Spring and autumn transform the mountains and outdoor environments into unpredictable terrain: cold mornings, warm afternoons, brief but intense showers, variable winds, residual ground moisture, and temperature swings of 5 to 20 °C within hours. Inter-season gear requires a system that adapts to these changes while remaining lightweight, breathable, protective, and versatile. This is exactly the purpose behind the AYAQ wardrobe.
1. Technical Challenges of the Inter-Season
Transitional seasons are not just “short winters” or “short summers”: they present unique challenges.
- High thermal amplitude: cold mornings, midday warmth, damp cold evenings.
- Ambient humidity: dew, showers, fog, melting snow at altitude.
- Variable wind: causing unpredictable convective cooling.
- Variable effort rhythms: frequent shifts between active climbs and slower walking.
The clothing system must allow quick adjustments without ever saturating with moisture.
2. Base Layers: The Central Role of RWS Merino
Merino wool is essential for managing sudden temperature changes. Warm even when damp, breathable, and regulating, it perfectly supports shifting activity levels.
- BIAFO: 100% lightweight merino, ideal for sustained effort from the morning.
- MEFONNA: 100% versatile merino, well suited for irregular activity days.
- SHIRWALI: merino blended with Tencel (~240 g), perfect for cold mornings and increasing wind during the day.
The goal: maintain stable temperature without overheating.
3. Midlayers: Adjusting Warmth Without Trapping Moisture
KOKANEE
Active fleece, ideal for cool mornings, dynamic ascents, and humid days. Its moisture vapor management makes it a key inter-season layer.
AROLLA
Brushed fleece, warmer. Best for variable but generally cool weather or frequent stops.
4. Outer Layer: The Key to Inter-Season Versatility
AYAQ hardshells — SKORA, LONAK, SKORA-XT — share the same exceptional non-microporous hydrophilic membrane: 52,000 Schmerbers, RET < 12, highly windproof, ultralight, non-clogging, PFC-free.
- SKORA: the lightest and most streamlined, perfect for sudden showers and rapid weather changes.
- LONAK: more enveloping with raglan sleeves, design inspired by Inuit traditions. Ideal when damp cold dominates.
- SKORA-XT: fully equipped version for technical terrain and long outings with high instability.
In the inter-season, these hardshells are often central: carried in the pack, worn at summits, used in strong wind, or simply to block unexpected showers.
5. Lightweight Alternative: The SHANDAR Windbreaker
SHANDAR embodies the inter-season philosophy: ultralight, highly breathable, immediate wind protection. Ideal for:
- cool mornings,
- active climbs,
- short outings with uncertain weather,
- days with low rain probability but frequent wind.
A highly responsive tool.
6. Softshells and Hybrids: Comfort and Versatility
RIMO
Softshell with windproof membrane on the front and highly breathable fabric on the back. Perfect for spring ski touring, dynamic hiking, or outings with fluctuating dry cold and mild conditions.
RAVEN
Asymmetric softshell: windproof membrane on the chest, extreme breathability on the back. Very effective when effort alternates between intense phases and short breaks.
7. Pants for the Inter-Season
- CLIFTON: technical membrane pants, highly windproof, excellent for cool days or exposed ridges.
- RIMO: dynamic option for active effort, breathable and protective.
- NUNATAK: suited for wet inter-seasons with regular rain or melting snow.
Bottom layers must adapt to thermal variations as much as tops.
8. Recommended Inter-Season Combinations
- Cold morning, mild day: MEFONNA + KOKANEE + SHANDAR.
- Irregular showers: BIAFO + KOKANEE + SKORA.
- Intermittent cold wind: SHIRWALI + AROLLA + LONAK.
- Long outings with uncertain weather: MEFONNA + KOKANEE + SKORA-XT.
9. 100% European Manufacturing and Responsible Materials
As always at AYAQ:
- fabrics sourced from France, Italy, Germany,
- production carried out in Portugal,
- high-end recycled materials,
- RWS-certified merino,
- products field-tested by Mike Horn and Vincent Defrasne.
Conclusion
The inter-season is a time of contrasts: warmth, cold, wind, humidity, and quick clearings. The AYAQ wardrobe offers a coherent system to absorb these variations without sacrificing comfort or performance. Thanks to its 52,000 Schmerbers hardshells, SHANDAR windbreaker, active fleece jackets, and RWS merino base layers, the inter-season becomes a terrain of controlled adaptation, not a constraint.