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Winter Gear 25-Feb-2011 At 4:31:45 PM Mike Bee

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My suggestion of the layers to take for a trip like that: Get a nice light rain shell, there have been some suggestions already posted. Even something pretty generic like a North Face Venture Jacket would be adequate. I'm a fan of buying good quality stuff so you're not left lusting after something better, but with a tight budget like yours, you shouldn't need to spend more than $200 if shopping in Australia, or $120 or so if shopping online.

I'd get a synthetic fill (ie Primaloft) jacket. Vests can be nice for some activities, but I've often found with a vest that I'm wishing I had a jacket, but I seldom wear a jacket and wish I had a vest. That only ever happens when I'm climbing, so if you're mainly hiking, get a Primaloft (or similar) jacket. There's lots of good options out there. They tend to be a little bit cheaper than a down jacket, not quite as warm for its weight, but at least they can get wet. You'll find once you wear a synthetic you'll love them. Aim for something at least 100gsm, I reckon. There are some options out there with a very water (and wind) resistant outer layer. This is worth considering. I've just spend the last couple of days in -20 here in Calgary wearing my 200gsm Primaloft, and with the water resistant layer (Pertex Endurance), I've been plenty warm with a single layer underneath.

Thermals are the next step. I prefer merino layers (specifically Icebreaker) due to the reduced stink factor. Regardless, get a couple of thermal layers, they tend to offer the best weight and size for warmth efficiency out of anything you can buy, I reckon.

Depending on what quality/brands you get for those items, that could be your $500 sorted. Thats certainly the most important bits covered. If you have extra $$, or think that you'll need more warmth, look for something like a traditional polartec fleece jacket.

For stoves, I personally prefer MSR whisperlite or simmerlite. But if you're not a fan of liquid fuel stoves (and I accept that you either love them or hate them), then I'd agree that something like a MSR pocket rocket or Optimus Crux would be the way to go. I reckon Jetboil and Reactors are too limiting. Great if you're just wanting to melt snow or heat water for dehydrated meals, but they really suck if you actually want to cook something on them. That said, if you're going to be camping out much, you'll eventually get sick of the wind stuffing up your pocket rocket with only moderate gusts. In this situation, a Reactor would dominate.

If you're mainly going to be in hostels etc, I'd consider if you even need a stove at all. Most hostels, and even many of the huts throughout the Alps have cooking facilities there, so unless you're going to be camping out in winter, or want to be able to stop and have a brew on a day hike, you could save some $ and some weight and leave the stove out entirely.