Clothing can make or break your expedition! Mountaineering expeditions often take you through different kinds of terrain and this warrants a smart clothing technique. You should be able to add or remove layers with ease to adjust to the weather in a specific terrain. This is where layering comes in handy. Your layers will depend on the climate, the kind of expedition you are taking up and the conditions that you might encounter on the trail.
This article gives you a basic understanding of layering for mountaineering expeditions by listing out the different kinds of clothing one should wear for different layers. However, these can be modified based on your needs and requirements. You will also find a handy guide to their maintenance at the end of the article.
Base Layers
This is the layer you wear immediately on top of your skin and is important as it absorbs excess moisture to keep you dry and comfortable. Polyester is a good choice of fabric for this layer.
- Underwear: Always choose underwear that is airy, breathable and made from synthetic fabric or wool.
- Bras: Sports bras without any clipping or hooks are the most comfortable.
- T-Shirt: A lightweight t-shirt made from wool or synthetic fabric is a good choice to keep yourself warm. Alternatively you could also directly wear a long sleeve top to avoid extra weight.
- Long Sleeve Top: These are generally worn for the entire duration of the expedition and it is therefore important to pick the right ones. A light or midweight top with a zipper neck is suitable for warmer days at the beginning of the expedition. Depending on the temperatures you will encounter, tops made of wool or synthetic fabric would be a good choice. Even better if they offer sun protection.
- Long Bottoms: These are worn under the climbing pants in higher altitudes, usually at camp or during the summit climb. They are made from wool or synthetic fabric and keep you warm and comfortable in colder climatic conditions.
- Socks: Socks don’t just keep your feet dry, healthy, blister-free and comfortable during a climb but also help you get a good night’s sleep. Always choose socks made of wool or synthetic. Do not opt for cotton socks. The number of pairs to carry will depend on the length of your expedition. If you anticipate colder climatic conditions, always carry heavier socks that will meet your requirements.
Mid Layers
This layer is worn over your base layer and provides protection from winds, rain, abrasions and also adds a layer of warmth.
- Fleece Jacket: This is worn on top of your long sleeve top and provides warmth when you halt during the approach hike or even at camp. These jackets are thin and as the name speaks, they are made of fleece.
- Soft-Shell Jacket: This piece of clothing serves the same purpose as a fleece jacket but has the added advantage or protection against wind and rain. They are also more breathable than rain jackets. You could either carry both (fleece and soft-shell jackets) or opt for one depending on your requirements.
- Soft-Shell Climbing Pants: This piece of clothing is worn throughout the expedition, either over your long bottoms or your underwear, depending on the weather conditions. These are highly durable and do a good job of blocking wind and rain. They are made from a stretchy fabric that aids your climbing by giving flexibility.
- Hat/Cap: These become almost indispensable in intense sun. They protect your face (some even have a cape to protect the neck) from the harmful rays of the sun as you climb higher.
- Liner Gloves: Liner gloves provide you with a cozy layer of warmth, especially at night. During the day, they protect your palms and fingers from the sun.
Insulation Layers
The level of insulation required depends on the conditions you will face on your expedition. If you are climbing higher peaks with extreme climatic conditions, a heavy layer of insulation both on top and bottom becomes mandatory.
Insulated Jacket: This hooded jacket is almost indispensable to keep yourself warm higher up in the mountains. These are generally packed on top of the bag for ease of removal when temperatures drop. Down insulation is less bulky and provides more warmth but cannot insulate well when damp. However, the newer variants do come with better water resistance. Synthetic insulation is heavy but can keep you warm even in damp conditions. It is also more cost effective.
Insulated Pants: The need for these pants depends on the conditions you are likely to face during the expedition. They provide the much needed warmth during winter expeditions or expeditions to bigger peaks. Insulated pants with side zips are more comfortable as you can put them on without having to remove your boots or crampons. Similar to jackets, they come in down and synthetic variants.
Winter Hat: This is a thin layer of covering for your head which you can wear below your hat/cap.
Glacier Glasses: These are specially designed to provide protection to your eyes from harsh sunlight and sunlight reflecting off the snow/ice at higher altitudes. They also come with wrap-around extensions that block the sunlight from entering through the sides.
Midweight Gloves: These are worn on top of liner gloves to provide more warmth as you climb higher up. These are not too heavy and offer sufficient flexibility to handle ropes, zippers and use ice axes.
Gaiters: A tall pair of gaiters will help you keep snow, water and other debris out of your boots. They also hold the baggy ends of your pants in place, thus preventing them from coming in the way or getting ripped by the crampons.
Outer Layer
These are layers that protect you against rain and are therefore waterproof. They might remain packed in your bag for most of the expedition, provided that you do not encounter wet climatic conditions.
Waterproof Jacket: A waterproof and breathable shell jacket that keeps you dry with a hood that fits over your climbing helmet is usually desirable. This should sufficiently protect you in case you encounter rain.
Waterproof Pants: Lightweight waterproof pants with side zippers will keep you and your other layers dry in case of rain or snowfall. The side zippers will allow you to put them on without having to remove your boots and crampons.
Ski Goggles: If you believe the expedition is taking you into regions with strong winds and harsh climate, a pair of ski goggles are always useful and provide better protection than glacier glasses.
Neck Gaiter: In situations of high winds, neck gaiters protect your face from the harsh slaps of wind against your skin. These can also be used as a face mask, ear band or a hat.
Insulated Mittens: These keep your fingers from freezing in higher altitudes. They can be extremely useful in keeping you warm at night, although they might reduce your dexterity.
Maintenance and Storage
Like with all mountaineering gear, clothing also requires the right kind of care and maintenance. Following are a few general steps you can follow:
- Wash your base layers in lukewarm water and mild soap after your expedition. Rinse them in clean water and air dry them until they are fully dry.
- Your fleece jacket, soft-shell jacket, climbing pants and liner gloves can also be washed in the same manner as above if you feel the need. Alternatively, they can be air dried away from direct sunlight.
- Insulated jackets, pants, mittens and midweight gloves can be spot cleaned if needed and air dried away from direct sunlight. If you feel there is an absolute need for them to be washed, do so in lukewarm water with mild soap. These could take several hours to dry so ensure they have fully dried out.
- Air drying should suffice for hat/cap and winter hats. Depending on your need you could also wash them.
- Ski goggles and glacier glasses can be cleaned with a soft wet cloth and kept out to dry away from direct sunlight. You can use a brush to remove dirt from the moving parts.
- Waterproof jackets, pants and gaiters can be spot cleaned and air dried before storage.
- Neck gaiters can be washed with your base layers.
- Ensure all your clothing is fully dry before storing them. Store the clothing in a cool and dry place away from the sun. Toss in a naphthalene ball for additional care.
We hope our comprehensive list of clothing helps you pack and layer well for your next mountaineering expedition! Should you require any further assistance, our team is always available to help you out.
