Jim’s versatile clothing system for all conditions

My basic clothing system stays pretty much the same year round. I make minor adjustments for very hot, or very cold weather. My go-to shirt of choice is the Montbell Super Merino Light Weight Round Neck Shirt. For Pants I use the Montbell OD Pants, or the OD Pants Light depending on season or weather. I like to start my hikes early in the day when temperatures are often on the cool side. Because I hate to be cold, I typically start wearing my down jacket over my wool shirt. Once warmed up in 5 or 10 minutes, I stop and put the down jacket away. While hiking this very light weight shirt (120 grams per meter fabric weight) keeps me warm without overheating. Sweating to the point where my shirt is getting wet is overheating. The thin fabric and round neck are critical to my base layer shirt staying dry. When I stop, even for short breaks I put on my down jacket.   

Eventually as the day warms up I stop and change into my short sleeve shirt. Hopefully for the whole day. If it’s cloudy and cool, and I stay with the long sleeves. Or maybe cool and breezy, in which case I might add my light shell jacket. Very often my Super Merino Light Weight Round Neck Shirt is perfect just by itself. I can regulate quite a bit by pushing the sleeves up or down. I only change shirts if I’m overheating. I tend to be hard on my T-shirts, and I’ve found that the Merino Wool Plus Light T provides exceptional wicking, breathability, quick drying, and durability all in one great shirt.

If it’s a cold day, I keep a hat, and gloves available in my pockets. It has to be pretty cold for me to want my gloves handy, but a thin hat that covers my ears goes on and off fairly often. If the weather is cool and breezy my light shell jacket might also be on or off, sleeves up or down. It’s not unusual to experience frequent temperature changes when the sun goes in and out behind clouds. The Montbell UL Stretch Wind Hooded Jacket at only 4.5 oz. stows away easily if I need to adjust for changing conditions on the go.

For socks I usually wear one pair; light to med-weight in thickness. I bring several pairs, and will put on a dry fresh pair ½ way through the day. On a long day I might change to fresh socks more than twice. I find this goes a long way to keeping my feet happy. Additional layers I most always include are light shell pants, and a hooded light shell parka w/pockets. For light shell pants I use the Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants. Worn over my OD Pants, they add a good amount of warmth in windy or stormy weather. For a hooded light shell parka I have the Montbell UL Stretch Wind Hooded. I love this parka with two zip pockets for winter mountaineering, or stormy mountain weather any time of the year. Great freedom of movement, light weight, and packable. Whether or not I bring rain gear depends on the weather forecast, and length of trip. Both the Montbell Versalte Jacket, or Storm Cruiser are lightweight, and packable rain jackets.

STANDARD KIT (7 items). Jim’s lightweight clothing system for all conditions.

• short sleeve shirt

• long sleeve shirt

• light shell jacket

• down parka

• hard shell jacket

• soft shell pants

• hard shell pants

PRO KIT (10 items)

• light wool hat

• wool shorts

• short sleeve shirt

• long sleeve shirt

• light shell jacket

• down parka

• hard shell jacket

• soft shell pants

• light shell pants

• hard shell pants

WINTER KIT - Two great items added to the Basic Kit for colder weather conditions.  

• down vest

• down pants

CLIMB KIT (4 items)

• ice axe

• crampons

• harness

• helmet

CLIMB KIT PRIMO (4 items)

• ice axe

• crampons

• harness

• helmet