A few weekends ago my girlfriend and I went on a three night camping trip to a state park. We planned on camping in a different camp area each night so we had to hike the gear around all three days. It wasn't so bad Friday night or Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning either. But after we hiked around all day Saturday and Sunday. The hike in had significantly more suck. We don't have the best sleep system, I wouldn't even call it a "real" sleep system. Were running cheap Stansport sleeping bags with xl twin polyester blankets. Ive got a "30 degree rated" bag and she has a "40 degree rated" bag. She said she got a little cold when she wasn't layered up but I was fine with the blanket inside the bag sleeping in my boxers. It only got down to say 47ish if I remember correctly. She always cold. ALWAYS. Except hiking around Saturday and Sunday in the low 90s up and down steel rocky hills. The same hills that were responsible for the significant amount of added suck previously mentioned. So long story short, well, shortened, were looking to lighten our packs and invest in real gear. Im looking at the REI Helio Sack 55 with the Sea To Summit Reactor Thermolite Mummy Bag liner for me, and the Extreme version of the same liner for her. These sleeping bags with liners will weigh half of her current setup and 2/3s of my current setup. Thats a two pound shaved off for her, (see what I did there?) and only one pound for me, but the real advantage for her is with the liner her system will be rated to 30 degrees. For me, my entire sleep system, Thermarest ProLite with Sea To Summit sheet, and Sea To Summit Aeros large pillow included, will fit in my pack. Last trip I tied the sleeping bag to the top of my pack. It wasn't so bad, but I couldn't wear my hat. And being in Texas, that adds more suck on top of the suck.
So what sleep systems are you running in your area. Any ideas on lighter, not stupid expensive, or maybe warmer gear? Im mainly looking for her. She's picky so if at all possible, recommendations for gear we can actually check out before we purchase would be awesome. But Im a gear junkie and I need a fix so Ill look into anything.
So what sleep systems are you running in your area. Any ideas on lighter, not stupid expensive, or maybe warmer gear? Im mainly looking for her. She's picky so if at all possible, recommendations for gear we can actually check out before we purchase would be awesome. But Im a gear junkie and I need a fix so Ill look into anything.