[at-l] sleeping bag?

[Teresa French Wench]

I bought a Kelty synthetic 20 degree bag before my thruhike.  I didn't have 
lots of extra cash for gear, so $$ was one of the major deciding factors.  I 
had read pros and cons for down vs synthetic, and other than a weight 
difference (which at that time didnt seem like enough of a difference for 
the extra $), I didn't where it mattered.  I was also a little concerned 
about keeping a down bag dry.  Many times I climbed in my synthetic bag with 
wet clothes and woke up with dry clothes.  I even woke up splashing in my 
tent!  I was warm... but had to wring out my bag before packing up.  :-)

Just like everyone else said, see what works for you.  You don't HAVE to 
have the lightest, "best" equipment.  You just need to be able to make it 
work for you, and be able to change if you find it's not working.

Having finished a thruhike, I now would prefer lighter, but probably won't 
get a new bag.  I'll cut weight on tent and backpack first.

BTW, I didn't weigh one piece of equipment or the entire packed pack before 
I got to Amicalola Falls State Park.  It didn't matter what the weight was. 
I was taking what I thought I needed.  At Neel's Gap, I sent home a few 
things, but not much.  My pack weight was 38#, and that included 2 bottles 
of beer.

Happy packing!
:-)
Wench
www.trailjournals.com/wench

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Felix J" <AThiker at smithville.net>
Newsgroups: local.at-l
Cc: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: sleeping bag?


> trailr at aol.com wrote:
>> I used a down bag - Mountainsmith Vision 15 degree. 2lb 4oz. Western 
>> mountaineering down bags are nice too, but if your happy with yours, use 
>> it. Cut weight elsewhere. I hiked with Wench, she used a synthetic bag. 
>> Use whatever works for YOU.
>>
>> Hotdog AT03
>
> I agree with Hotdog (shudder). Just because there is something 'better' 
> doesn't mean you have to run and buy it. If something works and you like 
> it, use it. And, over the months and miles of a thru-hike, what works and 
> what you like will probably change.  As for what I used sleeping 
> bag-wise....I used three different bags...a 15 year old (at the time) 
> Coleman synth bag when I started (Aug 4th-Maine). Went to a very-Chevy 
> Campmor Brand Down 10 above bag...then, in VA, went to an equally-Chevy 
> Campmor Brand Down 10 below bag. I still have all three and love them. (I 
> call the big one Bitey)
>
> -- 
> Felix J. McGillicuddy
> ME-->GA '98
> "Your Move"
> ALT '03 KT '03
> http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/
>