Cold Weather Hiking Tops - The Perfect Layering Set Up

​

Winter can be very tricky when it comes to dressing in layers and knowing the combination of layers can make or break a winter outdoor activity like hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing. To stay warm, comfortable and safe, layering your clothes is essential. Here are some of my favorite long sleeved shirt, sweater and jacket layering options for hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing and skiing/snowboarding that I have found work very well in the Pacific Northwest.

Thin merino wool base layer

One of the standout features of this base layer top is the use of merino wool in its construction. Merino wool is a high-quality material that is prized for its natural insulation and moisture-wicking properties. This means that the Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Quarter-Zip Base Layer will keep you warm and dry, even if you start to sweat during an intense outdoor activity. The quarter-zip design of this top also makes it incredibly versatile. You can easily adjust the temperature by unzipping the collar if you start to feel too warm. This is a thin shirt, so it is best worn as a base layer underneath a warmer weather, mid-layer and/or jacket.

Wool mid layer

I have been pretty obsessed with alpaca wool sweaters for the past few years now. When it comes to winter layering pieces, you cannot beat a natural fiber, and alpaca wool is much softer than sheep's wool. One of my new favorites is this hoodie from PAKA - it is one of the thinner alpaca wool sweaters I own, which makes it the perfect layering piece over my base layer (usually a tank top or very thin wool long sleeve) and my jacket, whether that be a mid-weight coat or a puffy. 

Synthetic mid layer

The Ventus Active Hoodie is THE perfect mid-layer for cold weather, especially if it is a little bit misty, drippy and damp out. Even though it feels lightweight, it keeps you very warm and has been a great addition to late season backpacking excursions as well as snowshoeing adventures. This is also a really great clothing item for those folks who like to go running because the pits are vented and it does also shed moisture in case you are running in some light rain. Perfect for those drizzly Oregon afternoons.

Fleece

A fleece layer is another synthetic mid layer that many people opt for. I love a fleece layer underneath a rain coat on cold wet days, and particularly in a situation like skiing/snowboarding when you aren't sweating much but need to stay warm. 
Here are some great fleece options: 
-Cotopaxi Abrazo Half Zip
​-Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla snap 

Mid-weight jacket

One of my favorite mid-weight jackets for layering is the Outdoor Vitals Vario jacket. It comes in a men's and women's cut and they use an innovative 3DeFC insulation which creates an ultralight jacket while retaining high warmth value and body-mapped breathability. This jacket has a fitted hood, pit vents and nice roomy pockets. This has been my favorite piece of gear for the shoulder seasons as well using it for layering when doing things in the winter like snowshoeing where I easily overheat in bulkier jackets. 

Puffy coat

A puffy coat is probably one of the most essential pieces of gear for all seasons. For me it is not only used in the winter, but also used on all of my backpacking trips, and the Outdoor Vitals NovaPro jacket has been my got-to for years now. My favorite feature of this jacket is the pit zips. Why don't all puffy coast have pit zips?? Summer or winter, this jacket goes everywhere with me, and unlike a lot of other puffy coats that I have tried, this one actually keeps me warm in the damp Oregon winters, because of its innovative stitching pattern, as well as the special DownLT™ insulation, which is a proprietary blend of DWR treated HyperDry™ down & loose fill synthetic insulation. 

GORE-TEX rain jacket

When it comes to rain jackets for hiking in the Pacific Northwest, you can't beat GORE-TEX. When wearing a rain layer like though, it must have pit zips for ventilation so you don't wet out from the inside. Another feature I look for in a rain jacket is that it is a bit on the longer side (covers my butt and goes to about mid-thigh) so that the water isn't just seeping from the jacket into my waistline. Having a well fitting, structured hood is also something that is important on a rain jacket. Having a good rain jacket to layer over a mid-weight jacket when it is raining or snowing is a key piece of clothing to have when hiking in the PNW.
Here are some great GORE-TEX jackets on the market: 
-REI Teris GTX Jacket women's
-REI Teris GTX Jacket men's
-Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket women's
-Arc'teryx Beta Jacket men's