[pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags

Wed Jan 28 09:31:53 CST 2009

read the instructions on the patch kit!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ellen Shopes" <igellen at comcast.net>
To: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>; "E A" <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com>; 
"PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 2:45 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags


> What is the 'hot pot' method for patching a thermarest?
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
> To: "E A" <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com>; "PCT MailingList" 
> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 12:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags
>
>
>>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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>>
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