[pct-l] Degree bag for thru hike?

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

This is in response to the comment, " Not ultralight, but oh, so cozy."

As my son will heartily tell you, a comfortable night's sleep far surpasses the lightweight and cold bag. On our recent video tour to collect footage for our coming Snow Guide to the PCT, Captain Growler carried a very nice, zero-degree down mummy bag which we had used all winter for 30 nights without any cold spots (different sleeper). He is 6' 3" and 250 lbs and didn't really fit the bag. 

After 17 days in the snows of May and early June, he chose to carry a much bigger and heavier zero-degree synthetic bag in which he slept much more comfortably and happier the rest of our 33 days out. The bag weighed about eight pounds and, if put inside his pack, was large enough, stuffed tight, to take up more than half of it! Strapped on the back, it looked ridiculous, but he was happy! (Keep in mind that at this point we were in shape and the added weight didn't matter much--we were already at almost 80 pounds, with camera gear and 12 day's worth of food)!



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: sojo hendrix 
  To: ned at mountaineducation.org 
  Cc: Eugene Leafty ; pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:08 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Degree bag for thru hike?


  I've been very happy with my 15 degree marmot helium down bag.  Women's for 5'6" weighs 29 ounces. Not ultralight, but light and oh so cozy.

  Sojourner


    On Aug 10, 2010 11:32 AM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

    My wife and I have been teaching snow camping and general mountaineering
    since 1982. Last season we logged nearly 70 nights on the snow. Our
    experience has taught us that you will be warmer in individual bags rather
    than couples bags, because of the down draft that is allowed between the two
    of you. Of course, it depends on how the bag is designed to prevent this.
    Now, with a quilt that might be manageable, but will the down be compressed
    in the process?

    In addition to asking others what they think, go out and test different
    systems for yourselves to see what works for you. In our (Mountain
    Education) snow courses, students bring many different types of bags, pads,
    and shelters to test on the snow. Warm sleepers sometimes get away with 15
    or 20-degree bags while cold sleepers are not warm enough in their 0-degree
    bags. Down air mats like those from Exped do the best to keep you warm and
    augment the thermal value of the bag. You've got to find out what works for
    you before you leave on your trip.



    Ned Tibbits, Director
    Mountain Education
    1106A Ski Run Blvd
    South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
       P: 888-996-8333
       F: 530-541-1456
       C: 530-721-1551
       http://www.mountaineducation.org

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