small blanket

Hi there Hutch. I take no offence what so ever from other people opinion. Im here to learn. What makes the Quilt so much better?? I can see that if i carried my Down blanket that i might use at home at winter time. I know i get hot in it. But i dont think it would last long in the outdoors. There was a study down where they compared the wool blankets and it took about 5 of them to keep a person warm. I dont remember the temp it was done under. How do you use the Quilt???

Sasha
 
Last time I was buying Backpacking gear--which was a few years back--there were a good number of lightweight or 'ultralight' sleeping bags available. You can also look at climbing gear instead of regular backpacking gear, climbers pack light because they have to.

The fleece doesn't sound like a half-bad idea for warm weather; only problem there is that it doesn't breathe that well and will likely make you sweat. Might be the same with a sleeping bag as well though.

Of course, if you want to go ultra-ultra light: Space Blanket. :D
 
Well it was a summer trip but way up in the mountains and it got down into the 20s. It even snowed one night. I am impressed if you can hike 25 miles a day, but I took a week doing 10 miles a day. To my credit it was pretty hilly and rocky terrain.
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Just to clarify, I can't make 25 miles with a 50lb pack, but I can with a 25 lb pack. I'm not particularly athletic. Comparing myself to serious backpackers, at my peak condition I was average at best.

With a 65lb pack, I was able to get up to 17 miles/day max, and that was on the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas. Low elevation, but rocky with nonstop up-down. The early March days were so short, I think I could have managed 20+/day max had I the benefit of long summer days.

FYI, just read a Backpacker article about a guy who yo-yo thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. He maintained a pace of 35-42 miles per day for 5,300 miles, from Mexico to Canda and back. He had an 8lb pack, including a camcorder. The record-holding thru hiker on that trail made it from Canada to Mexico in 67 days.

Furthest I ever hiked in one day with a 20-30lb frame pack was 40-45ish miles. That was at elevation with some serious hills (one particular stretch from 7530' to 8787' was the biggest single elevation gain). I could NOT have done it the next day again. I couldn't do much of anything the next day...

The biggest factor I attribute to getting better mileage is not dorking around with camp. Get up early, roll up the sleeping bag, and start walking. Stop for breakfast after a couple hours, then keep hiking. Stop for lunch and dinner at scenic spots or where there's access to water for cooking and washing. Just before sunset start looking for the next place to lay out the sleeping bag. Do it again the next day.

I think boredom is the #1 reason why long-distance thru-hikers fail to meet their goal.

-Bob
 
hutch762mg said:
No disrespect intended, but this is 100% false. A good, quality quilt is every bit a swarm as a bag and additionally is alot lighter. It's all in the implimentation. Somene who is not versed in the usage of a quilt should definately stick with a conventional sleeping bag. I have switched over to a quilt, bivy, tarp set up along time ago and would never look back. That being said I own some top of the line sleeping bags and enjoy them, but they fill a niche for only the most extreme of conditions.

One of the main misconceptions out there is that UL backpackers suffer or take risks. This is also 100% false. An ULer looks at their gear as a system in which each item is to be used to compliment the others. Why pack layers of clothes for warmth and then carry a bag rated to 20 degrees and not sleep in the layers that you brought? I see tis time and time again. For the most part in the Sierras, 3 seasons out of 4, a 30 degree quilt is way more than enough when used in conjunction with your layering system. A quilt used with a waterproof bivy and tarp is sufficent tokeep me warm and dry through the most difficult of weather. The whole packages weighs in 40 something ounces.

Nunatek makes awesome, high end, down quilts, Kifaru has a really promising synthetics, high end. quilt. I sometimes use my Snugpak jungle bag which is a reasonably priced synthetic bag that can be unzipped and used as a quilt.

ULing isn't for everyone, but I've been doing variations on it for years and have never once felt unsafe or under prepared.

Nessmuk, Muir were ULer's and they seemed to make it just fine.
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Hutch, I'm currently considering a UL sleeping system. I would appreciate your input. Even though I live in the Pacific NorthWET, I'm inclined toward down for its weight and size benefits. I have been leaning toward the Marmot Helium because I am most familar with traditional sleeping bags. I looked at Nunatek's quilts (on their website) and am impressed, but am concerned about cold air from sneaking in around the edges. I am intrigued by the Big Agnes Zirkel because it only has down on the top and has a sleeve for a sleeping pad on the bottom. It seems it would keep everything in place through the night.

-- FLIX
 
Light blankets aren't -- light or warm. I went there too. A small light bag like the Lafuma 600 series will keep you better than a blanket. Fleece *seems* light, but by the time you get enough fleece to wrap around you, you might as well have a full bag. You are looking for two effects from sleeping gear-- loft to insulate you and some sort of barrier (the shell) to protect from convection/wind loss. Fleece is leaky and you only get 1/8"-3/16" loft. Better than nothing, but lousy for the weight.

What the ultralight hikers do is to use a shaped quilt. The theory is that the insulation that is compressed under you does nothing for keeping you warm-- loft is everything. The idea is to let your sleeping pad do the job of insulating you from the cold ground and the bag do the job on the top. Jacks R Better makes some of the best quilt. Personally, I thrash around and like a full bag. My UL bag is a one pound down bag made by Mont Bell. Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are top dogs in the down bag business. Be prepared to unload $300+ to get light and warm. My heavier bag is a 28 ounce/32F rig with Polarguard Delta synthetic insulation.

Snugpak makes some interesting compact, leightweight bags, but they aren't easy to find in the US and they ain't cheap :) I want one of the Jungle Bags: http://www.outinstyle.com/Merchant2/agent.mvc?AG=shopping&SC=PROD&C=SnugpakSleepBags&P=JungleBag
 
DaleW said:
Snugpak makes some interesting compact, leightweight bags, but they aren't easy to find in the US and they ain't cheap :) I want one of the Jungle Bags: http://www.outinstyle.com/Merchant2/agent.mvc?AG=shopping&SC=PROD&C=SnugpakSleepBags&P=JungleBag
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I can lay hands on one of these really reasonable, has anyone actually used one, I can't find out much info on them. Holding it in my hands it seems really flimsy with very little insulation, also anyone know anything about the Arktis bags. Chris
 
I had a Snugpak Jungle that I picked up from Brigade Quartermasters, but returned it before actually using it. The construction quality seemed great, and I have no doubts about the durability, but I found something that appealed to me more.

I ended up going with the Slumberjack Meridian. It is basically a synthetic outer layer with a Merino wool inner layer. Super soft and comfortable, and keeps me plenty warm when I layer properly. Packs down to about the size of a coconut. I take a set of Merino wool underwear on my trips, so those in combination with the Meridian work great. I picked up several for friends from an amazon.com deal, and they all love them. I still have a few left and will probably just give them away at my site.
 
Hey guys,

I appreciate this thread a lot. I'm in my late 40's and spend too much time at a desk. Getting my gear lighter is an essential for me, and I've seen some interesting ideas and options in this thread.

While I'm learneing to do a lot more woth a lot less, the sleep system has always been problematic, not only in weight, but my 20yr old REI bag is pretty darn bulky!

Y'all rock! :)

Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
 
FLIX said:
Hutch, I'm currently considering a UL sleeping system. I would appreciate your input. Even though I live in the Pacific NorthWET, I'm inclined toward down for its weight and size benefits. I have been leaning toward the Marmot Helium because I am most familar with traditional sleeping bags. I looked at Nunatek's quilts (on their website) and am impressed, but am concerned about cold air from sneaking in around the edges.
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Flix - I live in the northwest (near Seattle) and have been using the Arc Alpinist for years. It has straps that keep it from 'leaking' cold air into it. If you google it I'm sure you will find many other reviews saying similar things.

I typically use it in a hammock (cold!) but have also used in hiking and car camping. Mine is might with the really light material (.85 ounce, IIRC) so I have to be really careful with it. He offers many different materials so yours doesn't have to be as delicate. I've been careful, though, and even over all the miles and trips I've yet to damage it.

I'd buy it again. It's a great bag. Plus it's 18 OUNCES for a 20 degree bag! How cool is that?
 
I have to respectfully disagree with Flix about down on the wet coast. I've got a couple of (3 season) down bags; an inner and an outer Canadian army bag in down. I've found that the normal perspiration from sleeping doesn't leave the bag after being packed in a stuff sack all day, even if it's aired out while breaking camp. It's stunningly useless if it gets wet. Don't get me wrong, for the interior and north (or anywhere that sees more snow than rain) it's definitely the way to go: Light weight, stupidly warm, and compressible.

I had a LiteLoft bag (mentioned earlier) for the West Coast Trail in 1992, and even when it was damp, I was able to get a decent sleep. Great stuff.
 
I don't agree. I've hiked many miles in the PNW (Olys, PCT, southern Cascades), and never really had a problem with the perspiration issue. Being a little more careful to keep your bag dry (it can be done, even in rainy climates) is worth the lesser weight of down.
 
Don`t skimp on the sleep gear. As a young teenager I used a wool army blanket, and laid a piece of plastic under me. When you spend a cool night shivering, and waiting for the sun to come up, you will think of that nice sleepingbag you left at home.
 
Great idea's all.

+1 on the poncho liner. Currently I use a Kifaru. EXCELLENT quality, simply my favorite of 9 or 10 liners that I've accumulated over the years. I usually match this with a GI puss pad and I'm good to about 35 F if I'm feeling brave. I wouldn't try this with a standard liner and usually top out in the mid 40's. JMHO
 
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