I use a tent, sometimes double wall, sometimes fly-only. The only factor affecting my sleep system is temperature.
I'm considering making a silnylon jacket and pants to use as vapor barrier clothing instead of using the emergency bivy for this. This would allow me to wear clothing as extra insulation, but would add 5-10 oz and also remove the minimal heat reflection of the emergency bivy.
Sort-of winter (0 to 30 F)
Tested in backyard down to 9F
Exped Downmat 7 (full-length)
19" x 19" 1/4" CCF sit pad under hip area (might as well use it for something)
Marmot Angel Fire bag (15F down, women's bag which is wife's 25F summer bag)
Heatsheets Emergency bivy as vapor barrier liner (VBL) (sometimes)
medium to light baselayer (whatever I'm wearing during the day)
acrylic balaclava (covers mouth and nose too)
down jacket as a foot bag, inside sleeping bag/outside VBL
Winter (-10 to 0 F)
Tested on 1 trip without VBL down to 15F
Exped Downmat 7 (full-length)
19" x 19" 1/4" CCF sit pad under hip area (might as well use it for something)
Thermarest Ridgerest 3/4 length (maybe... extra insurance due to risk of inflatable)
Marmot Never Summer bag (0F down, 4lbs!)
Heatsheets Emergency bivy as vapor barrier liner
medium to light baselayer (whatever I'm wearing during the day)
acrylic balaclava (covers mouth and nose too)
down jacket as a foot bag, inside sleepingbag/outside VBL
WINTER! (-30 to -10 F)
Experimental, not tested
Exped Downmat 7 (full-length)
19" x 19" 1/4" CCF sit pad under hip area (might as well use it for something)
Thermarest Ridgerest 3/4 length (definitely!)
Marmot Never Summer bag (0F down, 4lbs!)
MontBell #3 (30F down, 21 oz) used as quilt over 0F bag
Heatsheets Emergency bivy as vapor barrier liner
medium to light baselayer (whatever I'm wearing during the day)
acrylic balaclava (covers mouth and nose too)
down jacket as a foot bag, inside sleeping bag/outside VBL
Good to see you posting again
ReplyDeleteSBW
When do you see -30 in Ohio?
ReplyDeleteYour 'WINTER!' system should theoretically keep you warm to -30, but in practice you'd probably sleep for only 4 hrs without being acclimated to it.
0 deg bag + 10 deg vbl + 20 deg down quilt = -30 rating, in theory (close at least).
good luck with the exped at -30... They're junk below zero. I know of and have seen them fail for multiple reasons. Keep it simple below zero. Even if your gear DOES work, your fingers may not. Not just opinion, but experience & reality.
Hi SBW,
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi Josh,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the experience-based feedback. We saw -15F last winter here in Ohio one night in rural areas, when the forecast predicted 0F. I'm planning to do a trip or two in northern Minnesota and maybe Canada this winter.
I wonder if many of the Exped Downmat failures are the older ones? Have you noticed any trend on material vs. valve failure? I always carry a 3/4 length Ridgerest for extra warmth and backup for below 0F, plus having access to natural bedding materials if needed.
Becareful with the vapor barrier theory and using your clothes. You could wake up soaked and freeze to death if don't have dry ones to change into.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteAs described above, wearing a synthetic base layer inside the vapor barrier doesn't present any issues. It actually dries quickly when exposed to the cold, dry air or underneath a warm insulation layer.
Should someone make the mistake of putting their insulating clothing inside the vapor barrier, there are plenty alternatives to freezing to death. :)