Fall Layering Guide

Look, we've all been there: You're happy with yourself that you're at the trailhead early, but you're also dressed for the top of Everest—and spent a not-insignificant amount of time scraping frost off your windshield. By 11AM, you're down to just a long sleeve as you continue up the trail. By noon, the gates of hell have opened and you're chugging water, wishing for those sweet temps from the morning. You take your summit selfie puffy deployed and Michelin Man-esque. By 5 o’clock the sun has gone behind the peak—and it's back to arctic cold, with you making it back to your car sporting a frosty mustache. What has just occurred is the most New England thing that exists on our beautiful earth… Fall. The swinging temps are simply one of the joys of fall in the Northeast. It’s one of the most epically gorgeous times to get outside of the entire year. The bugs are gone—for the most part—it’s nice out, and the summer crowds are gone. Sounds heavenly right? Well, it is—if you’re prepared with the appropriate fall layering.

Having the right layers for your outdoor activity is the key to success during this weather-confused time. Ask yourself:

• What activity am I doing?
• What are the forecasted highs and lows of the day?
• Will I sweat a bunch?
• How long am I going to be out for?
• Do I naturally run hot, or cold?

At one point in time, you may have heard, "Stay W.I.S.E while outdoors," which explains some layering guidelines:

• W icking
• I nsulating
• Windproof/waterproof S hell
• E xtra

(W) icking:

Wicking layers are best described as clothing that helps keep you dry by moving moisture away from your skin. Moisture is the sworn enemy of temperature regulation—and wicking it away from your skin not only speeds up evaporative cooling when it's hot, it helps prevent cold air from sapping away your body heat when it's not. Since you'll be dealing with both extremes when you're adventuring during fall—you may start the day wearing a puffy before de-layering to a t-shirt by noon—you'll want to make sure your next-to-skin layer is a wicking one. Merino wool is awesome at wicking, and so are synthetic fabrics. Cotton, however, kills your mood fast in any outdoor situation: It retains moisture and you'll remain colder and damper longer. Nothing will kill your hike-stoke faster than a good ol' cotton layer… trust me.

(I) nsulating:

Insulating layers keep you warm! These layers can be an extra-thick merino long sleeve or your favorite puffy jacket, among other things. Whatever your go-to is, insulation is the key to cold weather comfort. The constant dance of adding and shedding layers to regulate your temperature takes years to master, and timing its steps depends largely on personal preference. To help keep it simple, use your insulating layer as the one you take on and off to keep comfortable, and follow these two guidelines: Start warm to stay warm, and try to de-layer before you start to sweat.

Windproof/Waterproof (S) hell:

Guess what? It rains in the fall, sometimes a lot. Sometimes, gale force winds blow around too. You're not going to be able to enjoy that trail snack (or beer) at the peak if you don't have a shell layer. Typically a light raincoat or softshell jacket, your shell is what keeps Mother Nature from huffing and puffing you into submission. Throwing one on when the wind starts picking up is a surefire way to keep you stoked on the last 3 miles of that hike.

(E) xtra:

If your standard mode of operation is being over-prepared, you'll love this one: Extra. Bring an extra layer just in case. Bringing a beanie, gloves, and a buff can help keep you toasty at a moment's notice too. Maybe once you get to the top your socially-distant hiking partner realizes they forgot their shell—well, you just saved the day. You can never pack too smart, so toss something extra in that day pack.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Hiking pants:

Fall is the perfect time of year to strut your dad gear. Zip-off pants are “in” when the temps go from 40-80 in a few hours, so relish in the outdoor dad look. If that isn’t your thing, shorts with a pair of light pants as your E xtra will help make things more comfortable. Shorts and pulled up high socks is always a look, though…

Footwear:

Muck, wet leaves, dry gravel, hot feet, cold feet. Hiking boots or trail runners? Waterproof, or breathable? We could go on all day talking through the ins and outs of footwear for fall adventuring‚ but the most important move to make the right choice is to be on top of the weather and trail conditions. When leaves fall—dry or wet—it gets a little slick, so make sure that even if you're in your Chaco sandals that the grip is newer. Personally, if I'm just carrying a daypack, I love to go with a sturdy trail runner. They're light, (often) waterproof, and make me feel ultra-athletic. If you love your high-top hikers, that’s great too! The most important thing is that you're out there, and that you're prepared!

So there you have it. Remember, lots of this is going to change from person to person. For me? I run super hot. In the dead of winter, I’ll be skinning uphill in a merino t-shirt. My partner? She has 10 layers on—at all times. A lot of the alchemy of layering boils down to preference. If you're new to fall adventures, read this and come on in to the shop! We'd love to connect and talk through your options so we can get you outside and leaf peeping in comfort. If you love this guide, share it. If you have questions, and can't come into the store, shoot us a DM on social media, give us a call or start a live chat!