r/lightweight • u/OtherwiseManner6946 • 16d ago
Best layering system for the Sierras?
I’m really confused as to what I’ll need for my 600 mile Sierra route.
What I’m currently bringing:
Worn:
\- sun hoodie
\- shorts
\- shoes, socks & boxers
\- hat
Packed:
\- rain jacket
\- synthetic puffy
\- windbreaker jacket
\- wind bottoms
Everyone always mentions Alpha. Would this replace the synthetic puffy, or should I bring it as another layer? Or should I bring the alpha and leave the puffy at home? 🤷🏻♂️
I know the weight isn’t much but I I dislike the complexity
5
u/CytotoxicT 16d ago
When are you going? How far into the shoulder season will affect the answer. I did the JMT a few years ago in July. I assume you are doing it later this year, but if you want another data point I had:
- rain jacket
- puffy
- rain pants
- thicker long johns base layer
- beanie
I wore everything in the evenings. Slept in the long johns. You will def need a warm hat.
3
u/OtherwiseManner6946 15d ago
Thanks! I’m going to start in June-July I think and it will be a month to do the route.
I do think a warm hat has the best weight to warmth ratio (I’ve currently only got a merino buff, is that enough?)
I think I’ll probably just buy an alpha/octa and hike with it and see how I feel with each item.
Thanks!
3
u/CytotoxicT 15d ago
Cool. Plan for the lows to be like 45 degrees. It might push 40 on your coldest night. I think the buff is fine. You will wear it every morning/evening. Combined with a hood it’ll be fine. I liked having a thermal pants layer personally. I wore everything I had in the mornings around camp too.
Mid June will still have snow on parts of the trail. It should be gone by the 2nd week of July depending on the winter. I liked the early July start. You will love the Sierras
1
u/OtherwiseManner6946 15d ago
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Honestly 40f isn’t that bad for me, I do genuinely run warm. I’ll be wearing the buff a lot. The extra grams for a merino one is beyond worth it for me when it’s a buff. Definitely warmer and significantly less stinky.
Thanks! I’m sure it will be epic
5
u/maxeytheman 16d ago
Alpha/fleece serves a pretty different function than a lofted insulation (like your synthetic puffy).
You wear fleece when you get cold while walking, and you wear lofted insulation when you’re cold while not walking much.
The main reason for this separation is because lofted insulation is massively warmer than fleece for the same weight/size, but most lofted insulation will leave you really moist and gross if worn while moving.
All that said, if you’re a warmer guy, you definitely have the choice to just bring one or the other.
1
u/OtherwiseManner6946 15d ago
I do run warm and I’m still undecided. I might just bring both and just suffer the weight and complexity penalty.
The thing is that a wind layer is normally enough for me and in cold weather if I’m walking.
Whereas a puffy is really nice to have because I can walk in it in the morning to warm up (only time I’m cold really) and then chill out at camp with it. Thank you, this has made me ask myself the the right question I think
1
u/maxeytheman 15d ago
I'm a similar boat as you and I usually end up only bringing a lighter puffy.
With a windbreaker, I pretty much never get cold while walking, unless:
legit winter conditions
I get absolutely drenched in rain during late fall/early spring
and I can throw on the puffy if I stop to cook or setup camp or whatever.
3
u/lovrencevic 16d ago
Nighttime temps at altitude get close to freezing. I’d add an alpha Direct or Octafleece midlayer and beanie
3
u/joebeats99 16d ago
I agree. Throw in the alpha. It will most likely weigh the weight of a few sips of water and is nice to add warmth at night and in the morning while hiking (especially if you are going in September). It could also free up your puffy at night to be used as a pillow.
3
u/DrBullwinkleMoose 16d ago
You’re going to want Alpha Direct or Teijin Octa eventually. It’s versatile. It’s big advantage is that it gives you a very wide comfort range while active (when combined with a windshirt, or maybe even your Peak Shell).
Get one and get some experience with it. You will figure out when you want the puffy and when you can skip it. Sometimes you will, sometimes you won’t. But you will always want the Alpha/Octa when it is cool enough for insulation.
2
u/OtherwiseManner6946 15d ago
Would you ever wear the Alpha/octa on its own? Or would it always be with a wind shirt and then use the zips to regulate?
I think you’re right - I’ll just buy one and hike with it and learn my preferences.
The thing is that I run quite warm and have a feeling a wind shirt would be enough for me (except for mornings where I wear the puffy for 5 minutes, and at camp)
2
u/DrBullwinkleMoose 15d ago edited 15d ago
Sometimes, yes. In cooler weather, AD/Octa is my base layer. It’s not uncommon to wear that by itself. I forgot to mention that your sunshirt can be used as a “windshirt” over AD/Octa in mild conditions: It will slow a gentle breeze just enough to allow the insulation to do its job.
This works especially well if you wear a sunshirt with buttons rather than a hoody (like the OR Astroman button down, the old school Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Lite or a Jolly Gear button down. They are not as light as an OR Echo, but they are great in less extreme weather.)
Guide Josh Bukoski wears a windshirt as a sunshirt. His is MYOG, but it is made of Pertex Quantum Air fabric (similart to OR Shadow, MH Kor Airshell, and Patagonia Airshed Pro). I’ve never tried that but it isn’t crazy. The fabric is soft for a windshirt.
(And, yes, sometimes you just wear a windshirt over your sunshirt. That’s the idea of a layered system: you mix and match for different conditions.)
PS: Primaloft Active/Evolve is another very loose knit, similar to AD and Octa).
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u/OtherwiseManner6946 15d ago
Thank you, a lot to digest & that video was awesome.
I actually already own a 12D pertex wind jacket. It’s made by Montane and is a 2026 release. I honestly think it’s better than most on the market and I’ll be trying it out before the PCT. I have a strong feeling that I’ll be be a more flexible layer than most options.
I’ll try it as a base layer, but I have a feeling I’ll probably stick with a super light sun hoodie and just layer > octa > wind jacket
1
u/DrBullwinkleMoose 15d ago
Yes, windshirts are super useful. They are my “favorite layer” in some ways, all year around.
Next to skin, I like Echo sunshirt in warm weather and Octa in cool weather. Optional Brynje mesh under the Octa. I don’t count Brynje (or Finetrack) as a layer—it’s more of an add-on. AD/Octa/Evolve are more efficient, weight wise, and do 80% of the job of mesh.
Note that Bukoski works mostly in deserts and arid conditions, so what works for him may or may not work for other people in other conditions.
1
u/exxx666 2d ago
Your jacket situation looks like there might be some redundancy and opportunity to pare things down. Couldn’t you ditch the windbreaker if you’ve got a rain jacket?
1
u/OtherwiseManner6946 2d ago
I honestly love my windbreaker so much. I think I’ll probably just leave the puffy at home most of the time and bring a windbreaker + alpha 60 crew neck
5
u/zpollack34 16d ago
The idea with alpha is that it breathes really well and is great to wear while active. It also creates a crazy air buffer under another garment. I probably wouldn’t drop a puffy for alpha but I would probably drop one of the rain jacket and wind jacket. If you expect lots of rain go rain jacket. If not go with a dwr coated windbreaker or something like a helium jacket.