**tl;dr** I experimented with fully embracing a "wet but warm" clothing system on a recent 10-day trip in Maine in October. The trip was very wet....
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The original was posted on /r/Ultralight by /u/RamaHikes on 2024-11-06 19:33:34+00:00.

tl;dr I experimented with fully embracing a “wet but warm” clothing system on a recent 10-day trip in Maine in October. The trip was very wet. The main system was Mesh + Base + Alpha + Windshell + Hoodie Quarter-Poncho, and it worked fantastically well.

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I was unhappy with my clothing system for high exertion multi-day trips in all-day cold and wet conditions.

I tried waterproof/breathable rain jackets as well as the poncho/pack-cover with sleeves from 3F UL Gear. None worked for me. Even with pit zips wide open I was soaked with sweat. The poncho was flappy in the wind, and I was still soaked with sweat.

I was inspired by the Buffalo Systems approach which is advertised to keep you warm while moving in the worst of UK weather, and is specifically NOT waterproof. The Buffalo Techlite Shirt averages 480 g and is what I tried to mimic. I’ve never owned a Buffalo shirt, but I thought a system-based approach to build that same functionality with multiple independent layers would be more versatile.

This is the complete clothing system I used for 10 days in Maine in October this year. My trip was about 140 miles with more than 50k feet of elevation: 2 days making a loop in Baxter State Park then 8 days for the 100 Mile Wilderness plus Katahdin again.

Conditions included 40°F in-the-clouds all-day-rain, trails masquerading as streams and ponds, close rain-soaked vegetation, multiple knee-deep river fords, a sudden downpour, wet days followed by 35°F windy days, winds above tree line gusting to 40 mph, and rime ice with wind chills down to 10°F.

The solution in these conditions isn’t to try to stay dry, but rather to embrace the fact that you’re going to be wet — and structure your system based on that reality. I spent multiple days absolutely soaked, from the rain and the fords and from brushing against the close vegetation, but I was comfortable and warm.

Top

The finetrack mesh and OR Echo shirt is fantastic across a very wide range of conditions — I’ve been comfortable wearing just these in a breezy +2°C, in a heat index of +40°C, and in lots of conditions in between. Links to my other posts describing that are at the bottom.

These three layers together very effectively mimic the functionality of the Buffalo Techlite piece for about an ounce or so less in my size. The finetrack mesh keeps the wet base layer off your body. The base layer pulls moisture off your skin. The alpha adds an air gap for a warm microclimate under the wind shell. The wind shell can be soaked through from rain or brushing against vegetation, and on top of the alpha it still does its job.

Bottom

I usually wear the T8 Commandos and OR Astro Pants. If I’m expecting a particularly cold day, I’ll start out wearing the Light Alpha Tights under my pants. That combo is warm well below freezing, and comfortable even above 50°F.

Head

I mix and match these based on conditions. The brim of the Ultra Adventure Hat is great in the rain. The Buff/Gaiter is a great head piece on its own, and layers nicely underneath both of the others. I can layer all three together if needed.

Hands

I always wear the fingerless gloves, and layer on the fleece gloves and pogies as needed.

Shell

My pack fabric is X-Pac VX21 (seams are not sealed). That paired with this external cover worked well to keep my gear dry in all-day wet conditions so I didn’t need to use an internal liner. This piece has a buckle to keep it in place in high wind. The deployable/stashable hood and quarter-poncho keeps the worst off in a downpour or a cold steady rain, and provided exactly the amount of vapour barrier I wanted to feel warmer but not overheated in the worst of the wet/cold conditions. The hood works well over my fleece cap as well as over the Ultra Adventure Hat (together they create a nice rain-free zone for your face).

Puffy

Ascending steeply above tree line in that 10°F wind chill, I wore this over the Light Alpha Vest/Jacket. It worked great. I didn’t overheat, I wasn’t soaked in sweat, and this piece wasn’t saturated.

Sleep

I carry 11.7 oz of wool sleep clothing on Fall New England trips like this. In cold and wet conditions, the comfort of changing into “fresh” shirt/underwear/socks is a huge morale boost for me. Also, my body produces a lot of oil, so a barrier between my body and my sleeping bag goes a long way towards keeping my bag cleaner long-term. Post-trip I’ll do a laundry strip on these pieces, something I’m not going to do on my sleeping bag.

On my second Katahdin ascent on this trip, I expected wind chills around 10°F above tree line. I was already worn out from intentionally pushing past my limits the previous few days so I knew I’d have to take the ascent very slowly. I was worried about being cold on the ascent, so I started the day wearing both the wool shirt and underwear as mid layers, which worked really well.

Feet

The Topo Traverse shoes dry noticeably faster than the Ultraventure Pros did, because of the closed-cell foam of the insole. Also, they seem like they will be more durable because their construction doesn’t include the same forefoot seam where both of my Ultraventure Pros failed after ~300 trail miles.

Knee-high nylons make fantastic sock liners, and work well even under tight athletic-style socks. These plus regular application of shea butter (my balm of choice) helped me to avoid maceration and major blister problems. Higher-quality nylons do feel nicer and last longer.

Notes

  • For me, when I want to add a fleece layer I always also want to add a wind layer and vice versa. Which is why I use the Yamatomichi Vest/Jacket: I can apply targeted alpha+windshell coverage. A standalone alpha shirt and wind shirt would be at least a couple ounces lighter, and would be versatile in a different way.
  • An alpha hoodie and wind hoodie would change my head layer approach. It would be overall lighter, but I’m not convinced it would be better.
  • I have the Large size Hoodie Pack Cover, because I was worried about it fitting over my CCF foam pad which I keep strapped on the back of my pack. I should have gotten a Medium and saved the 0.4 ounces. At some point I’ll size down on that.
  • I’ve never tried an electrospun air-permeable membrane jacket. I don’t think I’m going to, given how well this system worked.
  • Didn’t list the specifics on my socks and fleece gloves because I hate the old ones I have and used on this trip and will be replacing them.

Conclusion

Mesh + Base + Alpha + Windshell + Hoodie Quarter-Poncho is a fantastic system and allowed me to be comfortably “wet but warm” in extended multi-day cold and wet conditions. This system worked fantastically well, even better than I expected.

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This is my third post in praise of the finetrack mesh next-to-skin layer. I really do love this piece. As with all the other gear listed here, I purchased my mesh shirt with my own money. I have no affiliation with finetrack. They don’t even respond to my emails. (No, really, they don’t. I’ve asked them a few questions and never gotten a response. I should try messaging on Instagram.)

For more, see my other posts:

  • [Mesh Next to Skin Layer for All Conditions](https://www…

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