|
|
Post by huntnhike on Apr 24, 2016 19:01:40 GMT -8
So, I took my gear and some of my wife's gear that I will be carrying this summer and tried filling my 50L pack with it... Wasn't a good experience... I'm getting a 65-70L pack in a few weeks and am trying to keep a 3-5 day pack weight under 50 pounds. I'm finding that I need smaller lighter gear. I'm looking at replacing our tent and sleeping bags for starters. We each have the REI Air Rail 1.5 Sleeping pads and ae like them.
Tent:
Our tent is a Eureka Apex 2xt- weighing in at 7.5 pounds with footprint and packs up fairly large. I'm looking at replacing with the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3. This is roomy enough for us two and our toddler son, but still under 5 pounds. Is this a durable decent tent or any other suggestions for under $300 with comparable floor space/weight?
Sleeping bag:
My sleeping bag is a Lafuma 20° bag... Compressed in a large sea to summit Event bag, it's a bulging 9"x16"... That equates to about 20L. What bags are out there that are 25-35 degree bags that will take up about half this volume? Wife's bag is old and no longer keepin her warm, so we need somethin new.
Most of our backpacking takes place in the Bighorn Mountains of WY, but a rim to rim Grand Canyon hike is in the works for next spring. I like the compressibility of down, but the wet warmth of synthetic. I've looked online at some Big Agnes bags. I'm 6' and my wife is 5'3". Both slender athletic build. They seem to compress to about 8x8 or 8x10. Would like to stay below $250 per bag. I sleep fairly warm and my wife needs extra warmth for her bag.
Suggestions?
Other ways to trim gear for weight and space?
Thanks in advance!
|
|
almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696 
|
Post by almostthere on Apr 24, 2016 20:34:24 GMT -8
There is no " wet warmth" of synthetic- wet is cold, no matter what it's made of. Down is not so easy to wet out and there is no reason to avoid it in the continental US.
You can expect to pay more for higher quality bags, but you get what you pay for. Lafuma bags always looked skimpy on loft to me - and good bags will have consistent loft, about 2.5" of down is about 20f and a higher fill power gets you the same loft and warmth with less bulk and weight.
A three person Tarptent will cost less and weigh less than a Big Agnes.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,684
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 24, 2016 20:42:05 GMT -8
I'll second the down bag. Synthetic is just too bulky and heavy, especially if you're packing with a toddler--you really need to keep it streamlined. If you don't already, learn to use freezer-bag cooking, which saves fuel and means that all the kitchen you need is one pot (your kid will need a bowl to eat out of; my boys didn't master the freezer bag until they were pretty old, and still prefer to decant their dinner into a bowl).
Drop into the "backpacking with kids" section and drop in any questions you might have. Some of us are getting pretty well past that stage, but still willing to share whatever we learned back in the day, and others are currently taking kids out and will know about gear, etc.
|
|
BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,929 
Member is Online
|
Post by BigLoad on Apr 24, 2016 21:54:34 GMT -8
The tent generally offers the most weight savings for dollar spent, and your choice isn't bad for three people, especially in a more traditional shelter. You can save another pound or so with something like a Tarptent (Rainshadow 2 and Cloudburst 3 are both nominal 3-person tents, and the former is under $300).
Sleeping pads are typically a low-cost area for weight savings, although in your case that seems off the table. You can save about 10 ounces over the AirRail by switching to the NeoAir XLite sleeping pad.
Sleeping bags, on the other hand, are generally the costliest item to reduce weight of volume. I don't think your target volume reduction is within reach without down, but $250 probably isn't going to do it. Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 for $299 is close, but I probably wouldn't push that down to 30F.
|
|
|
|
Post by dirthurts on Apr 25, 2016 4:15:13 GMT -8
I have a Seedhouse 3 and like it a lot. They just revised the design with more internal space, and it looks like a solid upgrade to the traditional plan. I think you'll like it very much. It does pretty great in the wind, and it packs down pretty small. There are some good reviews out there too. There are lighter tents, but having that full frame is really nice in loose soil or rough wind. I've never found a tarp style tent that I really liked.
Maybe check out the Nemo Nocturne sleeping bags. They're roomy, quite light, and they are more comfortable than any others I've tried. They pack down pretty small too.
|
|
|
|
Post by huntnhike on Apr 25, 2016 19:41:28 GMT -8
I have a Seedhouse 3 and like it a lot. They just revised the design with more internal space, and it looks like a solid upgrade to the traditional plan. I think you'll like it very much. It does pretty great in the wind, and it packs down pretty small. There are some good reviews out there too. There are lighter tents, but having that full frame is really nice in loose soil or rough wind. I've never found a tarp style tent that I really liked. Maybe check out the Nemo Nocturne sleeping bags. They're roomy, quite light, and they are more comfortable than any others I've tried. They pack down pretty small too. I'm not a fan of the tarp style tents either. We have a fair amount of wind here and rocky ground. I do like the freestanding aspects of the Seedhouse. I looked online at the Nemo Nocturne and rhumba- now to find a dealer and see if we like them- the price and specs are pleasing... Thanks for the input all. |
|
almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
|
Post by almostthere on Apr 25, 2016 20:26:41 GMT -8
Freestanding, schmeestanding. I use my non freestanding tent everywhere. In the high alpine granite -- because if there are trees I'm in the hammock. It works great. If you don't stake out a "freestanding" tent you have a box kite.... Just ask my buddy, I helped him chase his free-flying, freestanding tent for nearly a mile after a gust stole it away.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,684
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 26, 2016 9:47:51 GMT -8
Sleeping pads are typically a low-cost area for weight savings, although in your case that seems off the table. You can save about 10 ounces over the AirRail by switching to the NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. I'll also note that little kids really are comfortable on light, closed-cell foam pads. That's bulky, but straps on the outside well enough, and weighs little and costs less. |
|
amaruq
Trail Wise!
Call me Little Spoon
Posts: 1,264
|
Post by amaruq on Apr 26, 2016 10:12:56 GMT -8
I'll also note that little kids really are comfortable on light, closed-cell foam pads. Who are we kidding? After a day of hiking and jumping and playing and running and [so on], smaller kids are pretty well comfortable on anything. |
|
|
|
Post by huntnhike on Apr 26, 2016 11:13:12 GMT -8
I'll also note that little kids really are comfortable on light, closed-cell foam pads. Who are we kidding? After a day of hiking and jumping and playing and running and [so on], smaller kids are pretty well comfortable on anything. And with my kid- anything inflatable will likely get popped first time in use! We are looking at the NeoAir mattresses- if we come across extra monies:-) |
|
crawford
Trail Wise!
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
Posts: 1,775
|
Post by crawford on Apr 26, 2016 13:33:27 GMT -8
Therma rest scout is a pretty good pad that can be found at very reasonable prices.
If you are really set on getting synthetic sleeping bags instead of down, consider making a system. One bag that is light for fair weather that goes into a mid bag and makes the whole thing better for cold weather. Mid bag alone would be for mid 30s-low 40s. It is one way to make sure you're not carrying extra weight on every trip.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,684
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 26, 2016 19:05:38 GMT -8
Who are we kidding? After a day of hiking and jumping and playing and running and [so on], smaller kids are pretty well comfortable on anything. They don't weigh much, so aren't so pressed into the hard earth. That's the way I figure it, anyway. Though I used to sleep fine on a bare floor into my 20s, and I wasn't that much lighter, so maybe some of it is just being young and flexible. |
|
|
|
Post by huntnhike on Apr 30, 2016 18:01:48 GMT -8
Would taking a Marmot nanowave SR50 and combining it with a Sea to Summit extreme Thermolite liner (said to increase warmth by 25*F) really get me close to the performance of a 30 degree bag? Say something like the Nemo Nocturne 30 or Nemo Rhumba 30?
Nemo Nocturne 30 weighs about 2lb. 2oz. and compresses to about 5.5L.
The liner and marmot weigh about 2lb. 12 oz. combined and should be comparable in compressed size to the Nemo.
I ask this because the two bags will (in theory) work together for a 3 season bag, but the Marmot 50 will work as a stand alone summer bag. Or am I better off just buying the Nemo or similar?
Either one is lighter and smaller than my current Lafuma 20 Synthetic fill bag...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 6:27:40 GMT -8
huntnhike You present an interesting problem that I've spent a some time trying to solve. Why are you staying with synthetic bags? What kind of conditions are you in that require a synthetic bag? My comments on using a 50 degree bag. I am in Idaho and I do a lot of backpacking in Idaho. It is not uncommon for night time temps to dip into the high 30's, in the backcountry, during the apex of the summer heat. A 50 degree bag would not be very comfortable when the temps dip to 38F degree. I use to carry around 50 pounds of gear and food. I used to cringe at what it would cost to loose gear weight. I tried different ideas on shaving a few pounds here and there. For me it was an exercise in spending money when I could have, in the end, saved money by just moving to really lighter gear. Stepping down from 50 pounds (gear and food) to 35 pounds (gear and food) to less then 25 pounds (of gear and food) for a 5 day trip was a costly error. My current gear weight sits at 11 (10.98) pounds. In Boise there is a store that sells used gear and they have some good deals on quality gear at reasonable prices. Another source of outdoor equipment would be the REI garage sale. The local university has an annual outdoor gear sale where some excellent deals can be had. Also there are on line sources for gear such as Campmor, Sierra Trading Post, and even the REI Outlet. Right now the ALPS Mountaineering Endeavour 20 - Regular is for sale at $179.73 and it weighs 2 lbs. 5 oz. Its duck down and will compress into a tight bundle. Anyways, good luck on you journey to lighten your load.
|
|
toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
|
Post by toejam on May 1, 2016 6:43:14 GMT -8
I think sleeping bag liners are uncomfortable and don't really make your bag warmer. Bite the bullet for a good sleeping bag - not a better investment you can make as a backpacker.
|
|
