Midlayers

[neonorchid]

Until I sweat into the down and it becomes useless as an insulator. I love down for low-intensity activities -- digging a snow pit, hanging out to/from the lodge, après, transitions. But down doesn't have much of a place in my systems where I'm generating a good deal of heat.

YMMV. But I've never found down that breathes like the Polartec Grid fleece in the R1 or anything like the Nano Air jacket.

I would never wear a down mid or outer layer when cross country skiing. For Lift Serve Alpine, I hate freezing my kester off on the slow chairlift up where synthetics often fail me.

 

[markojp]

Just tossing this out there, but I have a couple of Pendleton wool flannel shirts I found a couple years back for half off... Awesome light/medium mid-layer pieces. Wear them skiing, sailing, walking, working. Can toss either a down or synthetic puffy over for cold dry weather, or a shell for damp/rain, and add a smartwool vest + a hard shell for snowy stuff.

 

[neonorchid]

Here's an interesting one -
but don't just take her word on it,
...whatever happened to Loft???

 

[palikona]

For cold lift served skiing - Nano air or Nano Puff?

 

[neonorchid]

For cold lift served skiing - Nano air or Nano Puff?

Depends, base layer(s), activity level, do you run cold, East, West or PNW, etc..

In the NE, my Nano Air doesn't do it for me, neither does my TNF Thermoball. I need down fill, the Arc'teryx Cerium LT or the Cerium SV for the zub sero days. Fwiw, I buy Arc'teryx for the fit, despite that I feel pretentious sporting the logo, and I actually like the dead bird logo.

 

[palikona]

I run cold and typically ski Utah and Colorado. My baselayers are either Cap 2 or UA Base 3.0 with a Patty R1 in the mix.

 

[neonorchid]

I run cold and typically ski Utah and Colorado. My baselayers are either Cap 2 or UA Base 3.0 with a Patty R1 in the mix.

Dry air, three base layers, try the Nano Air, it has better air permeability. Buy from a place with a good return policy and save the tags just in case it doesn't work out. However you may find you like it for other uses, Nano Air is a nice piece.

 

[Tytlynz64]

I run cold and typically ski Utah and Colorado. My baselayers are either Cap 2 or UA Base 3.0 with a Patty R1 in the mix.

I had the puff and returned it for the air. Much warmer under a shell. It breathes well too. I have a down sweater for really cold days too.

 

[RuleMiHa]

Has anyone seen or tried TNF's Ventrix?

 

[palikona]

I had the puff and returned it for the air. Much warmer under a shell. It breathes well too. I have a down sweater for really cold days too.

Under a goretex shell, and with a good heavy baselayer, how cold would you guess you could wear your NanoAir before swapping out?

 

[Tytlynz64]

Under a goretex shell, and with a good heavy baselayer, how cold would you guess you could wear your NanoAir before swapping out?

I would swap out at single digits or maybe low teens in bad visibility where you lower the pace a bit. I bought a wool midlayer from 30 below and it is comfy with the air.

 

[Tytlynz64]

My bad it is called minus 33. Good stuff not itchy.

 

[palikona]

If it's 5° with wind chills well below zero, are you all using a down midlayer or doubling up on synthetics? If it's that cold, I'm not sure I'm sweating.

Also, to get more breathability, maybe a down vest would be the way to go when it's that cold?

 

[neonorchid]

If it's 5° with wind chills well below zero, are you all using a down midlayer or doubling up on synthetics? If it's that cold, I'm not sure I'm sweating.

Also, to get more breathability, maybe a down vest would be the way to go when it's that cold?

Arc'teryx Cerium SV (non-hoodie version) ~190grams of 850 down midlayer. Patagonia Capilene 1 under a Smartwool 250 baselayer top, I often end up removing one or the other of the two baselayers.

 

[palikona]

Jacket or vest?

 

[neonorchid]

^ Jacket -

https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/s...-Cerium-SV-Jacket_10251222_10208_10000001_-1_

https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/cerium-sv-hoody

 

[palikona]

That, under a shell?!

 

[neonorchid]

^ yep. I alternate the Cerium SV with a Cerium SL and a Nano Air as weather conditions dictate. The Cerium SV just fits under my slim fitting TNF Enzo jacket. It's an easy fit under the Arc'teryx Sidewinder, Tantallus, Sabre and updated Rush, comfortable too. I'm a size Medium in all of the above. Could wear a Small but like freedom of movement and ample room for a storm hood worn up over a helmet without dislocating my jaw. Plus my shoulders fit better in a Medium. Most other brands Mediums fit me like a tent, much too roomy in the midsection.

 

[DonC]

Any thoughts on this jacket as a mid layer? $65 now with their holiday promo.
http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/mens-ignitelite-hybrid-jacket/12950337
I've never bought any eddie bauer stuff before, but like the combination of an insulated core with less bulk on the arms. That's usually where my shell and midlayer don't get along.

 

[cantunamunch]

If it's 5° with wind chills well below zero, are you all using a down midlayer or doubling up on synthetics? If it's that cold, I'm not sure I'm sweating.

If you're factoring in wind chills, your shell may not be windproofy enough.

OTOH, my shell is windproof, and I've done fine with polar-weight fleece in those temps, but it is mildly annoying to shed sweat ice chips from the inside of the shell