[at-l] sleeping bag question

[nightwalker.at at gmail.com (Nightwalker)]

> >>
> Take good rain gear.  Stay warm wet - not cold wet.  That's the real
> function of rain gear - cause it won't keep you dry.
> <<
Good rain gear slows down the wet-time. Sorry, that's the words that come
out of stroke-brain today. I know they're not the correct ones, but the
meaning is there.

I use wind pants top and bottom, with silicone coating and a lining similar
to Gore-Tex. They keep me dry during mist and light rain. During heavy or
blowing rain, I get wet, but the insulative properties of the fabric and
coating combination, along with the exertion, keeps me warm when hiking.
I've also learned to layer well over a period of years, and the layering has
allowed me to take a 30 degree bag instead of a 20. I'll 'splain.

For the top: PolyPro longjohn shirt, Capilene midweight, Capilene expedition
weight, Wind jacket with coating, liner gloves, "heavy" (insulation, not
weight) gloves.

For the bottom: PolyPro longjohn pants, Wind pants with coating,
Never-ever-ever wear 'em outside wool tent socks.

Add a tight tent (Sierra Designs Light-Year CD in this case) and an
insulated ground pad ((ThermaRest ProLite 3 in this case) and I've been very
comfortable in a 24 ounce, 30 degree bag in conditions that were well
outside its intended envelope.

Down myths: Don't believe the hype. Yes, down gets wet. So does Polarguard.
In the early spring in north GA, everything gets wet from time to time.
(Less wet with practice.) However--again in north GA in early spring--your
lightweight down bag will dry quickly in the wind the next day. Just hang it
from a sapling branch, zipped up, and make it into a wind-sock. Also, a down
bag has to get SOAKED before it loses all of its insulative properties, not
just kinda wet. You can even wear your wet clothes into your down bag at
night to dry them off, if they're not dripping wet. I've done it lots. I'll
never be without down again.

LongWindedWalker