Clothing Layering Systems for Backcountry Skiing - My top tips // DAVE SEARLE 

Excellent video, easier to listen to than many others I've seen.

Thank you 👍

FINALLY! This is the first video that I’ve seen that talks about the 5-layer system! As someone who runs hot on the uphill, I often skin up using only base layer and the light windbreaker. If it’s a bit colder, base layer + polar fleece + light windbreaker. I find that a well-vented light windbreaker helps me to avoid having to keep taking off and putting layers back on/off. Also interesting part at the start about synthetic vs merino base layer… Thanks Dave!

Another plus for the ski mountaineering shell jacket not having the hand cover things is that you can allow for venting through the sleeve. I generate a lot of heat and found a wide-open sleeve on the up track is a good way to regulate my heat.

Especially for ski touring I think that the temperature and sweat management are the key things for comfort and also for performance, similar to any endurance sports. One want to avoid sweating and overheating and be still adequately protected against current elements ( wind, temperature, rain etc). My approach to this ( Used also in other sports I do) is the following. For the upper body: Synthetic net ( for instance from Brynje) is in short just an awesome base layer. It regulates the temperature very well and it will also transfer moist away from the skin very rapidly. A long sleeved merino with long zipper on top of that ( 125- 250 depending on the conditions and intensity) as a middle layer. For the jacket something, which is providing very good breathability and sufficient protection against weather ( wind, rain, snowing ) present at that particular moment. Traditional gore tex / shells are rarely the answer in this case due their bad breathability ( no matter what shell ) . In addition they are almost always just a huge overkill on the level of protection they provide against the elements at that particular moment. I guess the core question is why to wear waterproof clothes during an endurance activity on the winter ( or any other season) in case there is no rain or it's not snowing etc) ? So in my opinion "softshell" are the best for the top layer. And the ones with hybrid construction, meaning windproof ( at some extent depending the conditions) on the front and very high breathability on the back arm pits etc. Some (like for instance Maloja ) give ranking on the breathability as well as for wind and water resistance for their top layers. For very warm weather just a windbreaker or just the base and middlelayer can be adequate. Then if the weather turns bad during the day one can throw a light windproof or even waterproof layer on top of the softshell. Same if temperature drops ( pluss light and compact down jacket) What comes to bottom I think that the same guidelines ( avoid sweating and overheating and taking in account the expected weather) are valid still. For the bottom I would claim that the long johns are very rarely needed with softshell upper layer unless it's really cold ( for me maybe -15 celsius or below) in which case net underlayer ( like from Brynje) is very nice. Unless there is rain or heavy and/or wet snowfall ( assuming the application is ski touring here still), softshell trousers ( thinner for spring & warmer temps and higher intensity and thicker for the opposite) are great ( again for the same reasons why softshell jacket) . To be prepared for longer breaks or emergency or after ski down or synthetic shorts ( full zippers on the side so easy to put on) are very nice as presented in the video. They take very little room, pack small and are light and providing quite a bit of warmth.

Hi Dave. What packs do you use when your backcountry skiing and do you use an avalanche pack? Would you also be able to do a video on how beacons work please?

Great Video as always Dave! It would be really interesting if you did a similar video about climbing/mountaneering. For me its a subject that is harder because weight affects much more when climbing/scarbling/ice climbing et.c compared to ski mountaneering/ski touring. Greetings from Sweden. hope i might bump into you in Chamonix this winter

You should definitly try Northern Playground The 3/4 Ziplongs, they absolutly change mine spring touring experiens. Love it, and its comfy. On my thortso i use Devold TUVEGGA MERINO HOODIE MAN, double sided (varm-cold) with super hood. Essensial gear. Thanks for video.

Great video. Cheers Dave. Some awesome looking kit. Not sure about colours tho

Nice video Dave! I do think it would have been more clear and concise if you went full inside to outside layers for human powered sking, and then start over for lift served. Jumping back and forth like this makes it a bit harder to follow.

Was looking forward to this since you said you signed with Rab! Was wondering what changes, if any, you would make for ski touring and ski mountaineering in Scotland?

Excellent video, well thought out and with thought to different scenarios. Something i have been using as a base layer for some time now is a synthetic netting, is this something you have been considering yourself?

Some cheaper merino mixes out there. Combo Merino around 20% with synthetic. Find these a great solution as a base layer. Best of both worlds. Can't go past a cheap fleece as a mid layer. Skiing last season in -20 celcius. Appreciate a full face balaclava and thin beanie below helmet if it's really cold (balaclava plus beanie giving you two layers under helmet retaining heat really effectively). This season planning to give mitt liners a go. Using mitts instead of single fingered gloves.

Thanks for the video, I relly liked it! Just curious on why using a bib for ski touring, when you are inevitably going to sweat more and pants for stormy conditions, espetially since they are both waterproof and not softshells? I know you can roll the bib down, but you wouldn't need to do that with pants

Onions have layers, mountain guides have layers. Haha.

I wonder what your/community thinking is around black/dark clothes in backcountry? Is there any recommendation to have strong colors, like red/orange etc. to be visible for potential rescue? Or is that not a big concern of yours?

Looking forward for the helmet buff Video (: