Recently I spent the NZ shoulder season over in the Canadian Rockies and Yosemite, first ski mountaineering and then big wall climbing. Airline baggage limits aren’t particularly forgiving for someone who wants gear for longer ski tours, alpine climbing, free and big wall climbing. So I’ve been thinking a lot about which items got the most use across the whole trip.
The Coefficient LT is an overall lightweight midlayer, but with thin Primaloft panels down the front. This tailored insulation/ventilation approach helps you take care in not overheating. Particularly in the back and underarms – where layers always end up getting sweat soaked first. This makes it an excellent choice for adding to a baselayer when on the move. Just add a windbreaker layer on top (hardshell for skiing, ultralight windbreaker for climbing).
I found the Coefficient LT packs enough insulation to wear through a belay in cooler or windy summer conditions, especially as your core is given a priority in insulation. However, as the insulation is concentrated only on the front, I found I could climb and move without overheating.
If it was warmer, would I have worn only a baselayer? Obviously yes. Similarly, would I have been cold belaying if it was significantly colder? Obviously yes. But I have appreciated the extended range of temperatures and activities the Coefficient seems to work comfortably at for me.
Being able to climb in your belaying layers is ideal and allows you to climb with less on your harness. The most I added was an ultralight windbreaker layer clipped to the back. The convective winds whipping upwards on parts of El Capitan can be brutal through about 1100am to nightfall, even when it’s insufferably hot in the valley below!
My uniform for most of the month was the Highline shell over Coefficient LT midlayer and Alpenglow Pro baselayer,
Equally important to this is comfort and fit, and (sorry guys, can’t speak for you here!) the women’s fit in the Coefficient is excellent. It’s not just about looking smart.
Excess fabric around the waist (or too little around the shoulders or in the length) is a large factor in comfort when moving all day, especially with a harness on.
