• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Mid Layer

Bowtie747

Bowtie747

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
1,809
Location
Ohio
I hope this isn’t already a thread, I looked and couldn’t find anything.

Yes I know this is pretty specific to ask but I’m in the market. Ik so many pieces can go wherever but I’m leaning towards guys who have a clothing system. Base layer, mid layer if needed and a shell. Older I get the pickier I get.

What mid layers are people liking. I’ve been eyeballing the Sitka Ambient but I’ve heard the outta shell is too frail. My clothes get packed in but I still don’t like what I’m hearing. I’ve been excited over the Source from First lite. Kuiu has the Kenai. Anyone else know of any others? Maybe off brands? Thanks
 
If your packing the ambient or source jacket in you will be just fine. I wouldn't go walking through thorn bushes with either but if packed in and put on you can't go wrong with either one. If you need something to bust brush with a grid fleece from about any brand is hard to beat for that.
 
I've used the source over 30 times in two seasons. I cannot articulate enough how fantastic that piece is. It's a perfect mid layer and love it as an outer layer on warmer days. Especially turkey hunting.
I thought nothing could top my old Celsius Midi but they did it.
The ambient jacket sucks imo. The cuffs are awful
 
Bowtie747 said:
I hope this isn’t already a thread, I looked and couldn’t find anything.

Yes I know this is pretty specific to ask but I’m in the market. Ik so many pieces can go wherever but I’m leaning towards guys who have a clothing system. Base layer, mid layer if needed and a shell. Older I get the pickier I get.

What mid layers are people liking. I’ve been eyeballing the Sitka Ambient but I’ve heard the outta shell is too frail. My clothes get packed in but I still don’t like what I’m hearing. I’ve been excited over the Source from First lite. Kuiu has the Kenai. Anyone else know of any others? Maybe off brands? Thanks
Click to expand...
Midlayer? It is not fleece or wool. For some light reading enjoyment, check out this post.
 
bigmike23 said:
I've used the source over 30 times in two seasons. I cannot articulate enough how fantastic that piece is. It's a perfect mid layer and love it as an outer layer on warmer days. Especially turkey hunting.
I thought nothing could top my old Celsius Midi but they did it.
The ambient jacket sucks imo. The cuffs are awful
Click to expand...
Really trying to not pull the trigger on it. Got a couple other pieces from them in the cart. Gaiter and brim beanies haha
 
Maverick1 said:
Midlayer? It is not fleece or wool. For some light reading enjoyment, check out this post.
Click to expand...
So I guess I’m sorta confused. It’s saying wool isn’t warm? I guess I don’t understand how they’re getting their rating. How are sheep not cold then? Haha
 
It is completely dependent on what you’re wanting to do with it. If you pack in a mid layer then it’s probably not necessary to spend the money on an ambient. With that being said the ambient is the only mid layer garment with actual warmth that I’ve used that I can actually walk in with and not take it off. If it’s anything above about 45 I’m walking in in just a long sleeve midweight merino top. It is pretty fragile but doesn’t have a fill like down or synthetic to have insulation pop out of the holes caused from brushing up against brush. It will just nick at the outer face. To me I just don’t care about it. It’s a hunting jacket and I didn’t pay $200 to not use it for what it’s intended for to worry about a few threads showing.
 
I was given the MDWi (a version of the Ambient from the Arrowhead line) from work and it quickly became one of my favorite jackets. It has Polartec Alpha Direct insulation instead of the Primaloft Evolve, so it’s not quite as updated/advanced as the Ambient, but a phenomenal jacket regardless. It goes everywhere with me, and I liked it enough that I bought one for myself that wasn’t Multicam.

The MDWi has a 30D face instead of a 20D, so it’s a little more durable. I’ve still experienced some pilling at high wear areas from my ruck and got some pulls in the face from getting caught on stuff, but it’s definitely more durable than the Ambient. It also has a full zip and a hood instead of only coming in a pullover (without kangaroo pocket) or jacket.

The Arrowhead line has been discontinued, but you can still get MDWis around. Arrowhead Kred has the remaining inventory for sale.
 
I've come to appreciate the "puffy" mid-layers, especially when packing them in. I have the FL Umcompaghre set, a bunch of Outdoor Research, and most recently the Badlands Active Hunter series and the Badlands Shift jacket and pants. I am currently leaning more toward the Badlands stuff, but that is a preference pointed just a little bit more towards the durability aspect. For pants, I actually don't mind a high-pile fleece, for jackets I do prefer a lofted insulation.
 
Bowtie747 said:
So I guess I’m sorta confused. It’s saying wool isn’t warm? I guess I don’t understand how they’re getting their rating. How are sheep not cold then? Haha
Click to expand...
Wool excels at transporting moisture, retaining heat when wet, and being quiet. That makes it suitable for a base layer. It does not provide good insulation, making a poor choice for a mid layer.
 
Well just got my First Lite Source jacket in. First impressions are it’s well made but it’s tough in my head to believe something so thin will be warm ha still considering trying the Traverse Hoody from Sitka
 
Maverick1 said:
Wool excels at transporting moisture, retaining heat when wet, and being quiet. That makes it suitable for a base layer. It does not provide good insulation, making a poor choice for a mid layer.
Click to expand...
That chart looks to me that they only list light weight merino wool.
May be too many types and weights of wool to list. My Filson is a tight weave. You cannot see through it when held up to a light. Some of my other pieces of wool are a loose weave.
My Filson wool pants, vest and LL Bean shirts have been my mid layer for years.
 
GeoFish said:
That chart looks to me that they only list light weight merino wool.
May be too many types and weights of wool to list. My Filson is a tight weave. You cannot see through it when held up to a light. Some of my other pieces of wool are a loose weave.
My Filson wool pants, vest and LL Bean shirts have been my mid layer for years.
Click to expand...
This is supposed to be different than merino. It has primaloft gold in it. It’s kinda a toughish shell puffy
 
GeoFish said:
That chart looks to me that they only list light weight merino wool.
May be too many types and weights of wool to list. My Filson is a tight weave. You cannot see through it when held up to a light. Some of my other pieces of wool are a loose weave.
My Filson wool pants, vest and LL Bean shirts have been my mid layer for years.
Click to expand...
The CLO value is listed in oz/yd^2.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top