[pct-l] temps

[Stephen Adams]

Maybe, maybe not.  I measure sleeping bag ratings by their loft.  My thirty degree Arroyo had an inch more loft than the Sub Kilo REI bag when they were new.  The arroyo has since broke down quite a bit, but I rated it at 10 degrees when new, and the Sub at twenty.  The 30 degree bag was a lot warmer too in comparison.  But once they get smashed and stuffed a bunch, and loose some loft, the rating of course goes down.  The biggest issue I have encountered is dirty hair oils clumping the down in the head and hood area and this is really hard to wash out thoroughly.  And I have short hair that doesn't seem oily.  But after one long season the Arroyo was clumped, same with the REI bag, and my WInter bag is no longer a minus 5 degree.  IT is now more like a twenty degree, and I'll bet a new high quality twenty degree bag would be more comfortable.  After ten years and a a couple washings the down just isn't the same.  
I had a syntheitc bag once, but I got cold in it even though it was rated at 20, and then the fill seemed to clump and I threw it out.  So you know what I think of poly filled bags.          
On Dec 3, 2009, at 5:42 PM, Matt Thyer wrote:

> Elise,
> 
> I slept most of last summer at altitude in the northern Cascades along the
> PCT with nothing more than a space blanket.  This can be done if you don't
> mind sleeping a little cold and would rather not carry the weight of a
> sleeping bag.  I hate mass so the compromise isn't a tough one for me.
> Seven out of eight PCT hikers encountered agree, I'm a nut.
> 
> But I'm bringing up a good point.  More insulation means more weight; the
> compromise shouldn't necessarily be made along the axis presented by most
> retail gear shops.  Rated temperature ranges are averages of averages and
> *you* may not necessarily agree with what the manufacture says the bag is
> good for.  So, advice from the nut is, look at the weights of sleeping bags
> given by each manufacture.  Better weight them yourself and compare based on
> what you think you can get away with.
> 
> 2 cents,
> 
> Matt Thyer
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Hike Vegan
> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 5:23 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] temps
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Can anybody give us temperature ranges for the PCT?  We are considering
> purchasing sleeping bags and wondering how low the temperature gets and if
> it varies greatly by section?  Thanks!  Elise 
> 
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