Mountaineering Layering Systems

This is my full setup that I use for working during the mountaineering season. I'm guiding in the mountains of Washington state from June to September, and I need a wide range of clothing to stay comfortable throughout all the different weather, route, and elevation conditions.

[@dennychavez2991]

First year backpacking and planning to start mountaineering. Great video for a beginner that didn’t know how I would stay warm

[@TonyNovation]

Damn! That was a great video!

[@mikedelgado8888]

Thank you for the information Getting ready for Mt Whitney,CA

[@sabindaman]

Please include models. You did it so well with the pants.

[@labellaescrima1996]

So you are a fan of Outdoor Research OR, good I like the company also, they make warm, soft, light sweaters, t-shirts, mid-layer and great jackets and fantastic winter jacket also. Can't go wrong with OR. In my socks, I like the brands Wigwam, Icebreakers, Darn Tough, Possum (NZ), Smartwool, for gloves I like Kombi, Black Diamond, Auclair, OR, For my headgear, I like Arc'teryx, OR, North Face, Kuiu, and my other stuff is by Mons Royale, Montbell, Patagonia, Adidas. Nice equipment but you over do it, you don't need that much I live in Canada way up North and I don't use half of what you have.

[@artysa.blackwood4261]

Hello sir, very nice video and kit. May i ask, whats the boot size you chose for those 6000m La Sportiva vs your regular every day shoe size ?

[@yangliu_6688]

by far the best channel! Could you please also talk about backpacks? I'm using a Hyperlite 40L backpack, it was tight but fine for all of my one-day or two-day trip on Shasta, Adams, Hood and Whitney etc. I'm looking to join some guided climbs next year, and many of the guiding companies suggest having a 75-100L pack for Emmons route on Rainer and 60-70L for Baker... I'm very confused why such big packs are needed. I know that there will be group gears such as ropes and snow shovels etc but they can be easily fixed to the outside of the pack... For my 40L pack, I can fit all cooking gear, food, tent, pads, sleeping bags, and cloths etc. Maybe I'd need a 50-55L for multi-day trips for extra food and extra cloths but I can't see why 75-100L. What packs do you use for multi-day mountaineering trips?

[@ryantilley9063]

Ya that would be a good video, I’m planning to make one soon. The 40L will work for a lot of things, it is a little small for rainier though, a standard three day trip up rainier you can get away with smaller than 100L, but you need to know what gear you’re bringing and the season. If you’re going early season then a 70L would work better with the extra clothes and warmer sleeping bag. If you’re going mid to late season then you could go with a 50 or even a 45 if you’re careful. Ultimately it comes down to how experienced you are and if you get the higher quality (more expensive) vs. the more bulky items. You do also have to account for group gear which is usually where most clients crux out. That’s why the companies say to bring a larger pack because it’s easier to make a big pack smaller than a small pack larger.

[@yangliu_6688]

@@ryantilley9063 thanks so much! This is very helpful. I’d look forward to that video! I just bought a 55L maybe I’ll need to get a bigger one for next year!

[@fab1000]

Not to be overly critical but this is way too much clothing options for the contigious US, even in full winter conditions (and you say its your system for "Washington state from June to September") You could open a store with all of this ;)

[@largeformatlandscape]

You know he doesn’t wear them all at once?

[@rylandpitts5685]

I know this is North west US…I will be living in Kyrgyzstan and I bought a mountain hardware GTX technical hard shell. Didn’t see you show one…what do you think about having a technical hard shell?

[@ryantilley9063]

I think Mountain Hardwear makes great Jackets and any sort of technical hard shell would do a pretty good job (at least comparable to all the other technical shells from the other high end clothing companies.) Sorry I can't give more info than that, I'm haven't used a Mountain Heardwear myself but I have some friends who are also guides in the pacific NW that really like them.

[@dangutschenritter157]

Maybe you address this later, but you didn't mention whether you use synthetic or merino for base layers (you refer to them as wicking layers).

[@leehunter8167]

Where did you get your clothes

[@ryantilley9063]

Nearly all of the clothes there are Outdoor Research, that’s kind of my favorite clothing brand. I also have some mountain hardware stuff in there, I really like the pants that they make. The boots are all La Sportiva