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European Alpine Hiking Clothing in Summer

Posted on 2/11/20 at 11:00 pm
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/11/20 at 11:00 pm
My wife and I were supposed to do a Tour Du Mont Blanc last summer but my swimmers were trying to impersonate Michael Phelps and now I have another kid...

Anyways I know some of y’all travel and hike. Does anyone have experience with this as far as gear? We do the AT quite regularly but I k ow the weather is different. I am mainly looking at pack clothing advice, more along the cold/rains of alpine summers.
Posted by LSUintheNW
At your mom’s house
Member since Aug 2009
35746 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 3:08 am to
Layers....you'll be fine.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 7:34 am to
quote:

Layers....you'll be fine.


I guess I should have clarified on my specific layer questions. Hike will be in July

Rain shell, goretex or not
Puffy, are they needed or are you surviving with mid layers. if needing a puffy, whats the go to down or synthetic?
Up at altitude, what are the lows actually like in the summer?
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20389 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 7:34 am to
Yeah just bring some decent gear and layer well. Not any different then say the Rocky Mountains.

Also, they sell clothes in Europe. So, don’t fret. If you need a sweater or different jacket, just buy one there.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 7:58 am to
quote:

Also, they sell clothes in Europe. So, don’t fret. If you need a sweater or different jacket, just buy one there.


Well I will be carrying all my gear up and down mountains daily, so I am very conscious of my base weight, prepping is key. Also, there are really only about 2 towns(once at the beginning and about 4-5 days in) on the trek where there might be a store, so not as easy as you would expect.
Posted by Nole Man
Somewhere In Tennessee!
Member since May 2011
7153 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 8:11 am to
quote:

Also, they sell clothes in Europe. So, don’t fret. If you need a sweater or different jacket, just buy one there.


Hell to the yeah! Half the fun is buying clothes over there and looking cool.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 10:23 am to
Puffer: synthetic, as it will pack smaller and will keep you warm even if wet/damp.
Rainshell: always.
Merino next to your skin.
Pack the layers you think you'll need, then add an extra lightweight one.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20389 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 10:26 am to
quote:

Well I will be carrying all my gear up and down mountains daily, so I am very conscious of my base weight, prepping is key. Also, there are really only about 2 towns(once at the beginning and about 4-5 days in) on the trek where there might be a store, so not as easy as you would expect.


Are you training for a mountain climbing competition or just going on casual for fun hikes? Its the mountains, it will be chilly in the morning and warm up through the day. I'd personally just plan for something like a work out shirt, hiking shorts, and a decent jacket as in well made I mean. Outside of that don't sweat it too much.
This post was edited on 2/12/20 at 10:27 am
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 10:37 am to
quote:

Are you training for a mountain climbing competition or just going on casual for fun hikes?


I'll be hiking 110 miles over 9-10 days
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 10:45 am to
quote:

I'll be hiking 110 miles over 9-10 days

Socks....then you'll want to allocate room in your pack for fresh socks.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 10:51 am to
quote:

Socks....then you'll want to allocate room in your pack for fresh socks.
we will have three pairs of hike socks and maybe a camp/refugio sock(still debating this)
Posted by Nodust
Member since Aug 2010
22630 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 11:31 am to
When are you going? Look up average monthly temperatures for the town near where you will hike.

Subtract 3 degrees for every thousand feet higher you go is a good rule to estimate.
Posted by Jinglebob
Member since Jan 2020
948 posts
Posted on 2/12/20 at 9:46 pm to
I'm trying to decide between TMB and Walker's Haute Route for mid June.

Likely I will take a down puffy (Montbell is a high quality affordable brand that flies under the radar a bit, I just ordered their Superior Down Parka for $210). Down is lighter, warmer, and more compressible while synthetic is better in wet conditions. If you need insulation while hiking synthetic would probably be better, I run hot so the puffy will only be used at camp.

I still need to find a rain jacket, currently using frog toggs for the random desert shower but don't think it would be comfortable in extended rain that may occur in the Alps.

Might just go with my Cotopaxi wind jacket that has worked great in light rain and bring an umbrella. There are a few on the market in the ~$50 8 oz range.

You may want to check out Decathlon website. They have super cheap gear that the Euros love. Only a few brick and mortar stores in US but they also have stores in Paris, Geneva, and Chamonix if you want to try on before you buy.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 2/13/20 at 8:07 am to
quote:

I'm trying to decide between TMB and Walker's Haute Route for mid June.


We are thinking early to mid July, really dont want to deal with snow and cold as much as possible, but dont want the heavier crowds of late July and August. I have a majority of the gear to chose from, except a few(dont have a synthetic puffy) Problem is my wife does not. I am a planner and a researcher when it comes to gear. I also like to shop the offseason sales

quote:

I still need to find a rain jacket, currently using frog toggs for the random desert shower but don't think it would be comfortable in extended rain that may occur in the Alps.


Yeah change that. I am debating between my OR Helium II(Ultralight) vs my Gore tex lined Northface. Would need to get the wife, whichever we are using

quote:

Might just go with my Cotopaxi wind jacket that has worked great in light rain and bring an umbrella. There are a few on the market in the ~$50 8 oz range.



I really want a ZPacks Vertice rain coat, but cant justify it with my current gear


quote:

You may want to check out Decathlon website
thanks, never seen that one


GL on your hike
Posted by Diesel88
Wyoming
Member since Oct 2018
702 posts
Posted on 2/13/20 at 8:29 am to
I have a coworker that did this last year, and another one that grew up in France. In July, you will still have snow on the ground. Probably not a lot, but I'd bring crampons just in case. Just some Yaks would be fine. I'm assuming you will be sleeping indoors every night to keep your weight down. Absolute necessities;

1) GOOD rain jacket. In my experience, you don't don't need rain pants if you have quick dry pants on.
2) 2x Merino base layer and socks
3) 2x Sock liners to wick sweat away
4) Thin fleece
5) 800 down puffy
6) Thin gloves (I like the fingerless buff gloves) to prevent blisters
7) Trekking poles
8) First aid kit
9) High top hiking boots to prevent ankle rolls
10) Sun protection (buff neck gaiter + hat)
11) High fat snacks (nuts, nut butters, hard cheeses. Olive oil is the highest calories/oz of any food and you can put it on anything.
12) 2x Good quick dry underwear (exofficio)
13) 2x quick dry pants & shirt
14) That time of year I'd probably pack gaiters
15) Microfiber towel
16) Pack cover
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