Monday, November 24, 2003

Every year before my first ski trip — in fact, often in August — I reconsider the growing piles of gear in my basement fretting about what doesn't work right. The most annoying problem last year, I concluded, is that my Patagonia hard shell, which is otherwise excellent, makes me too hot on backcountry ascents. However, stripping down to a fleece doesn't work either. As the ascent reaches higher, more exposed places, the lack of wind protection makes me too cold. It's not good to go from sweating to shivering in a few minutes. I have to stop and get the shell back on, getting colder all the time as I fiddle with layers and my pack. An experienced backcountry skier suggested that I should get a light insulated soft shell to wear under the hard shell instead of a fleece, maintaining wind protection as I take off the hard shell. Now the only question is which one: lightest, lighter, heavier, heaviest (= cheapest, cheaper, pricier, priciest). After reading several Web reviews, heavier is winning but a few competitors emerged. 10:05:02 PM