Layering

[Dav_bon]

Hello to all.
I am visiting Tassie in September for the first time and will be just doing some short walks at Cradle and on the East coast.
I have not experienced the cold (I am from Qld) like you guys have and would like to know the amount of "layers" that are required to stay warm.
Would the following be enough ? 1 x Thermal underwear, 1 x shirt, 1 x fleece type of layer and then a goretex jacket.
It does not seem to be much!!

I have all the other normal items of beanie, gloves etc.

Thanks
David

[whiskeylover]

Sounds ok for walking, but it depends how thick your fleece layer is. For around camp or resting I usually have another layer - a fleece vest, but I'm a bit of a wimp as once you've had hypothermia you are more susceptible - I broke my leg up a mountain and got a bit cold (actually a lot cold - slurred speech, confused, not shivering anymore stage). Shelter, health, food and fluids are the other factors involved. The gortex will cut out the wind chill factor so that is a very important layer. Have fun and enjoy the cold, and snow if you're coming soon.

[Son of a Beach]

I'd agree with whiskeylover here. I always take a long sleeve fleece, as well as a fleece vest. I'm not sure what sort of 'shirt' you mean, but I'd be using a second fleece layer as well as (or instead of?) the shirt - particularly in winter.

[norts]

Are these walks over night or just day?
If they are only day it should be adequate.

Roger

[Son of a Beach]

ah, yes, Norts is right about the day walks thing.

Incidentally, it also just occurred to me that if you are considering both the East Coast, and Cradle Mtn, then there is usually about 10 degrees difference in temperature between up on the central plateau at 1000m above sea level near Cradle than what you get at sea level on the East Coast. the East Coast of Tasmania is usually substantially warmer than the rest of Tasmania in winter (but still cold compared to Queensland), and the central plateau and mountains are usually colder than the rest of Tasmania.

[Dav_bon]

Thanks for the advice.
The walks are just day walks. Might get another fleece or 2..
It is a huge challenge for us northerners to come and experience real winter cold!!!

Really looking forward to visiting Tassie.
Cheers David

[Speculator]

Hello to all.
I am visiting Tassie in September for the first time and will be just doing some short walks at Cradle and on the East coast.
I have not experienced the cold (I am from Qld) like you guys have and would like to know the amount of "layers" that are required to stay warm.
Would the following be enough ? 1 x Thermal underwear, 1 x shirt, 1 x fleece type of layer and then a goretex jacket.
It does not seem to be much!!

I have all the other normal items of beanie, gloves etc.

Thanks
David

It probably depends a bit on your body shape, and how much you feel the cold in general. A layer of bodyfat can make a big difference to how much you feel the cold. I find the most important things are covering my face and hands, they seem to freeze first, then the rest of me is okay with the sort of layering you're talking about, until I stop for any length of time, then I start to get cold. I feel the cold more than most I think though.

The East Coast could be quite mild, you might not need so many layers over there. Depending a little on where you're walking.

L8r.

[Robbo]

L8r is right. It depends on how 'warm' you walk. For what its worth, I normally use 4 layers. Wool base layer. Long sleeved wool 'shirt' layer. Then a fleece layer. And finish with the gore shell layer. Seems to work for me. Bottom line seems to be that most body heat is lost from the shoulders up, so a good beanie is a must.

Tony Robinson

[kahtadin]

Just curious if you have UnderArmour wear in Australia ? It's a synthetic (polyester) available as a next to skin layer in both a warm weather and cold weather compression knit. I've had good luck with it, any other opinions ?

[MichaelfromQLD]

Thanks for the advice.
The walks are just day walks. Might get another fleece or 2..
It is a huge challenge for us northerners to come and experience real winter cold!!!

Really looking forward to visiting Tassie.
Cheers David

Here's what I've just been using in the snow in tassie.

base layer thermal top (MD premium) & bottom (Mont-bell lightweight)
100 weight fleece top (kathmandu) & bottom (Mont-bell) (the pants, while the same weight are MUCH warmer than the top (too warm).... Kathmandu quality?????)
cheap-ish non-goretex overpants (rainbird) and soft shell (marmot)
and because I've ruined the DWR on the softshell, a goretex jacket (fairydown) for when it's raining or really cold. Just by keeping the breeze off the softshell, it keeps me warm.

The softshell is great for an extra layer of windproofing, and gives more breathability than the gore-tex. I've found this system works better for me than putting on/removing layers under the raincoat. If you're in QLD still, K2 have a great deal on a lowe alpine softshell that has AMAZING DWR. My wife has it, and I'm going to get one soon.

The other thing I'd mention is that it might be wise to take a thick fleece in case of emergency and for lunch breaks, you cool off quickly.

[NickD]

You QLDers may feel the cold a lot more than Tasmanians. (But then maybe not so)
I usually walk with just a merino long sleeve and a berghaus tech top in all but the very coldest conditions when its dry.
If it rains I put on my goretex, I dont think I've ever walked with a fleece on. It depends person to person, but a lot of males especially heat themselves well when walking. However I'd keep a good quality fleece at the top of your pack for any stops.

I walk in long johns quite a bit though, because this is an area which can often get wet (from puddles of wet scrub) and so often walk in some highly breathable leggings such as polartec powerdry or merino wool numbers.

[Ephebus]

Just curious if you have UnderArmour wear in Australia ? It's a synthetic (polyester) available as a next to skin layer in both a warm weather and cold weather compression knit. I've had good luck with it, any other opinions ?

We do get UnderArmour in Australia, although they not as commonly used or stocked as some other brands of compression garments such Skins, Canterbury or Linebreaker. They are, as far as I've seen, all Nylon-Polyester-Lycra (spandex/elastane whatever you want to call it) mixes depending on the intended use. I personally think if you're after warmth then you are better off using a woollen or polypropylene base layer. I have tried most of the main brands of compression as I get them free from work and none of them have come close to the warmth of the woollen icebreaker or polyprop thermals I have, nor are they as comfortable. However, they do have other benefits.

[under10kg]

I use a similar layer system but I add a windproof windshirt that is very light and highly breathable.
At 85 gms it really adds a extra layer with very little weight and packs to a size of a small apple.
I walk only wearing this at times as it does not accumulate sweat like a normal shirt.
I noticed my windshirt on sale locally at..
http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/category57_1.htm

I also have replaced my fiberpile jacket with a synthetic insulated jacket (cocoon) that is lighter and warmer.
Expensive but real nice to wear and comfortable to wear to bed on those cold nights extending the range of my light sleeping bag.

[MichaelfromQLD]

Nick D - It wasn't dry, else I'd have worn less. I certainly didn't feel the cold on this trip, and could have gone without the fleece pants, but I tend to take a little extra mostly due to relative inexperience in snowy conditions. I'm still trying to perfect the layering system for this sort of weather.

I use a similar layer system but I add a windproof windshirt that is very light and highly breathable.
At 85 gms it really adds a extra layer with very little weight and packs to a size of a small apple.
.

That windshirt would be great up on the cradle plateau and on the tracks around dove lake, but is it durable enough for scrub?

[under10kg]

The windshirt is strong but I would not go through thick scrub with it. Most superlight weight gear would not cope with scrub at all. However, for what it is, it is a great peace of gear and one of my favorite things to wear.I even wear it to bed if it is super cold. It is totally suitable for cradle mt walk.

[tasadam]

I grew up in Queensland. I moved to Tasmania when I was 19. That was mid May.
I *&%$*&% froze my *&%%^ off.

My first 3 weeks at work I was there with beanie scarf gloves big thick jacket and stood arould shivering while everyone laughed at me.

Be prepared - Tasmanian conditions can be a real wqake-up for those that aren't used to them.
I do not like Queensland weather at all now - cannot stand the heat.
If you have the option of bringing extra layers and leaving them in the car or something, you can see how you go.

Of course, it's now October and you say you're coming in September so all too late now.
Just catching up on a bit of old reading...

[Natt]

I use a similar layer system but I add a windproof windshirt that is very light and highly breathable.
At 85 gms it really adds a extra layer with very little weight and packs to a size of a small apple.
I walk only wearing this at times as it does not accumulate sweat like a normal shirt.
I noticed my windshirt on sale locally at..
http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/category57_1.htm

I also have replaced my fiberpile jacket with a synthetic insulated jacket (cocoon) that is lighter and warmer.
Expensive but real nice to wear and comfortable to wear to bed on those cold nights extending the range of my light sleeping bag.

Darn that is a great price for that jacket - I was going to get that for my husband birthday - so thanks!

Just a quick question - is your true to size - or did you have to go up a size larger because this is technically and outer shell?

I best add this is not for fanging around the Tassie bush, but for backpacker travel

[Natt]

Just wanted to say thanks for the heads up for the jackets

they arrived yesterday - very small - hubbie was very happy