Layering for Cold Weather
Outside -Waterproof shell
Next -Synthetic down parka
Next -Fleece jacket or vest
Next -Synthetic or wool shirt and pants
Inside -Synthetic wicking long johns
(Advanced Backpacking -A Trail Side Guide, by Berger
)
Inside -long underware
not made of cotton; wool or polyolefin (AKA polypropolene), wool/nylon or Trevira Proearth is best.
Next -trail clothes
no 100% cotton T-shirts, cotton/twill shirt and pants with pockets
Outside -outer wear
a pullover sweater or jacket of wool or synthetic material with pockets and nylon or cotton/polyblend pants
Rain Gear -big ponchos can cover you and your gear, but can be combursome in the wind and may catch on brush. Full zippered rain jacket and pants made of vinyl with venting or better yet coated nylon with venting (seal seams), brimmed hat to keep rain off face (also good for sun), gaiters (also good for brush and insects)
Real Cold -heavy pants of wool or synthetic fleece, jacket of synthetic material like Eco-Therm, a wool pullover cap (with ear flaps), and gloves of thin wool or fingerless nylon mittens
(Backpacking Primer, Lori Saldanas
)
Upper Body Skin Layer: polypropylene, capilene, or Thermax
Lower Body Skin Layer: synthetic knit long johns
Middle Layer: pile or fleece
Outer Layer: Gore Tex
In fair weather wear shorts with pants of polyester, nylon, coated nylon, or Gore Tex over them.
In fair weather wear shirts of Cool Max or Fieldsensor instead of cotton
Raingear: You can go with a cheap polyurethane-coated nylon rainsuit or ponch, but do NOT wear vinyl or plastic
(Hiking and Backpacking by Eric Seaborg and Ellen Dudley
)