[pct-l] Compressing/Stuffing sleeping bags

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

I have never thru-hiked, but I have used a compression sack alot.  
The longest hike I have hiked with one is 408 miles in 24 days.  I 
have done countless other 7-10 day hikes using compression sacks.

In my experience, compression sacks definitely reduce the loft of 
down bags.  Compression sacks will reuce the loft even if used only 
once.  Granted, the loss of loft may be imperceptible after one use 
of a compression sack, but there will be some.  I used a compression 
sack on my 24 day hike, and I can DEFINITELY tell that my North Face 
Blue Kazoo down bag lost loft.  It is way more clumpy and just doesnt 
fluff up as much as it used to.  However, even in light of the loss 
of loft, the bag still keeps me warm (although I have never used it 
in any temps less than about 15 or however cold is was at night on 
the summit of whitney)

I also have a down sleeping blanket from Nunatak and I asked them to 
make an extra small compression sack for it, which they did.  I can 
tell you that after using the sompression sack ONE TIME there was 
NOTICEABLE loft lost.  I used this blanket and compression sack on 
the JMT last year and was not cold at night (highest elevation I 
slept at was about 9200').  I also slept in a fleece jacket.

Even though the compression sacks do cause the down to lose some of 
its loft, I find that it is worth it to me because it allows me to 
carry a smaller pack (last year on the JMT, I used a 1000 c.i. Marmot 
Lumbar pack).  I find that the smaller pack forces me to carry less 
stuff and be more creative with finding multiple uses for the things 
that I do bring.  All of this results in a lighter pack and the 
ability to hike longer distances.

peace,
dude


> A couple years ago I bought a Golite Gust pack and a Nunatek Arc
> Alpinist sleeping blanket.  The pack is huge for 20 oz - something
> like 4500 cubic inches.  I put my blue foam pad into the pack to
> stiffen it, and all my gear inside of that.  With five days of
> food the pack is still half empty, so I put the sleeping blanket
> in a garbage bag and put it in last.  I have never stuffed or
> compressed the down.
> 
> While on part of the CDT in the Winds last week, I saw a number of
> thru hikers, who invariably used some form of the Golite Breeze or
> something that looked like it.  These packs are tiny and the
> sleeping bag/blanket is compressed.
> 
> I know that everyone arrives at their own system, and there is no
> right or wrong way to do things.  I'm interested in just how
> important "not" compressing down over five months is to the bag's
> continued being warm...
> 
> Jeff Olson
> Laramie, Wyoming
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

_________________________________________________________________
    http://fastmail.ca/ - Fast Secure Web Email for Canadians