[at-l] Re: at-l Sleeping Bag Comparisons

[gypsy97 at bellsouth.net (gypsy97@bellsouth.net)]

The best hiker-gear-related advice I ever received (and took) came from 
Felix:  he said to get a down, zero degree sleeping bag.  I was so impressed 
with the WM 10 degree bag that I bought it and was never sorry (not sure how 
much difference there would be between 10 degrees and zero).  I was never 
cold in my sleeping bag no matter what the temp outside was, but I was still 
comfortable in it up to June, when I sent it home in exchange for a 40 
degree bag.  I wouldn't ever settle for a 20 degree bag of any mfr  if I 
planned to use it in early spring or any cold weather.

gypsy

> From: "Frank Looper" <mapster@charter.net>
>
> I'm looking to buy an investment-quality sleeping bag, and was leaning
> towards the Marmot Hydrogen 30+ Regular, at 1 lb. 5 oz and ~300 USD.
> However, I ran onto the  Mountainsmith Wisp, same weight and degree 
> rating,
> but on sale for 175 USD.
>
> The biggest difference that I can see--except the price--is that the 
> Marmot
> uses 900 loft down and the Mountainsmith uses 750+. Would this tend to 
> mean
> that the Marmot is a more honest 30 degree bag, or just that the
> Mountainsmith uses a heavier cover?
>
> I've also looked at  The North Face Hightail 900 15+ bag, but it's a bit
> more expensive. It's also little heavier, at 1 lb. 15 oz. The North Face
> also has a reputation for being a bit liberal with their temp ratings. I
> have The North Face Blaze 20+, which weighs 2 lbs. 14 oz. It doesn't feel
> very warm at 20 degrees, though I can sleep at that temp.
>
> If the Marmot is a true 30 degree bag, I'll--probably--have no issues with
> it. If it's very cold, I can wear my rain jacket and pants, my polypro
> long-john pants and my fleece pullover and wool shirt. My tent--a Sierra
> Designs Light Year CD--keeps the temp up a number of degrees over ambient 
> as
> well.
>
> I'm trying, obviously, to reduce weight and size of what I carry on a 
> hike.
> I'm also ordering material to make a modified G4 pack. I'm going to add 
> some
> padding and a hip-belt, and do a few other changes, but it'll still end up
> weighing only ~2 pounds. I've also been dehydrating food lately, and 
> really
> loving that.
>
> I know that with these stupid headaches It'll be difficult to *ever* do a
> thru-hike. I do, however, want to have an easier time hiking the amount 
> that
> I can. I plan on taking off from Springer again this year, but I have no
> distance goals. I'll just hike until I don't feel like hiking anymore.
>
> I really loved being with the other hikers last year. I usually end up
> seeing very few people on a 3-7 day hike up in the mountains of NC/SC/GA.
>
> :-)
> Frank