Posted by Darren Huski on January 29, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Thought I would see about starting a list of what folks like a good outdoor clothing. In particular what works well for the photographer. Different sports have their own dedicated equipment, from mountaineers to cross country skiers, to ice climbers. I tend to use a little bit from different sports. These are some of the items I find to be the best as a photographer.
North Face Redpoint Optimist Jacket- this is a midweight winter jacket insulated with Primaloft. It is warm and layers well. It has a good fit and compresses fairly small. The hood is the best I have ever used. It moves with you and is warm. That really allows this jacket to extend the temps you can use it in. I have been out in minus 25 temps of Wisconsin winters with it (layed under it and been toasty). Lastly it has huge pockets. I can fit a Quickload Holder in the pocket and zip it shut!
North Face DIAD Jacket- This is an ultralight, ultracompressable rain jacket. Totally waterproof-breathable that folds up the size of a paperback. Fits in a lens pocket in my LowePro camera backpack. Easy to always carry along and it has been a real plus on several times when I have been caught in the rain. Note it has no hand pockets (just one chest pocket) but for an ultra packable shell it comes into it's own.
Midweight Zip Tneck. I find these to be my standby winter base layer. I carry them fall through spring. I tend to prefer the white or light gray ones as in the nicer weather blues and blacks are too hot. Bonus is white make a great impromptu reflector! Several good brands in this item.
Next to Skin gloves. I detest mittens and just do not like to wear gloves when trying to work buttons on cameras. I know some folks like the fingerless gloes with mitten tops-I always found them too bulky. Still when it is cold you need something. I have a pair of Manzella Next 2 Skin shell gloves that do great into the 20's and still give decent dexterity. Just about all you need in Texas winters and spring through fall in most other places. When it goes into the teens though I want something more substantial.
Marmot Shelled Driclime- This is a very thin fleece with a light shell on it. Can be a base layer in winter, a insulating layer in fall, and a shell in wind. Living in Texas it is my jacket 3+ seasons. Mountains in the fall- take it. Summer in Colorado-take it. Desert in spring-take it. More practical than regular fleece as it block wind but it is much less bulky than regular fleece and especially windblock fleece. I can probably get more use out of this and a zip Tneck than any two pieces.
LED Headlamp- this is not so much clothes but it is always with me. I like the Petzl Tikka Plus. Small, lightweight, and puts out great light. A must for a photographer to keep hands free.
Ok, there are a few items I really like as a photographer. Please add to the list those outdoor wear items that really work well for the outdoor photographer and maybe tell us why they work so well.
Posted by Gene Lugo on January 29, 2009 at 12:57 PM
For cold weather
Base layer- lightweight bergalene or equivalent; or silk.
Mid layer - midweight bergalene, or equivalent.
warmth layer - Polarguard 200, x200
on windy days - windproof fleece
liner gloves, ski gloves that accommodate chemical handwarmers
footwear - maine hunting boot, or equivalent - felt lined - chemical foot warmers, wool socks
Masque - with fleece collar - or at the very least a fleece neck gaitor -
Woolen ski hat - (together with neck gaitor, will really help keep hands and feet warm - really!)
Outerwear - if price is no object - three layer goretex or helly hansen hellytech will offer the most protection from wind and water, while remaining breatheable - goretex based outerwear is available from a variety of mfgrs - Northface, Arcteryx, Mountain Hardware, Patagucci (aka Patagonia), Marmot, etc - these are both fashionable and functional - so year end clearance sales are common along with 50% or greater discounts.
Columbia sells a decent alternative in their Titanium products -
Even better yet, consider the softshell products - particularly from Cloudveil, who makes exceptionally high quality garments . Softshells are good because they do not make nearly the same amount of noise as other clothing - especially goretex-lined stuff. it allows you to move in closer to natural subjects - at least theoretically. They are definitely more comfortable, form-fitting and well-articulated - very little bulk, maximum protection.
If you are going to be out more than an hour and going to be relatively still, then you should use bib pants and tunic-length jacket.
Don't dismiss house-brand gear from REI, EMS, Campmor, LL Bean and other high-volume retailers - their stuff is pretty good, and usually very cheap, with 80%-90% of the performance of the name brands.
Under no circumstances should you wear natural materials (other than silk or wool) - you WILL be cold.
I am a ski instructor and outdoor winter weather activity enthusiast.
Posted by Brent Reid on January 29, 2009 at 6:59 PM
For seasons other than summer, check out merino wool crew and zip shirts and long underwear for layering. The ones by Icebreaker are the nicest, and hold their shape through many washings. REI, Sugoi, MEC, and others have their own lines of merino garments.
Posted by Tony Winton on January 30, 2009 at 8:27 AM
We just outfitted my wife and I consider it a success. She has very poor circulation and stays cold even through parts of the spring and summer. Having worked outside most of my life I knew how to stay warm and dry for myself but she was a different story. We made a trip to Canfields in Omaha Ne, (you can look them up on line) they specialize in outdoor wear for all season. I happened to find a young man repairing a snow board and ask if he could make some suggestions on how we could keep my wife warm while shooting pictures. Three and a half hours later both my wife and I came out of canfields with a new understanding of the latest and greatest technology and how to apply it to keep warm. The most important thing we learned was dress in many layers so you can ventilate if need to, and to stay away from cotton especially on or near the body. Cotton holds onto your body sweet and pools the moisture next to your skin which makes you cold. We choose not to buy the name brands due to the expense and the bill was still over $300Here is what we got her.
Cuddle duds as her first layer a polyester style of long underwear, long sleeve shirt like a turtle neck, remember no cotton. Under this was a vest made of synthetic materials to hold the heat in similar to the north face vest you see, just off brand. Her coat is a Pulse and has a zip in down style liner. You can use the outer shell as a light wind breaker or rain coat or the down inner as a light jacket, when used together they make a great combination. It was so good I went back and bought one for me. her legs was my biggest concern but the biggest success story as well. Again the bottom layer, cuddle duds, then smart wool longer underwear, prepare yourselves they are expensive but well worth it. On top of that was a mountaineering style pant. They were much more compact than my insulated cover all but along with the other two layers kept my wife warm. As far as her feet, which are the hardest to keep warm we did okay. She wears a sock liner and a pair of smart wool socks over those with a 1200 gram insulated boot. Her feet got a little cold but did well. The boots were not part of the $300 purchase, they were bought a year ago in the spring time on sale. Overall I would say we were successfully at keeping her warm and comfortable. Hope this helps.
For winter I dress in layers, usually starting with Under Armor or Icebreaker for base layers to wick away sweat and moisture. I then wear a wool sweatshirt, preferably Merino wool because it isn't so itchy. And to top it off I wear some sort of hardshell jacket, they are wind resistant and water proof. I have one made by Arc'teryx and Marmot, neither of which are cheap, but they keep the heat in given they don't really have much or any insulation, so the layers below are all the insulation I usually need. I've used this set-up in weather as cold as 0 F (-10 to -15 with windchill) If I get cold I always have one spare fleece with and that does the trick.
The same goes for my lower body, a base layer, and then usually just polyester sweats and a hardshell snowpant, made by Arc'teryx.
For my winter gear I try to find thin clothes that will keep the heat in, it's not cheap at all, for winter I have probably $800-1000 just in my outerwear. The main thing is that it last long time and it works well. The reason I go for thin stuff is because it allows me to move a lot more easily and I'm not bogged down by wearing 10lbs of outerwear, the last thing I want is more weight when I'm already carrying a 60lb pack.
For spring and fall I will just have a softshell waist length jacket (made by Marmot) that is moisture resistant (not completely waterproof) but can also stop the wind. I will still wear base layers on my upper and lower body and then usually a merino wool sweater. For pants I try to avoid cotton, but I don have some wonderful hiking pants made by Kuhl, they are cotton, but the way the threads are weaved prevent burrs and thorns from penetrating through and sticking to them.
Summer I usually wear light weight convertible pants (North Face makes very nice ones) the wind passes through very easily and if I get hot I can unzip the legs and they become shorts. They dry extremely fast and hold up very well, I am still using a pair that is 2 years old and they are holding up great!
The one thing I recommend is good rain gear, a few years ago I skimped out and bought really cheap rain gear..... I have regretted it ever since! I plan on getting new rain gear this spring and I have heard very good things about Northface, Marmot and Arc'Teryx gear, again not cheap (especially Arc'Teryx). If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear your thoughts!
Shoes/boots
Asolo Flame gtx (or model prior to these) - I've had these for a year now and they have roughly 150-200 miles on them and they are holding up amazingly well! Very little wear on the soles, all stitching is perfect, they are just scuffed and dirty! I highly recommend these boots, a little expensive - around $200 but well worth it, amazing support, the most comfortable hiking boots I've ever used, just fantastic!
Keen Newport Hybrid shoes - Used all the time in the spring and summer, very comfortable and they allow me to go through mud, water, well practically everything! Like Tevas they are open to allow air circulation and drying, but the toes are protected so you don't have to worry about kicking rocks and what not. I also highly recommend these, I think they're like $90.
Overall I say spend as much money as you can on your outerwear, you depend on it with your life and buying equipment that lasts a long time, especially because of what we put it through is very important!
Lastly, this stuff is outrageously expensive and I would never buy any of it at full price! I usually wait for good deals at REI, or when REI Member coupons are sent out for like 20-30% off one item to buy my gear. Another great site is:
www.steepandcheap.com
They are affiliated with BackCountry.com, basically they offer last years gear at amazing deals. The down side is they only offer one item at a time and that item will be posted until they are out of stock, so the items can change daily or weekly, it depends on the item. But I have ordered SmartWool socks from there at $4 a pair! So I ordered 10 pairs, I think the normal price is around $15 a pair if I'm not mistaken. So please check this site regularly for gear! The offer outerwear, tents, etc; basically all outdoor gear!
I find nothing works better protecting from heavy rain downpours then 5x8 Silponcho by Integral Designs. I am 6.3 and it covers me and the backpack completely. I used it many times in the tropics during rain storms and it worked every time. Also, the poncho is very light. It is always in my backpack during summer or when I travel to the rainforest.
Discussion
5 repliesNorth Face Redpoint Optimist Jacket- this is a midweight winter jacket insulated with Primaloft. It is warm and layers well. It has a good fit and compresses fairly small. The hood is the best I have ever used. It moves with you and is warm. That really allows this jacket to extend the temps you can use it in. I have been out in minus 25 temps of Wisconsin winters with it (layed under it and been toasty). Lastly it has huge pockets. I can fit a Quickload Holder in the pocket and zip it shut!
North Face DIAD Jacket- This is an ultralight, ultracompressable rain jacket. Totally waterproof-breathable that folds up the size of a paperback. Fits in a lens pocket in my LowePro camera backpack. Easy to always carry along and it has been a real plus on several times when I have been caught in the rain. Note it has no hand pockets (just one chest pocket) but for an ultra packable shell it comes into it's own.
Midweight Zip Tneck. I find these to be my standby winter base layer. I carry them fall through spring. I tend to prefer the white or light gray ones as in the nicer weather blues and blacks are too hot. Bonus is white make a great impromptu reflector! Several good brands in this item.
Next to Skin gloves. I detest mittens and just do not like to wear gloves when trying to work buttons on cameras. I know some folks like the fingerless gloes with mitten tops-I always found them too bulky. Still when it is cold you need something. I have a pair of Manzella Next 2 Skin shell gloves that do great into the 20's and still give decent dexterity. Just about all you need in Texas winters and spring through fall in most other places. When it goes into the teens though I want something more substantial.
Marmot Shelled Driclime- This is a very thin fleece with a light shell on it. Can be a base layer in winter, a insulating layer in fall, and a shell in wind. Living in Texas it is my jacket 3+ seasons. Mountains in the fall- take it. Summer in Colorado-take it. Desert in spring-take it. More practical than regular fleece as it block wind but it is much less bulky than regular fleece and especially windblock fleece. I can probably get more use out of this and a zip Tneck than any two pieces.
LED Headlamp- this is not so much clothes but it is always with me. I like the Petzl Tikka Plus. Small, lightweight, and puts out great light. A must for a photographer to keep hands free.
Ok, there are a few items I really like as a photographer. Please add to the list those outdoor wear items that really work well for the outdoor photographer and maybe tell us why they work so well.
Base layer- lightweight bergalene or equivalent; or silk.
Mid layer - midweight bergalene, or equivalent.
warmth layer - Polarguard 200, x200
on windy days - windproof fleece
liner gloves, ski gloves that accommodate chemical handwarmers
footwear - maine hunting boot, or equivalent - felt lined - chemical foot warmers, wool socks
Masque - with fleece collar - or at the very least a fleece neck gaitor -
Woolen ski hat - (together with neck gaitor, will really help keep hands and feet warm - really!)
Outerwear - if price is no object - three layer goretex or helly hansen hellytech will offer the most protection from wind and water, while remaining breatheable - goretex based outerwear is available from a variety of mfgrs - Northface, Arcteryx, Mountain Hardware, Patagucci (aka Patagonia), Marmot, etc - these are both fashionable and functional - so year end clearance sales are common along with 50% or greater discounts.
Columbia sells a decent alternative in their Titanium products -
Even better yet, consider the softshell products - particularly from Cloudveil, who makes exceptionally high quality garments . Softshells are good because they do not make nearly the same amount of noise as other clothing - especially goretex-lined stuff. it allows you to move in closer to natural subjects - at least theoretically. They are definitely more comfortable, form-fitting and well-articulated - very little bulk, maximum protection.
If you are going to be out more than an hour and going to be relatively still, then you should use bib pants and tunic-length jacket.
Don't dismiss house-brand gear from REI, EMS, Campmor, LL Bean and other high-volume retailers - their stuff is pretty good, and usually very cheap, with 80%-90% of the performance of the name brands.
Under no circumstances should you wear natural materials (other than silk or wool) - you WILL be cold.
I am a ski instructor and outdoor winter weather activity enthusiast.
Cuddle duds as her first layer a polyester style of long underwear, long sleeve shirt like a turtle neck, remember no cotton. Under this was a vest made of synthetic materials to hold the heat in similar to the north face vest you see, just off brand. Her coat is a Pulse and has a zip in down style liner. You can use the outer shell as a light wind breaker or rain coat or the down inner as a light jacket, when used together they make a great combination. It was so good I went back and bought one for me. her legs was my biggest concern but the biggest success story as well. Again the bottom layer, cuddle duds, then smart wool longer underwear, prepare yourselves they are expensive but well worth it. On top of that was a mountaineering style pant. They were much more compact than my insulated cover all but along with the other two layers kept my wife warm. As far as her feet, which are the hardest to keep warm we did okay. She wears a sock liner and a pair of smart wool socks over those with a 1200 gram insulated boot. Her feet got a little cold but did well. The boots were not part of the $300 purchase, they were bought a year ago in the spring time on sale. Overall I would say we were successfully at keeping her warm and comfortable. Hope this helps.
The same goes for my lower body, a base layer, and then usually just polyester sweats and a hardshell snowpant, made by Arc'teryx.
For my winter gear I try to find thin clothes that will keep the heat in, it's not cheap at all, for winter I have probably $800-1000 just in my outerwear. The main thing is that it last long time and it works well. The reason I go for thin stuff is because it allows me to move a lot more easily and I'm not bogged down by wearing 10lbs of outerwear, the last thing I want is more weight when I'm already carrying a 60lb pack.
For spring and fall I will just have a softshell waist length jacket (made by Marmot) that is moisture resistant (not completely waterproof) but can also stop the wind. I will still wear base layers on my upper and lower body and then usually a merino wool sweater. For pants I try to avoid cotton, but I don have some wonderful hiking pants made by Kuhl, they are cotton, but the way the threads are weaved prevent burrs and thorns from penetrating through and sticking to them.
Summer I usually wear light weight convertible pants (North Face makes very nice ones) the wind passes through very easily and if I get hot I can unzip the legs and they become shorts. They dry extremely fast and hold up very well, I am still using a pair that is 2 years old and they are holding up great!
The one thing I recommend is good rain gear, a few years ago I skimped out and bought really cheap rain gear..... I have regretted it ever since! I plan on getting new rain gear this spring and I have heard very good things about Northface, Marmot and Arc'Teryx gear, again not cheap (especially Arc'Teryx). If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear your thoughts!
Shoes/boots
Asolo Flame gtx (or model prior to these) - I've had these for a year now and they have roughly 150-200 miles on them and they are holding up amazingly well! Very little wear on the soles, all stitching is perfect, they are just scuffed and dirty! I highly recommend these boots, a little expensive - around $200 but well worth it, amazing support, the most comfortable hiking boots I've ever used, just fantastic!
Keen Newport Hybrid shoes - Used all the time in the spring and summer, very comfortable and they allow me to go through mud, water, well practically everything! Like Tevas they are open to allow air circulation and drying, but the toes are protected so you don't have to worry about kicking rocks and what not. I also highly recommend these, I think they're like $90.
Overall I say spend as much money as you can on your outerwear, you depend on it with your life and buying equipment that lasts a long time, especially because of what we put it through is very important!
Lastly, this stuff is outrageously expensive and I would never buy any of it at full price! I usually wait for good deals at REI, or when REI Member coupons are sent out for like 20-30% off one item to buy my gear. Another great site is:
www.steepandcheap.com
They are affiliated with BackCountry.com, basically they offer last years gear at amazing deals. The down side is they only offer one item at a time and that item will be posted until they are out of stock, so the items can change daily or weekly, it depends on the item. But I have ordered SmartWool socks from there at $4 a pair! So I ordered 10 pairs, I think the normal price is around $15 a pair if I'm not mistaken. So please check this site regularly for gear! The offer outerwear, tents, etc; basically all outdoor gear!
I hope this helps!