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[pct-l] Re:Sleeping Bag Question

>mzuber@jeeves.ucsd.edu asked about sleeping bag stuff-

   As you probably know, a decent overbag from a company like Feathered 
Friends or Marmot will start around $300, if you go with a Gore cover. 
What's my point? You can catch a deal from Sierra Outfitters, or The 
Swallow's Nest mail order on occasion on Marmot gear, especially at the 
end of the season, often for 30% - 50% of the MSR.

   A thermastat liner would buy you 5-15 degrees (without the bulk of 
Polartec and its much easier to sew.) and a Vapor Barrier Liner (fancy 
plastic bag) would push down the rating down 10-20 degrees if you get 
stuck in truly cold weather (-10 F or lower), but VBLs are not everyone's 
cup of tea, and the warming effect is dependent on the individual's 
physiology. You can get the material and sew it yourself- not too sure 
about where you could get the material in SoCal, however. (There are 
places in Ketchum, Seattle, Corvalis, and the Bay Area that do mail order 
outdoor fabrics, such as The Rain Shed. The alt.sewing FAQ has a nice 
listing of these places.)

   A warm, fuzzy lined, Bomber hat with flaps would probably be your best 
bet for staying warm while sleeping- avoid the ridiculously overpriced, 
remarkably useless, made in China, cold weather gear sold by companies 
based in Seattle or Berkeley. Left coasters do a shockingly lousy job of 
making warm clothes, especially head and hand gear. (My Minnesota Bias is 
showing, please ignore the editorial rant.) Check out Piragis Northwoods 
Outfitters (They have an 800 number, accesible by the AT&T directory).

   Hope some of this is news to you.
           Scott Howard
           Now living in Portland
           So when does winter come, anyway? :-)
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