Kit Question! Walking not biking :D

[Noggin]

I know quite a lot of you do walking so I need some advice!!

I've only really ski toured for about an hour before today and yes, I get hot but I just unzip my hoody a bit and get on with it.

Today, I walked further and the wind chill was a bit of a challenge

First mistake was not wearing a hat - the cold wind on a hot and steamy head was NOT good, so I will take a hat next time (I had my helmet for the ski down and just didn't think about the hat need )

Biggest thing is that I do get very very hot during the first hour. Didn't feel it so much the second hour, even though it was relatively sheltered from the wind)

So, I guess I need a breathable wind-cheater type thing? But what? (Can't be expensive!! maybe in the future but cheap is essential for now)

I know layers are best, I usually wear a thin, long sleeved polo neck with a t-shirt over it and then a light, long zip up hoody over that. Today the polos hadn't dried from washing so I had a t-shirt then a long sleeved t-shirt and the hoody. I was only cold today when I stopped in the first hour in the wind. I don't think I was overly hot, but the wind chill was a total bastard I plan to head to the Decathlon in the valley and see if they have some light long sleeved layers so that I always have one if I want to ski-tour (I wear the ones I already have for work as well, so need more!)

I do wear a small Camelbak so I always have water. I don't generally eat before I set out but I did have half a Club biscuit at the halfway point (it was too dry to eat the whole thing!) so I need to plan for something I can actually eat! (recommendations welcome - I'm considering buying porridge oats to make flapjacks maybe?! But figure protein would be better??)
Also need to practice using the SheWee so I can drink more - nothing puts a girl off drinking water on a mountain walk than the thought of having to drop trousers in minus temps to try and pee!!

Bonus is that my ski trousers are a little bit big I do have some smaller ones although they aren't softshell, so not sure if they will be too hot? (I've worn softshell trews for years cos I haven't skied in bad weather so haven't bothered getting a proper ski jacket or proper trousers!!)

I'm open to any advice on kit for this - might not be able to buy everything but at least I can have a list!!

Layers
Wind-cheater type thingy (under or over the hoody??!)
Soft-shell or other type of trousers
Snacks - protein or otherwise

Help!! LOL

[Trinity765]

I wear jeans normally though I once did a walk in snow and wore a pair of water resistant over-trousers that I'd bought for biking. They unzipped down the outsides of the legs so when I got a chance I undid them and let them breath.
I've got a Uniqlo ultra light down jacket which packs small but beware that down is no good if it gets wet. When it's not in use I keep it on a hanger as per the advice it came with.
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/ul ... ts-jackets
Snacks - Animal fat for warmth so something buttery rather than carbs. If I'm doing something cold and outdoorsie I have a rich breakfast like eggs and butter. I do sometimes take some dark chocolate but that's because I like it

[Yorick]

I've got my fur lined flip flops

ELLASPICEFEATURE1_900x.jpg (181.69 KiB) Viewed 198 times

[MingtheMerciless]

Not raining = sandals, shorts and t shirt with a hat to keep my ears warm.

Raining and muddy = toe tector boots (by Steitz). Shorts, t shirt, hat and goretex jacket (which will leak after about two year use as the goretex gives up...just apply Rule 5).

Windy and rainy = the above but maybe put the hood up.

Cold and windy, replace jacket with fleece and take it off for the climbs, putting it back on when it gets nippy at the top of the hill. Old man fingerless gloves.

Snow, if MTBing a long way I use my heated motorcycle gloves on low to keep the cold at bay. Layers and zips open and a spare base layer in the camelback to swap if I sweat too much. Always start slightly cold as you'll soon warm up and then waste 5-10 minutes stripping off laters and packing them away in which time you've got cold again.

If I'm on the Ebike its a full length Romper suit with loads of zip vents (so I can look like a bad reject from Ghostbusters )

Food = tangfastics/flapjack/beer(obvs).

[Count Steer]

Yup...hat! With ear flaps.

As you're unlikely to be out in heavy rain 🌧 a lightweight, breathable jacket (with hood) should help with the wind-chill. Pref with zipped vents for air flow when needed. Unfortunately it's one of those things where the more you pay, the less you get, ie a good lightweight one costs more than a heavy one.

Base layer, cotton or silk ie natural fabrics - usual ski stuff. (I've got some 'bamboo' - actually semi-synthetic - ones and I find them sweaty although I've got some ancient 'Capiline' base layer kit that doesn't and that's actually polyester )

Scran. Look up 'trail mix' recipes. Bit of a faff with gloves on but easily made into bars by adding chocolate etc. I'll see if I can find a couple of books I've got somewhere, 'Beyond Backpacking' has a few recipes and I think 'Do Bears Sh*t In the Woods?'* has too.

* Which looks like it's been retitled to 'Do Bears Poop in the Woods'.

[Noggin]

Probably wasn't very clear in my OP - I'm ski touring up so I have the right boots, gloves and normal outerwear - need advice on the windproof and or base layer type stuffs

I wear jeans normally though I once did a walk in snow and wore a pair of water resistant over-trousers that I'd bought for biking. They unzipped down the outsides of the legs so when I got a chance I undid them and let them breath.
I've got a Uniqlo ultra light down jacket which packs small but beware that down is no good if it gets wet. When it's not in use I keep it on a hanger as per the advice it came with.
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/ul ... ts-jackets
Snacks - Animal fat for warmth so something buttery rather than carbs. If I'm doing something cold and outdoorsie I have a rich breakfast like eggs and butter. I do sometimes take some dark chocolate but that's because I like it

I do have a down jacket but have found that I get a bit sweaty in it, so I think it would get soggy on a ski tour Which is a shame cos other than that it is quite lovely! LOL

My legs weren't cold weirdly! The softshell trousers did quite well. Maybe I should look for another soft shell jacket! LOL

I can't eat that early in the morning, especially if I'm doing something like walking up a mountain Kinda wish I could get a bacon sarnie first but I know it doesn't work!! LOL But Dark choc is a good call - cos I like it too

I'm sure we did this before?

It was walking boots before, and in summer!!! This time I have the foot gear (touring ski boots and skis ) - just have no idea about proper kit outside the ski stuff

I like wearing all the fancy kit because I can, but I was just as comfortable when I used to buy secondhand stuff from the army & navy stores, or my grandads hand-me-downs.

I think Goretex has largely been debunked and a lot of the fancy gear is fancy mostly only in name.

Flapjacks and marzipan is all I used to take for snacks, along with my proper freeze dried food (or sometimes army rat packs).
Protein is hard for your tummy to process and a nasty spell of stomach ache at about 5,000m once taught me not to take protein shakes on altitude climbs. Flapjacks dripped in your favourite melted chocolate before you leave and then wrapped in clingfilm is a winner.

I need to buy cheap for now, just need a bit of advice on what - I didn't really ski-tour far before in the snow but now I'm going higher, I'm likely to hit lower temps and stronger winds I 'think' my main layers are ok, but it's the 'breathable & windproof' bit that I'm not sure how to achieve!!

Didn't think about protein being a challenge for the tummy, but flapjacks are a good option for me and I do like marzipan!! Might try those next time (think I have some marzipan in the fridge )

Cheers

Edited...if you're going over 4,500m (or very tricky and potentially nasty stuff like Mt Blanc) then you really need proper advice, rather than us lot.

Definitely not that high! The one I'm aiming for at the mo is 2505m, - 505ish metres from where I live!! The other one looks taller and the tracks up are steeper but it's 5m shorter (not that I expect I'll notice the 5m difference )

Yup...hat! With ear flaps.

As you're unlikely to be out in heavy rain 🌧 a lightweight, breathable jacket (with hood) should help with the wind-chill. Pref with zipped vents for air flow when needed. Unfortunately it's one of those things where the more you pay, the less you get, ie a good lightweight one costs more than a heavy one.

Base layer, cotton or silk ie natural fabrics - usual ski stuff. (I've got some 'bamboo' - actually semi-synthetic - ones and I find them sweaty although I've got some ancient 'Capiline' base layer kit that doesn't and that's actually polyester )

Scran. Look up 'trail mix' recipes. Bit of a faff with gloves on but easily made into bars by adding chocolate etc. I'll see if I can find a couple of books I've got somewhere, 'Beyond Backpacking' has a few recipes and I think 'Do Bears Sh*t In the Woods?'* has too.

* Which looks like it's been retitled to 'Do Bears Poop in the Woods'.

It's definitely weird about the base layer fabrics. The ones I have are polyester but two 'feel' like cotton and none of them are 'nasty' to wear!! LOL But I'd like to find and try some bamboo ones if I can, just to see - although now I'm not so sure!! LOL

I need to dig out my old cycling jacket as that is really light but I'm sure it's supposed to be wind proof. Downside is that it won't go over my hoodie (or any other outerwear I'm likely to wear) so will have to go under. It isn't warm so I'd need a warm layer as well, so need to see if it does protect from wind if worn under the outer layer

In general I will be able to take gloves off for the amount of time to eat something. I take one off to take photos and ok, it's not properly cold at the mo, but generally the temps are dealable with for a short time (I had to swap my ski gloves for thinner winter gloves today as my hands got too hot )

[Pirahna]

To be honest, this isn't the best place for advice on alpine ski touring, a clothing mistake even relatively close to civilisation could be fatal. There must be locals doing this sort of stuff or a Facebook group for it if that fails. If you really can't find any proper advice, and in my opinion chatting to people that actually do it is the best way, I'll try and connect you with a friend. He's a bit elusive but has plenty of ski touring experience in Canada.

[Count Steer]

I think my Capilene base layer is Patagonia. It feels thin but strong and is smooth so the next layer slides freely and it's warmer than it looks. I've got some v old ski silks somewhere too. The 'bamboo' stuff is from Patra and it feels for a while but feels damp and cold once I overheat and cool down again in it. Not had that problem with Capilene.

A windproof layer under a thermal outer will reduce wind chill but it's not ideal, particularly if it rains or snows and, if it's not very breathable can be a bit 'boil in the bag' and it's a faff to unzip it.

TBH, (despite people saying this is the wrong place to ask about climbing mountains ) the best advice I can give is, unless you're Alan Hinkes, don't go alone.

[Noggin]

I think my Capilene base layer is Patagonia. It feels thin but strong and is smooth so the next layer slides freely and it's warmer than it looks. I've got some v old ski silks somewhere too. The 'bamboo' stuff is from Patra and it feels for a while but feels damp and cold once I overheat and cool down again in it. Not had that problem with Capilene.

A windproof layer under a thermal outer will reduce wind chill but it's not ideal, particularly if it rains or snows and, if it's not very breathable can be a bit 'boil in the bag' and it's a faff to unzip it.

TBH, (despite people saying this is the wrong place to ask about climbing mountains ) the best advice I can give is, unless you're Alan Hinkes, don't go alone.

My outer layer isn't thermal - the one I normally ski in is just sweatshirt material. A soft shell is basically the same but just has a bit of protection against moisture incase of snow - in my case more for walking around resort than skiing! I basically don't go out in bad weather that needs waterproofing because that means bad visibility and I'm wary of falling in bad conditions due to the shoulder, so am quite picky about when I ski and extra picky about when I ski tour! I do hte absolute safest kind of ski touring - I walk up hte piste in good conditions and ski back down when the lifties and pisteurs are around!

I'll have a look for a larger sized but cheap windproof thingy And, I always go alone Can't walk and talk!! But if I was doing any other kind, I'd 100% agree with you

To be honest, this isn't the best place for advice on alpine ski touring, a clothing mistake even relatively close to civilisation could be fatal. There must be locals doing this sort of stuff or a Facebook group for it if that fails. If you really can't find any proper advice, and in my opinion chatting to people that actually do it is the best way, I'll try and connect you with a friend. He's a bit elusive but has plenty of ski touring experience in Canada.

I do understand your comment and appreciate it. But TBF the big questions were about a windproof layer and snacks - I figured that enough people on here would have experience to help with that. Lighter layers I'm interested in but already have a system. I've been doing simple ski touring for about 6 years now but only this week have I gone long enough/high enough/early to need advice on the two main things!! Very very few of my friends ski tour (they all lie in and wait for the lifts to open!) and those that do are super fit and don't have the same issues with heat/sweat/equipment for this that I do!

But, I'll have a chat with a couple. I'm not really a novice and I do pick my times - and if I'm aiming high I tell people where I'm going. But I'm always within sight of a chairlift so am visible when they open, and won't be out in temperatures that will kill fast. I just figured that I've read a lot on here of people walking a lot and their experience would be relatable to my questions.

[Count Steer]

If you're going to Decathlon have a look at the stuff for runners/cyclists.

Something like this (£11.99! ) light, windproof, breathable and water-'repellant' could be but it's a half length zip.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-w ... R-p-134605

[Noggin]

If you're going to Decathlon have a look at the stuff for runners/cyclists.

Something like this (£11.99! ) light, windproof, breathable and water-'repellant' could be but it's a half length zip.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-w ... R-p-134605

Don't think I'd be able to get that off without scissors or assistance!! (Spazzy arm complicates things without a full zip!) LOL But I'll go look

[Count Steer]

If you're going to Decathlon have a look at the stuff for runners/cyclists.

Something like this (£11.99! ) light, windproof, breathable and water-'repellant' could be but it's a half length zip.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-w ... R-p-134605

Don't think I'd be able to get that off without scissors or assistance!! (Spazzy arm complicates things without a full zip!) LOL But I'll go look

Yeah, I noted the zip but, tbh I was more about the price than anything. However, they have a few options and, as they tend to be rather skimpy (to minimise wind resistance...and cost) you could consider something like this.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-run ... R-p-337688

(My missus often pick men's 'small' tops for outdoor kit as they tend to be a bit more generous in their cut).