Colorado Made
  • Gear
    • Reviews
    • How-To
  • Features
    • Brands
    • Events
    • Stories
  • Activities
    • Backpacking
    • Camping
    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Running
  • Destinations
  • News
  • Shop
  • About
Colorado Made
Colorado Made
  • Gear
    • Reviews
    • How-To
  • Features
    • Brands
    • Events
    • Stories
  • Activities
    • Backpacking
    • Camping
    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Running
  • Destinations
  • News
  • Shop
0
layering guide 2019 2019
  • Gear

Layering Up For Winter: Our Favorite 2018/19 Layers

Total
1
Shares
1
0
0

The art of layering becomes crucial when braving the outdoors during winter. Without the right layers, your body will have a harder time regulating its temperature…or worse, you’ll just be downright cold from the second you leave your car until the second you return to the saving grace of seat heaters. To understand how layering works, and how to properly layer your clothes for winter, you need to first understand the purpose and function of each separate layer. Below, we take a look at the three main layers, how they work, and our favorite choices of the season.

  • Base layer: sweat wicking layer to keep you dry
  • Mid layer: insulating layer that retains heat
  • Outer layer: shell layer that shields you from the elements

Choosing a Base Layer

Material: The best base layers are thin and smooth and fit snugly under your other mid and outer layers. Merino wool is an extremely popular option for base layers, as it’s ultra-warm, moisture-wicking, and doesn’t trap odors as badly as some other options out there. If you’re looking for a synthetic material, there are many options that tend to try even faster than merino, though they’re known to become smellier than merino more quickly.

Weights: The main thing you’re looking for is warmth, so find a base layer that can seamlessly regulate your temperate without making you overly sweaty or hot. The moisture wicking capabilities play a big part in this as it draws excess sweat away from your body before it cools down, but you also have the choice between lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight, which are all fairly self-explanatory. Generally, the thicker your base layer, the warmer it should be (in theory).

wearing a base layer in the winter
When you’re out in the backcountry, you’ll want a comfortable and warm base layer

Our Favorite 2018/2019 Base Layers:

Colorado Brands
  • Smart Wool NTS Mid 250 Zip  (Mens | Womens)- $95 and Merino 150 Bottom (Mens | Womens) – $75
    • Materials: Merino Wool
  • Obermeyer Flex ¼ Zip Baselayer Top – $89
    • Polyester, Elastane Knit Fleece
Our Other Choices
  • Icebreaker Tech Top Crew (Mens | Womens) – $110 and Tech Leggings (Mens | Womens) – $110
    • Materials: Merino Wool
  • Rab Merino+ 160 Hooded Top – $125
    • Materials: Merino Wool

Picking Your Mid Layers

So you’ve got your perfect base layers…now what about that all-important insulating mid layer?

Materials: Depending on the day and more specifically the weather, this could be a warm down jacket or a lightweight fleece. You have a wide range of options in both synthetic and natural materials when it comes to mid-layers.

Warmth: The mid layer is also the layer most likely to be discarded when things get a little warm. Even if you don’t think it will be needed, it’s always good to have your mid-layer with you if you aren’t wearing it. Changes in weather occur quickly in the Rocky Mountains and it’s always better to be over prepared, especially when it comes to your insulating layer.

Our favorite 2018/2019 Mid Layers:

Colorado Brands
  • Big Agnes Willow or Porcupine Hooded Pullovers – $239.95
    • Materials: Nylon; PrimaLoft® Gold active stretch insulation
  • Strafe Incubator Jacket (Mens | Womens) – $279
    • Materials: Synthetic insulation and fleece
  • Smartwool Smartloft 120 – $200
    • Materials: reclaimed merino wool and nylon
  • Mountain Standard Zip Insulator – $249
    • Materials: Down, spandex
Our Other Favorites
  • Montbell Plasma Vest (Mens | Womens) – $229
    • Materials: Down

Finishing off with the Perfect Outer Layers

This layer is meant to shield you from the elements like wind, rain ,or snow. Your outer later could be a ski jacket, a rain jacket, or a waterproof shell, depending on the day.

Materials: Most technical outer layers are waterproof and breathable. Because of these more technical features, an outer layer will typically be your most expensive piece. There are also non-breathable waterproof jackets, typically made of coated nylon, which can be much more affordable, but since they aren’t breathable, we don’t recommended them for outdoor activities requiring a lot of exertion, like hiking or skiing.

Our favorite 2018/2019 outer layers:

Colorado Brands
  • FlyLow Puma – $275
    • Materails: 100% Polyester fabric
  • Flylow Baker Bibs – $400
    • Materials: Oxford fabric; 20k/20k waterproof breathable membrane
Our Other Choices
  • 686 GLCR Multi – $300
    • Materials: Gore-Tex Paclite
  • Burton Avalon/Reserve Bib – $280
    • DRYRIDE 2-Layer Polyester Twill Fabric (note: fabric may change depending on color your select)
  • Arc’teryx Beta AR – $575
    • Gore-Tex Pro

Now that you’ve got your winter layers dialed in, it’s time to get out there! Be safe, have fun, and stay warm in our favorite layer picks of the season.

Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Alex Faubel

Traveler. Writer. Picture Taker. Adventurer. Lover of puppy cuddles, old records, sunrises, alpine lakes and jazz horns. Read more at Alex Out There.

You May Also Like
alpine start instant coffee at camp
View Post
  • Reviews

Review: Alpine Start Instant Coffee

  • Matt NeSmith
  • March 10, 2021
pactimo apex bib short liner
View Post
  • Reviews

Review: Pactimo Apex Bib Short Liner

  • Matt NeSmith
  • February 13, 2021
Review of the EcoVessel 32oz Boulder water bottle, showing the bottle in front of a mountain backdrop
View Post
  • Reviews

Review: EcoVessel Boulder 32oz Water Bottle

  • Matt NeSmith
  • June 22, 2020
View Post
  • How-To

Essential Knots for the Outdoors

  • Matt NeSmith
  • May 7, 2020
View Post
  • How-To

Alpine Start Instant Coffee Brownie Recipe

  • Matt NeSmith
  • April 9, 2020
Topo Designs Camera Strap Review
View Post
  • Reviews

Review: Topo Designs Camera Strap

  • Matt NeSmith
  • February 20, 2021
Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Mix Review
View Post
  • Reviews

Review: Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix

  • Matt NeSmith
  • March 28, 2020
Review of Feedback Sports Wall Mounts
View Post
  • Reviews

Organize Your Bikes with Feedback Wall Mounts

  • Matt NeSmith
  • March 19, 2020

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts
  • How to Pack for a Winter Day Hike
  • Camp Kitchen Essentials: Creating the Perfect Camp Kitchen Setup
  • Review: Alpine Start Instant Coffee
  • The Story of Anne and Ivan of Dog + Bone
  • Review: Pactimo Apex Bib Short Liner
  • Activities
  • Destinations
  • Features
  • Gear
  • Brands

Input your search keywords and press Enter.