[pct-l] Fabric for making clothes help

[BWIL5272@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Brad Wilson)]

You wouldn't have to freeze if you were an ultralighter... I have almost no
natural insulation, less when I'm thru-hiking. You could carry a down
sweater with a nylon shell. The shell is windproof and the down (depending
on loft) should be warmer than 300 wt fleece. Also, if you're just sitting
around camp what's keeping you from climbing in your sleeping bag to keep
warm?

A lot of non-ultralighters (like me a few years ago) carry all those warm
clothes to wear in camp. Then when it comes time to go to bed they take most
of them off to climb into their sleeping bag. If you hang out in your
sleeping bag before it's bed time, you will have time to preheat it and
won't have to climb into a cold bag when you're ready to go to sleep.

By allowing your sleeping bag to do double duty, you can save a lot of
weight.

Think about it - with just the sleeping bag you have your insulated jacket.
You have your "pants". You have an insulated hood (if it's a mummy bag). You
can keep your arms and hands inside, so you have gloves. If you want you can
carry a thin pair of liner gloves that weigh an ounce for when you're
cooking or doing something like that.

It's still a good idea to carry some form of long underwear. You can sleep
in it. Change into it to get out of wet hiking clothes but keep the wet
clothes on when you're making camp, that way you can help them dry a little,
and leave them in the bag with you overnight - so you don't have to put on
wet clothes in the morning. Also, I wear long johns over my shorts on cold
mornings. They're not the most fashionable of attire, and a lot of people
think you would wear them under your shorts, but this way when you get
warmer from hiking, you can take them off without taking off your shorts, so
it's easier. You should carry some form of warm clothes and if some point
you get cold in your bag, you can put on another layer. In the summer I
either carry a Patagonia R2 fleece jacket (old model - weights a few ounces
less than the newer ones) or a moonstone vest - very similar to the 1/2 zip
puff ball, along with a pair of mid-weight long johns.

Ultralight hiking is not about going without. It's about finding and using
the minimal weight of gear that works for you. With my 15 lb pack and
running shoes, I'm a lot more comfortable on the trail than I used to be
with a 45 lb back and boots. And with my "ultralight" ultra-efficient
clothing and insulation system I'm also very comfortable in camp. Plus I
don't have to deal with the blisters and sore muscles that heavyweight
hikers know so well.

-Brad

PS I find my legs are the very last thing to get cold when I'm hiking. Leg
muscles pump out so much heat, I often hike in shorts even in the winter
(with high gaiters) if it's not too too windy.



On 2/24/03 5:46 PM, "John Mertes" <jmertes@verizon.net> wrote:

> Now I see why I'll never be an "ultra light" backpacker.  I'd freeze!
>
> Sitting around camp in the evening, I'd want a Polartec 300 windbloc jacket
> and
> maybe pants. (I carry both.) I also have gloves from same fabric. I'd also
> like
> a cap/hood made from same although that I don't yet have. I also carry long
> underwear, usually mid-weight, or similar for added warmth.
>
> I wear long sleeve shirt and pants made of nylon however don't know if they
> are
> officially "supplex" nylon or not.
>
> Also thanx for your experience with coolmax. Save me some $.
>
> John
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCT-L mailing list
> PCT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l