Looking for best very warm mid-layer

I'd try the Atom LT first.  It's really warm under a shell.  I found the Atom LT under a shell warmer than a 100g insulated Patagonia jacket.  Or, look at Montbell down liner jackets - lots of options there.

Jono- are talkin' C or F?  I wear a rho-lite base with a R1 Pati and a Atom LT for zero to 10*F days under a shell. 

You can look at a Pati Down Sweater. its a highly packable insulating layer that's plenty warm alone but with the Atom LT you should be ready for anything.,

No brainer - just get a down vest. 800 fill. Not very thick, far better insulation than fleece or synth, and takes care of core warmth while keeping your arms free. Also easy to take off, ball up, and stuff into a pocket of your shell if need be. 

he was looking for a mid-layer. Maybe he needs this and the Atom?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyond 

No brainer - just get a down vest. 800 fill. Not very thick, far better insulation than fleece or synth, and takes care of core warmth while keeping your arms free. Also easy to take off, ball up, and stuff into a pocket of your shell if need be. 

^^^^ Dunno. I've found lately that on really cold days, a fleece under a shell just ain't making it. Maybe I'm just learning I ski better if I'm a touch warmer. So I've shifted to a down vest for midlayer, keep the fleece for mild days. Took him to mean that he hadn't purchased the Atom yet, also was concerned about serious cold. (Canadian Rockies being no joke.) In fact, I might consider an actual down sweater if I were living in Calgary. 

Alternative question to OP: Realize you're supporting a Canadian company and all that, but I can go to the local big box store (or one of the online wholesalers) and get a fleece for a bunch less than the Arcteryx. And IME, fleece is pretty much fleece these days, all comes from the same few factories in China, no? OTOH, all down is not the same. So I'd support Arteryx or Patagonia etc. by buying premium down from them, save $$ on the fleece. Just my .02...

I use a Patagonia down sweater as a mid layer on days when it's cold and it works really well.  Marmot, Mountain Hardwear and Outdoor Research also make them, other companies too I imagine.

In the past I've used several down layers and/or icebreaker wool, but nothing wow'd me like  my Patagonia R3 Fleece.  That surprised me  a lot.  I still like (and wear) my down puffy's a lot, but the R3 is warm, and cozy.

2012 Patagonia R3 Hi-Loft M Jacket

For mid layers, I'm a big fan of products made out of Power Stretch fabric.

For those of you that have the Atom LT, how much heat is lost through the side panels if your'e just wearing it around town without a shell?

there are a ton of great options out there. I think we all search and once we find what works, tend to stick with it.

my favorite

base- Arc' Rho-lite.http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Rho-LT-Zip

mid- Pati R1 Hooded for windy days and pull over for regular days- http://www.backcountry.com/patagonia-r1-fleece-pullover-mens?rr=t&cmp_id=&rrType=ClickCP&rrProd=PAT2048

cold -down to 10- Patagonia Down Shirt- http://www.backcountry.com/patagonia-ultralight-down-shirt-mens  (BTW- this stuffs into a pouch the siz of an orange and weighs 167 grams)

Fricken cold- 1 & 2 and the Arc' Atom LT Hoody- http://www.e-omc.com/catalog/products/6151/Arcteryx-Atom-LT-Hoody-Mens.html  I pull the hood up under helmet for an insulated skull or pull tight around neck

Balaclava- Icebreaker http://www.backcountry.com/icebreaker-balaclava-lite  stays in my pocket.  merino wool stays warm, super thin and can be pulled down under chin or left over nose. Won't freez solid.

Smartwool neck gaitor is also in the pack... 

this is my go to "resort wear" - pefect for just hanging out in. If its that windy, then you are going to need to put a shell on anyway.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kauffee 

For those of you that have the Atom LT, how much heat is lost through the side panels if your'e just wearing it around town without a shell?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter 

For mid layers, I'm a big fan of products made out of Power Stretch fabric.

Agreed.  I've had an REI power stretch pair of pants that I orginallty bought for cold weather bike riding; it's been perfect as a mid layer for skiing with shell pants.

Then again, I'm in the PNW, not the ice coast or Banff. 

The Atom LT is great.  I found last year that with it, a Rho LT top, and a shell, I was good to about -10F.  I didn't have an opportunity to ski any colder than that last year, so I'm not sure how much extra switching to a Rho AR would've gotten me.  In past years, it's gotten me an extra 10 degrees Fahrenheit or so.  Once it gets around -20F, I switch to a puffy.  I've been wearing a Patagonia DAS for that, and it works pretty well for me.  There are a billion down options that would work just as well.  At -20F and below, it's pretty easy to avoid overheating while skiing, so I'm mostly focused on staying warm enough on the lift.  I'm not sure I'd be happy with a down sweater under a shell at those temps, if the lift stopped and I was stuck up there for a bit..

Regarding the Atom LT around town, it's about as warm as you'd expect as long as it isn't really windy and you keep your arms down.  If the wind or your arms pick up, the ventilation panels on the side start doing their thing.  They're pretty effective. :)

Yeah, I think I'm going to go with an Atom LT. Hooded or non-hooded is another question... I have a Beta AR shell with a hood, so my instinct is to go non-hooded rather than have two hoods while skiing. But what Finn said about putting the hood under the helmet is pretty interesting, and it would definitely be more functional for around town. I'm just worried I'll get annoyed by having two hoods while skiing. 

The only other midlayer jacket I'm considering is the Mammut Stratus because it doesn't have the side vents. But the Atom LT fits me like a glove, and I've never been disappointed with anything that I've bought from Arcteryx, whereas there have been a few Mammut products that have been so-so.

As long as you tuck it inside the jacket hood, its fine plus the hooded version has a huge advantage. I fly a lot so it comes with me on flights.  I pack the jacket into the hood for a nice pillow or wear the jacket and pull the hood over my head to block light out when rude people leave thier shades open when others are trying to watch movies or sleep.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by kauffee 

Yeah, I think I'm going to go with an Atom LT. Hooded or non-hooded is another question... I have a Beta AR shell with a hood, so my instinct is to go non-hooded rather than have two hoods while skiing. But what Finn said about putting the hood under the helmet is pretty interesting, and it would definitely be more functional for around town. I'm just worried I'll get annoyed by having two hoods while skiing. 

 

The only other midlayer jacket I'm considering is the Mammut Stratus because it doesn't have the side vents. But the Atom LT fits me like a glove, and I've never been disappointed with anything that I've bought from Arcteryx, whereas there have been a few Mammut products that have been so-so.

Get the Atom, you won't be disapointed with it's cold temp performance. It's very versitile and with pit zips open it vents well too. I just fold the hood backwards inside the jacket if I don't want to use it when skiing. It doesn't feel bulky as it compresses down very well. I wear an Icebreaker, the Atom and an Alpha SV unless it's very cold and then go to a Fission instead. The Arc is expensive stuff but it works and lasts.

+1 on the Patagonia down sweater or nano puff, Patrol in one at nights and it can get pretty cold and have never had an issue with it.

Every good company makes a down jacket for skiing, and they are warmer or less warm depending on quantity and quality of insulation and other factors: design, seams, so on. Brand is no indication of anything, if you are looking at major brands at least.

The Pata down sweater is a very light weight piece. 

A patrol works hard on the hill, and may therefore need less thickness in a jacket to keep warm. Patrol are also usually very healthy and acclimated, so you really can't compare with them.

just saw these at Eddie bauer (who would guess?) 

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=40144&&categoryId=27508&categoryName=WORLDS-BEST-DOWN&pCategoryId=27300&pCategoryName=MENS-OUTERWEAR&gpCategoryId=1&gpCategoryName=EB&catPath=~~categoryId=27508~~categoryName=WORLDS-BEST-DOWN~~pCategoryId=27300~~pCategoryName=MENS-OUTERWEAR~~gpCategoryId=1~~gpCategoryName=EB&viewAll=y&pg=1

the store had the Long for 149.  I tried it on and really like the extra long fit (covered half my ass) It's a very athletic fit; I'm thin and it worked for me.  I don't know how their quality is but I really liked this jacket.  Seemed about the same or thinner than a Pati down sweater a touch heavier than a Down shirt but longer.  nice pockets and a iPod compatible pocket- routing for headphones. 

The First Ascent Microtherm mentioned above seems great on paper.  2.7oz of down, very thin and stretch pannals in the back for mobility.  It is most similiar to the Patagonia Ultralight Down sweater which has 3 oz of down and similiar narrow baffled construction.

The fit is very odd though.  5'9" 165 lbs, 38" chest I fit perfectly into most mediums by Mountain Hardware, Marmot, Rab, TNF and all other First Ascent medium's ( I love their Downlight-fit is more trim than the patagonia and it is slightly warmer). The chest fits fine but the body got progressivly wider as it went down and there is no waistband so cold air breezes up and it looks funny for casual use.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by kauffee 

Yeah, I think I'm going to go with an Atom LT. Hooded or non-hooded is another question... I have a Beta AR shell with a hood, so my instinct is to go non-hooded rather than have two hoods while skiing. But what Finn said about putting the hood under the helmet is pretty interesting, and it would definitely be more functional for around town. I'm just worried I'll get annoyed by having two hoods while skiing. 

 

The only other midlayer jacket I'm considering is the Mammut Stratus because it doesn't have the side vents. But the Atom LT fits me like a glove, and I've never been disappointed with anything that I've bought from Arcteryx, whereas there have been a few Mammut products that have been so-so.

I am a mid-layer whore.  Atom LT - I have the hooded one, and the vest.  Side panels are fine you wont even notice them.  It is warm, pretty thin and goes with me almost every trip (work and play).  I also have the Patagonia Down Sweater - needs to be cold to wear it though combined with a shell.  Have R1, R2, R3 Hi Loft (too warm for anything but duck hunting) and Ultra Light Down Jacket - and use them all.  Matters what level of activity you are going to be doing ie hiking a bit vs just running groomers and wet vs. dry.

If I had to pick just one the Atom LT hoody would be a pretty good choice (that and an R1.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonowakes 

I was also thinking of getting a thicker high quality down insulation layer for those ultra cold days. -30ish.  I am looking for recommendations for this one. Help please.

 

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=products&page=down-garments&cat=jackets-and-vests

their only real competition are:

http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Garments/Lt/HyperionHeliosVest.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

Jono- are talkin' C or F? 

Doesn't matter - he's only 10 degrees away from having them be exactly the same number. (-40)

Glad I stumbled across this thread. Over the summer I picked up a Patagonia Powder Bowl shell. It's great ion the rain, which we've had plenty of this fall in the East, and I plan to use it as my basic outer jacket this season. I already have a Patagonia R 3 which zips into my old Pata Liquid Sky but I think I'll need a little more midlayer for Vermont in January (if there's any snow). Think I'll get some down. Some on clearance now at my local REI. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter 

For mid layers, I'm a big fan of products made out of Power Stretch fabric.

I'm with Toecutter. I bought a Power Stretch zip-t last year and now I have multiple Power Stretch items. I also got my wife a number of Power Stretch items and just purchased some for various family members as Christmas presents. It is warm, very light weight and excellent at moderating my temp. Level Nine has a bunch of Cloudveil Power Stretch items at great prices right now.

I really stay warm in -30 skiing with my Spyder shell, one piece wool{ the red stanfield ones with the trap door} and my light quilted thin down under jacket. ill wear just a long sleeve technical shirt like an underarmor under that, toe warmers and hand warmers, beleclava under the helmet and good to go all day. the best snow ever is when its really cold.

Anybody want to post a lightly-used down sweater on gear swap? Medium?

I'm not sure if it qualifies for what you are looking for, but I bought a Kjus Element half zip in black a year or two ago and love it. I wear it around all the time during the winter and spring when I'm not skiing. Sometimes I'll even throw it on at night when it's cold on in the house. Feels better than a fleece IMO. I know there's a lot of Kjus haters on here but I love the thing.