Litehiker
Well-Known Member
We all like to backpack as light as possible but we all know colder weather means heavier gear - period.
Well I've come up with a system that I've tested and found works quite well while still being light. It consists of down insulation paired with other garments. The down garments work day and night.
TRAVEL/HUNT-> GTX camo parka and pants, lined in very light fleece. Base layer of polar or mid-weight polyester W/ zip T-neck top.
CAMP/HUNT STAND-> down vest &/or light down jacket under GTX parka and over acrylic sweater & base layer. Down pants W/full side zip legs.
This bag, winter mattress and down garments will take me to -10 F. in my tent.
SLEEP SYSTEM-> Western Mountaineering factory overstuffed Megalite (has larger girth, thus "Mega") Polyester base layer, Down vest or jacket, down pants as needed. Light fleece balaclava
REI FLASH All Season Insulated (R 5.3) air mattress
TENT-> Tarptent Moment DW solo tent W/partial "solid" interior and optional Crossing pole if I expect heavy snow.
If it will be bitter cold I can wear the down pants under my Cabela's GTX camo pants, the down vest and down jacket under my LL Bean GTX camo parka. For that kind of cold I need my SOREL felt pac boots WITH my 3 mm neoprene divers VBL socks (Vapor Barrier Liner) to keep sweat out of the felt liners. Wet liners are cold liners. I wear thin poly sock liners under the 3 mm VBL socks and change them out every night for clean, dry liners and heavy wool "sleep socks".
**Both the VBL socks (inside-out to dry) and the felt liners go in the foot of my size Long -20 F. down bag for warm feet in the morning.
READ: "ALLEN & MIKE'S REALLY COOL BACKCOUNTRY SKI BOOK" because this is the"Bible" of winter camping. Only 1/3 of the book is about skiing/snowshoeing. The rest is all you need for winter camping.
Eric B.
Well I've come up with a system that I've tested and found works quite well while still being light. It consists of down insulation paired with other garments. The down garments work day and night.
TRAVEL/HUNT-> GTX camo parka and pants, lined in very light fleece. Base layer of polar or mid-weight polyester W/ zip T-neck top.
CAMP/HUNT STAND-> down vest &/or light down jacket under GTX parka and over acrylic sweater & base layer. Down pants W/full side zip legs.
This bag, winter mattress and down garments will take me to -10 F. in my tent.
SLEEP SYSTEM-> Western Mountaineering factory overstuffed Megalite (has larger girth, thus "Mega") Polyester base layer, Down vest or jacket, down pants as needed. Light fleece balaclava
REI FLASH All Season Insulated (R 5.3) air mattress
TENT-> Tarptent Moment DW solo tent W/partial "solid" interior and optional Crossing pole if I expect heavy snow.
If it will be bitter cold I can wear the down pants under my Cabela's GTX camo pants, the down vest and down jacket under my LL Bean GTX camo parka. For that kind of cold I need my SOREL felt pac boots WITH my 3 mm neoprene divers VBL socks (Vapor Barrier Liner) to keep sweat out of the felt liners. Wet liners are cold liners. I wear thin poly sock liners under the 3 mm VBL socks and change them out every night for clean, dry liners and heavy wool "sleep socks".
**Both the VBL socks (inside-out to dry) and the felt liners go in the foot of my size Long -20 F. down bag for warm feet in the morning.
READ: "ALLEN & MIKE'S REALLY COOL BACKCOUNTRY SKI BOOK" because this is the"Bible" of winter camping. Only 1/3 of the book is about skiing/snowshoeing. The rest is all you need for winter camping.
Eric B.