[pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags

[Ellen Shopes]

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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