[pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags

[Jeannie Zortman]

I will add my 2 cents worth here! I am obsessed with sleeping bags it  
seems! I've tried going light, even too light, freezing my ... off, to  
the other extreme, carrying a big cheap 0 degree synthetic that filled  
my whole pack! To this day, I can't bring myself to part with any of  
them. I agree with Monty, the fun goes up when the weight goes down,  
but I also agree that it's no fun to be cold! I sleep pretty cold.

The bag!

  For me the 15 degree marmot helium at 13 oz was the optimum weight  
vs cold ratio. Love this bag. miss the longer zipper of my summer bag,  
the Western Mountaineering Mighty LIght, but, I've never been cold in  
the helium even in the grand canyon with heavy frost on the bag. My  
secret is to put my down jacket inside the bag with me and slide it  
over the part that is chilly. I sleep on my side, so either my butt or  
my knees are pressing against the insulation and causes a cold spot.  
with the jacket over those areas, I get a little extra airspace. I  
have tried bag liners, but I find it more comfortable to sleep in silk  
long johns, top and bottom. if its a warmer night, I just lay the bag  
over me instead of sleeping inside it.

The pad!

I'm old too! The ground just keeps getting harder each year. Last year  
on the PCT, I used the very popular Z-rest, but unlike most thru- 
hikers, I kept the whole length. When it got wet in Washington, the  
pad kept the sleeping bag dry from the moisture that seemed always to  
find it's way in. My feet were warm and dry and softly padded on my  
heels. When it's really rocky, I can double it up!  My pack goes under  
my knees to give spinal relief. The best part is that it is outside my  
pack and easy to grab for rest breaks and drying off after swimming.  
Some day, I too, will go back to an inflatable pad, but not for the  
prickly desert! Saw too many unhappy campers patching holes.

Hope this helps,
Jellybean


On Jan 28, 2009, at 8:14 AM, ed faubert wrote:

>
>
> Meadow Ed here...........
>
> I did not get into who had what bag and its ratings but 3 of these  
> folks post on PCTl all the time so maby they will chime in, Nano,  
> Jellybean and Tom the increadble hulk.......T
> --- On Tue, 1/27/09, montypct <montypct at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: montypct <montypct at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags
> To: "E A" <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com>, "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net 
> >
> Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 11:53 PM
>
> I've used the Gossamer Gear Nightlite 6000 miles.
> I'm using it again this year
>
> Bag  Westerm Mountaineering 20 and a 32
>
> monty
>
>
>
> The fun goes up when the weight goes down
> -Warner Springs Monty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "E A" <afishnamedcarl at gmail.com>
> To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:29 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Sleeping Bags and Pags
>
>
>> 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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