[MUSIC] Mountain weather is unpredictable. This means we need to be ready for anything that mother nature throws at us. The goal is to hope for the best but to plan for the worst. So let's chat about clothing. The first layer I wear is a wicking layer and its purpose is to keep you warm and dry. Any sweat that I produce needs to be carried away from my skin so that moisture doesn't stick around making you cold when activity stops. There are many different brands and materials for this inner layer, including both synthetics, such as polyester and polyester blends, and natural materials, such as Merino wool. What you choose comes down to personal preference. But make sure you wear a weight that isn't too heavy, as your rate of perspiration during high activity may overwhelm the clothing's ability to wick away the moisture, rendering it useless. The next layer is your insulation. Stick with synthetic fibers. This layer would trap warm air within its structure. And keeps you comfortable. I really like having a mid-layer vest. As this keeps my arms free for use but maintains warmth around my core. Another single piece that is worth its weight in gold, is a warm overlayer. In summertime, that may be a super light, down filled pullover. In winter, a full coverage synthetic parka may be more suitable. All I know, is that whenever I stop to take a break, be it summer, winter, skiing, climbing, when I open my pack, the first thing to come out is my warm coat. Warm insulating jackets are typically filled with either down feathers or synthetic materials. Here are differences. Down is more efficient, it's lighter, but it's usually on the more expensive side. The other downside to down is that if it gets wet, it loses its ability to retain heat, rendering it useless. Synthetic fills, conversely, can get wet. So they're typically better for moister climates and unpredictable weather conditions. They're also quite robust for adverse conditions. The downside to synthetic fill is its weight in comparison to down. Synthetic fill is heavier. These are important considerations to think about not only for insulating jackets, but for sleeping bags too. Whatever the activity, there's always an extra warm layer in my pack. The outermost layer is your weather protection. On day trips where you have confidence in the weather forecast, I sometimes choose to carry no extra protection for my lower body, and some kind of light, upper layer. But if I have any question at all, or on a longer trip I ensure that I have full storm protection both top and bottom. For me, that means three layer Gore-Tex as this is the most packable storm proof shell clothing available to most people. I choose super light pants with zippers down the side so I can put them on over my boots. I also pick super light jackets with minimal pockets, vents, and zippers. The way I look at it, I'm wearing Gore-Tex when it's really miserable. So the last thing I want is extra holes or zippers in the garments that will allow the bad weather to get in. Simple is good for this layer. Since you will hopefully carry it way more than you'll wear it. One of the most amazing recent advances in clothing is a variety of softshell garments. They're almost waterproof, mostly windproof, with excellent abrasion resistance. This makes these clothes great for your third layer in 95% of conditions. That allows me to wear the real storm clothes less. And that's a great thing, because although full storm layers are breathable, they're not breathable enough for high output activity. Certainly necessary when the weather goes completely sideways, but not my go-to jacket. [MUSIC]