Reduce weight or bigger pack?

JGON said:
I think my 15 degree Marmot bag is adequate, but what temps would you guys who are more experienced than me be comfortable using that bag in?
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Can't judge based on someone else, but your bag does seem adequate to me. I'm a warm sleeper, and have the Arete, the 40 degree version of your bag. It's pretty new, and I've only used it for three(crap, I keep editing because my memory sucks, four...no maybe it's five nights), but am very happy with it. Was toasty at a little below freezing in boxer briefs and a wicking t-shirt using a bivy and Thermarest Z-Lite small(short) pad, and in the open with the pad on a small tarp in the mid-30s. A friend of mine used it for an overnighter right at 40 degrees, and she is a very cold sleeper. She was on my inflatable Thermarest in a tent, but said she'd never been more comfortable in a sleeping bag.
I think you've got a good bag:thumbup:
 
I posted this elsewhere, but I'll add it here. I've only gone winter backpacking one time. I used a Gregory Shasta, which runs, I think, about 5200ci. That was barely enough. I hate being cold, even though I love cold weather. But needless to say, I'm all for a big pack. I've never used that bag for anything other than that, and a couple of backpacking trips wherein I always end up carrying all my water for a couple-three days of camping. But for those trips, I used that pack to the fullest. I'm trying to downsize some now, but I don't foresee me going to a pack smaller than the Molle II I have on order for any kind of multi-day trip.
 
fixer said:
move south! :D
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I love the seasons! There is no substitute for watching the world change with the seasons... The same place is vastly different from winter to spring to summer to fall...

your missing a few crucial items on your list- you need a good insulating top; a balaclava (this in addition to normal hat/beanie); glove/mitt system; a pair of down booties for camp wear (and/or sleeping) will be very welcome- get the kind that include or have the option for a waterproof outer
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I didn't include in my pack list any of the items that I'd be wearing, but believe that this Wisconsin boy knows how to keep his rear end warm when hiking! I hadn't thought of the suggestion of getting some additional down booties for camp wear though... any recommendations on these? That could be a lot better and give me an opportunity to let my boots thaw out a bit after a long hike...

Thanks all,

JGON
 
feathered friends- theirs you can wear as a bootie alone, but also has a waterproof overboot that allows wear around camp in the snow

remember that likelihood of your big insulating piece being on while hiking is next to nil- so there has to be room for it, same goes for your hand system- most of the time while moving a simple liner glove is all that is needed- the rest has to be packed away
 
my kneejerk reaction is: reduce weight rather than getting a bigger pack.

a bigger pack just encourages you to pack, and hence carry, more.
 
I read your packing list and I say you should look at larger packs. I get the fact that some guys want to go out ultra light but that isn't me... I go out to the woods to play and relax not to do without.

Just my 2 cents... Ski
 
i would certainly ditch the hatchet and just keep the saw. i would leave the camera but i dont use them much anyway.
 
I was looking at your list; kinda surprised that won't fit 40L. My pack is 50l with the rool top maxed out and it is never full(golight jamII).

I thought is was fairly minimal-plenty of tools though.:). Seems like MtnWarden covered whats missing. I'm cool using my boots til sleepy time though. Also carry an extra pair of pants and socks.

My inflatable iirc is 2.5R so you may need a closed cell with it. I use z rest that has been cut down to 10 folds which goes in the pack against back.

looks like if you get a pyramid or shaped tarp it oughta fit.
 
Briarbrow said:
I was looking at your list; kinda surprised that won't fit 40L. My pack is 50l with the rool top maxed out and it is never full(golight jamII).

I thought is was fairly minimal-plenty of tools though.:). Seems like MtnWarden covered whats missing. I'm cool using my boots til sleepy time though. Also carry an extra pair of pants and socks.

My inflatable iirc is 2.5R so you may need a closed cell with it. I use z rest that has been cut down to 10 folds which goes in the pack against back.

looks like if you get a pyramid or shaped tarp it oughta fit.
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It fits, but it's pretty tight. I think a larger pack might handle the weight a little better when I have it maxed out.

gulliamo If you're looking for a bigger pack REI has this one on sale right now. I have the 75L version and paid over 3X this much!

http://www.rei.com/product/812762
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Thanks for the heads up on this! I might pull the trigger on it...

chuck buck i would certainly ditch the hatchet and just keep the saw. i would leave the camera but i dont use them much anyway.
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The hatchet is the single most useful piece of gear that I bring... especially since reading the sections on firecraft and axecraft in Mors Kochanski's Bushcraft. My hatchet is the last thing that would be staying home...

JGON
 
NothingCoherent said:
You seem to already know what to do :o Ditch the tent, shave bulk from any gear you can, ditch anything unnecessary or redundant.
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Haha. Good luck getting your girl to go out camping with no tent. Hilarious. I'd love to hear the response to that proposal.

"It will be fun. A little cool, but the bugs will keep you warm."
 
jackman2 said:
Haha. Good luck getting your girl to go out camping with no tent. Hilarious. I'd love to hear the response to that proposal.

"It will be fun. A little cool, but the bugs will keep you warm."
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so very true, I tarp tent when I go solo (poncho/tarp), my wife will have nothing to do w/ that- she likes to backpack, but she wants a "tent" by god

I sold my traditional tent and purchased a MLD Duomid (two person pyramid) and added their inner "tent"- bathtub floor and full netting- it qualifies as a "tent" in that config, but I can carry sans inner and have essentially a shaped tarp- it also is a 4 season design- so I've got a winter "tent" too

sometimes a guy just has to make sacrifices :D
 
JGON said:
Thanks for the heads up on this! I might pull the trigger on it...
JGON
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I really like the Osprey packs for light loads (and hot weather) but think the Gregory is handles the bigger loads more comfortably.

Most tacticool packs are either really heavy or lack the features of modern packs (usually both). Some would argue that they are bomb-proof and will last 10 years. This may be true but in 5 years there will be better material/features/engineering/etc. and I'll want to upgrade anyway. Even in the Army I rarely found use for the 2 pounds of Molle webbing attached to everything and thought I'd rather have the 2 pounds back after a few miles. -Just my $0.02. I'm do not want to engage in a religious war with the mil-spec pack lovers.
 
Gregory Z packs get pretty favorable ratings from everything I've read, they aren't heavy, but not exactly light- they aren't bombproof, but they're still pretty tough- kind of the "goldilocks" of packs- maybe just right :)

^ that is a killer deal linked above if the volume is what your looking for
 
gulliamo said:
If you're looking for a bigger pack REI has this one on sale right now. I have the 75L version and paid over 3X this much!

http://www.rei.com/product/812762
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So I just bought this pack mentioned above...

I think 65 L will handle the demands of multi-day winter camping much better than 40 L. I went out again last weekend with my 40 L, and it's just busting at the seams and there were a few items I left behind. It'd be a lot more manageable without the tent, but my girl would NOT be down with that.

That is a great deal, thanks for the heads up gulliamo!

JGON
 
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