability” varies between garments greatly depending on the activity they are meant for. Also, some of these shells are only made to protect from wind while others protect from both wind and water. There are two main types of shells, hard shells and soft shells.

Hard shells vary greatly but are generally designed for more wind/water protection than breathability. Materials like Gore-Tex are used in creating hard shell garments for those purposes.

Soft shells also vary but are generally designed for greater breathability. They are made of materials that stretch which allow hot air to pass through it more easily than hard shells. In this way soft shells are similar to mid-layers but provide more wind and water protection.

There are many shell jackets on the market so check out our article called “Waterproof” & Breathability for a better understanding of the different options and how shells function.

My Go To Shells

---

Final Thoughts

All of these layers mentioned are important to have but not all the layers are always necessary to wear. When it comes to technical layering, weather, season, and activity dictate what to wear.

In warmer weather, your base layer will likely be a wicking t-shirt. If you are hiking or climbing to a summit you may want to pack a wind shell for when you’re up there. When there’s a chance of rain in the forecast you may want to pack a rain shell.

In colder weather, your base layer will likely be a long sleeved wool or synthetic option. You will either wear your mid-layer or have it in a pack, and likely have a shell on to protect you from wind and/or water.

Check out two technical layer setups below for an an example of how different activities and weather effect what you wear. 

“I would wear both technical layer setups in the winter with temperatures around 0°F and below.” – Rob

Technical layering choices has everything to do with specific weather and activity.