Layering Guide
Base–mid–shell clothing for any temperature range. Enter your low and high, your effort and the weather, and get a complete layering system in seconds.
Build your layering system
Plan for the coldest moment (usually dawn, wind or camp), not just the afternoon high. Try the example first.
Results
| Layer | Fabric choice | Weight / thickness | When to wear |
|---|
How is this calculated?
Recommendations are driven by the adjusted cold temperature: adjusted = lowest temp + intensity shift (high effort −2 °C, low effort +2 °C) + preference shift (run cold +2 °C, run hot −2 °C). The cold threshold table below selects every layer.
| Adjusted low | Base layer | Mid layer | Legs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≥ 15 °C | Merino 150 / synthetic SS — never cotton | None; thin fleece on stops | Shorts / light pants |
| 5–15 °C | Merino 200 LS | Fleece 200 | Hiking pants |
| −5–5 °C | Merino 200 LS + synthetic LS | Fleece 200 + puffy vest | Softshell / insulated pants |
| −10–−5 °C | Merino 250 heavy LS | Down / synthetic puffy (40 g fill) | Hardshell over base bottom |
| < −10 °C | Merino 250 + synthetic LS | Heavy down (60 g+ fill) | Expedition pants + gaiters |
Shell by weather: dry → wind shirt or none; windy → softshell; wet → waterproof hardshell. Extremities by thresholds: <10 °C gloves; <0 °C beanie + neck gaiter; <−10 °C down parka on stops. Every 5 °C colder adds one removable layer. Overnight camping adds a dedicated camp puffy (you stop generating heat).
Sources: classic three-layer system (base–mid–shell), lightweight backpacking layering literature, and outdoor manufacturers' temperature-rated insulation guidance. Cotton is banned: it holds moisture and speeds heat loss. Estimates only — always carry a shell and adjust on the move.