[at-l] sleeping bags

[winchester@unnet.com (Ron Winchester)]

Dave:

I've been carrying a 25* down bag for several years now, and it works pretty well for spring, fall, and cool summer hiking.  If it gets too warm, I just open it up and use it like a quilt.  It's an EMS Down Under and weighs about 2-1/2 lbs.  To augment the bag's warmth, I wear microfleece tights -- they're really nice to have to wear in camp, and if it gets really
cold, they keep me toasty warm -- even when I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee.  In summer I use a fleece bag, weight about 1-1/2lbs.  I've know thru-hikers who used just a fleece blanket, and that's late August in northern Maine!   YMMV.

RonW

David Smith wrote:

> for an thru hike, what should (generally speaking) i look for in temp ratings? for the colder times, i mean. i have been thinking about a 30 degree bag with a silk liner for the weight aspect (a kelty light year 3d plus a design salt silk liner, total weight 2 lbs 5.7 ounces, the bag is 30* plus the liner adding about another 9*). am i being too optimistic here?