[pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags

[Stephen]

I used the Marmot Arroyo bag for a couple years, still a good bag for most 
trips, but have been quite happy with an REI Sub-Kilo I got on sale a couple 
years ago.  When these 2lb bags are new they have incredible loft and warmth 
to weight ratio.  In a bivy with ice on it I have never been cold.  Last 
summer I was using Sub-Kilo and a tarp and was still comfortable sleeping in 
my base layer at high elevations.  I tend to camp around tree line in the 
Sierra.  Like the therma-rest I mention below, if it's raining I am careful 
about moisture around these bags.  They are not water resistent as 
advertized except for minor spills when brand new.  I used the Aroyyo on the 
Lost Coast hike and that is the only time I ever wished for a synthetic bag 
as it was just damp there right along the ocean.  I've never hiked in WA so 
can't comment.  The Sierra are desert mountians and never experienced any 
issues even when I had days of thunder storms and a couple really wild 
nights.  I did have to set my tarp once on Seven Gables Pass area as a 
lean-to after I was blown flat, but the bag kept me warm and being a 
professional rigger helps with a good tarp lean-to pitch.  I rate these 2lb 
bags about 25 degree new, but if one eats a big meal and has a snack in the 
middle of the night they can sleep comfortably colder.  What they do lack is 
a comfy neck baffle.  However, not having the baffle makes it easier to 
eject those big black and curious carpenter ants...

  For a pad I just got a Thermarest Pro-Lite 1-1/2 short.  Nice pad.  I 
occasionally use a lighter Ridgerest but my back and hips hate when I do 
that.  For more comfortable outings I have a 2" short thermarest (rare I 
think) that while a little heavy to consider for UL trips, is so incredibly 
comfortable wigthmy pack and parka under knees and feet I have never slept 
so good.  That pads got some serious miles on it and has never failed.  I 
expect the same form the light pad.  I do carry a small patch kit sometimes 
if going far from the car.  The only puncture I've ever got was my long 2" 
car camp pad that I closed the rear hatch of my staion wagon on.  That was 
on uncomfortable night.  However, I got it patched using the hot pot method 
the mext morning and no problems since.
I have patched other people's pads for them, and I would suggest anyone 
hiking distance with one know how as it will be hard to find me, and no one 
knows what I look like and I aint tellin...
Anyway, I know four hundred million people use Z-rests and other foam pads 
withgreat results, but I just don't get Z rest if you know what I mean. 
Getting Z rest is as important as eating well.  I have tomake a couple 
compromises and this latest pad addition of the thicker but shorter Pro-Lite 
seemed a good compromise to my wallet this last summer.
Now, I know folks poke holes in thier pads all the time, and it irritates me 
when the add-hype shows campers using air/foam pads as chairs, and a comfy 
place to sit and eat lunch.  Nonsense.  I take very good care of mine and am 
careful where I lay it, never sit on it unless laying down for a while and 
then only on the ground sheet.  I also keep the pad in a light stuff sack 
(the stuff sack willprobably be ditched for thePCT hike), and always cary 
inside the pack so I don't snag it. Ten years and have only popped one with 
the car hatch like I said.  Always a first time though, and that's why when 
I tally my gear weight the patch kit stays with the pad.  But I gotta say, 
if I could sleep better on a foam pad, I would quickly cut my Ridgerest to a 
short pad and love to drop the ounces, but I've tried it enough times to 
know even two foam pads wont do me better than even a 1" air/foam pad.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "E A" <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com>
To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:30 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags


> Also what Bag are people using? Western, Golite, Featheredfriends?
>
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 8:29 PM, E A <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>> What are people using for sleeping bags.  20 degree, 30 degree, 40 
>> degree,
>> no bag...
>>
>> Also along those lines what pads have you found comfortable?
>>
>> Has anyone tried the GossamerGear  pad---->
>> http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/nightlight_3_quarter.html
>> or  http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/thinlight.html
>>
>> The first one looks like it would be pretty comfy.
>>
>> --Edan
>>
>>
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