I will fess I have only did single nighters when winter backpacking...no long trips. I have always planned my trips around the good weather days/nights. I also have always hammock camped during the winter versus using a tent. Since I have always been watching the weather closely before heading out I have had the freedom of not having to put anything over me for snow protection.

Several of you guys need to be over on the winter biking forum. Those guys over there say I'm nuts when I say take it off for winter riding. They listen too much to the clothing manufacturers and not enough to common sense.

My attitude is a bit different from tom cotter. I say if you have to take a layer off, you have started with too much on in the first place. I only put on extra layers if necessary. I never take anything off. Their was only one or two days last winter where I had to put anything extra on...darn wind...it just kept biting into me and I knew as much as I didn't want to put anything else on, since I was going to be climbing all the way home, I knew I had on reasonable/sensible choice. It was in the 10-15 degree range with 20+ mph winds that were relentless. Heck, one night I rode home at 3 degrees with nothing but cycling shorts and a long sleeve lightweight Duofold thermal top on with nylon wind pants/coat on over top. About .5 mile into the ride my right hand was cold as ice. The ragged wool pop top mittens weren't doing their usual job. I started "pumping' my hand trying to generate some blood flow to and just kept riding...the rest of me was fine. About 4 miles into the ride the whole body was nice and warm. It around 8PM as I was riding home, so yeah it was after dark. I got home, and for sanity sake, I was glad I didn't have a headlight...I would have kept riding. I was totally comfortable. I walked in the house and looked out the kitchen window at the thermometer and saw it was only 3 degrees F. I about crapped. I really learnt about overdressing that evening.

The one thing I haven't really ever experimented with is the zipper. I am using a zipable jacket. The only parts of my body that ever gets sweaty anymore while winter riding are the wrists, the ankles and in between the shoulder blades on the back. Maybe occasionally around the waist. Otherwise I stay dry. I do wish I could figure out the way to get ride of the sweaty shoulder blades since that is the key area to stay warm since it sits right behind the heart.