Gloves have been a problem; I also go for the very warm- Smartwool liner
gloves inside rather heavy mittens (except for very warm times, even the
lobster mitts are too cold for me). My hands get cold too easy, but also
perspire way too much, I am looking around for vented mittens to try
this year. Very heavy ragg wool mitts work pretty well, breathe nicely,
but don't block wind and get wet very easily.

Pant are the only thing that I don't have a problem with. I wear
Sporthill xc pants with no base layer, down to about 15 F.

I tried going light this year with just a thin wicking base layer and
various light jackets, but it really didn't help getting soaked too
much. But I did notice that the LLBean base was better than the others I
had, so I am thinking there are some real differences in base layers.



Socks work pretty well for wicking, but trapped inside boots they reach
moisture capacity in a few hours (good thing for lunch stops in a
warming hut!). A thin coolmax sock as base and thicker LL bean
Thinsulate works with a mid-day change.

Gary

On 3/13/2012 12:58 PM, wrote:
Gary, What has been your experience going light on base layers and outer
garments? For example, using only one shirt and silk-thickness
longjohns? For example, unless it's really cold I use different
thickness vests to increase or decrease warmth, whether under an
appropriate jacket or above a shirt - and I use turtlenecks a lot
unless it's warm. If it's colder, I'll stick a silk or silk-thickness
turtleneck on (easy to carry). For longjohns, either silk or
Patagonia's silk-like fabric or their Capilene 1 longjohns work really
well in most conditions for me (watch for sales). Then it's just the
outer pants I vary, from Hind or Sporthill's original Voyage pant (zone
2) to the looser fitting 3SP pant to Craft's thicker cold pants.

For socks, I really like Bridgedale's X-C model, but maybe you need
to experiment with light (stay away from Smartwool, they're widely
recognized as crap - not sure about their other products). As for
gloves, I'm the opposite of you and prefer warmer than colder,
Sinisalo's lobster being the only one of the type that's worked for me,
and their fingered Arctic, with the back straps cut off, being for next
warmer. But again, what's your experience going light, such as the
Yoko Gore-tex glove or Craft's lighter model?

Gene


On Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:31:31 -0400
wrote:

1) I perspire a whole lot
2) When skiing I need to change socks and gloves after a couple hours
because they get so damp, my hands or feet get cold (they get cold
easily anyway, something I inherited)
3) I have mostly used Sporthill base layers, but they don't really
seem to wick very well. Sporthill 3SP fabric (not really a baselayer)
however is great (warm and very breathable).
4) Some kind of shirt I got from LL Bean, seems to be a dual layer,
and is somewhat better.

Question; What brand and/or material is the best kind of base layer
that can handle lots of perspiration? Smartwool, Capalain, Craft
etc???

Thanks!