Litehiker
Well-Known Member
Most of my gear will be the same as it was this year but I'm getting a new -20 F. down sleeping bag. I ordered it on double sale from LL Bean but it's backordered and won't be shipped until Jan. 4th. For $247. I can certainly wait for a bag that retailed for $419.
> 800 fill goose down (Most quality down bags in the -20 F. range are closer to $600.)
> This bag is a Long, perfect for storage of boot liners, water bladders, etc. I'm 5' 10"
> The European down in this bag is teated with Dri Down, a special DWR treatment that makes down highly water repellant. This means the down will gain very little vapor weight. Dri Down means the bag won't get colder each night like untreated down bags.
So yeah, a -20 F. down bag may seem like overkill until you realize that down, unlike synthetic insulation, has a very wide comfort range. I can use it from 15 F. on down. Now I won't have to wear a lot of clothes inside my +20 F. summer down bag as I did this year.
Also, at higher altitudes a sleeping bag's temperature rating decreases because thinner air means less "dead air" to insulate. And then, I'm a "cold sleeper" as well.
My other gear that remains the same is:
TENT-> Tarptent Moment DW solo tent
PACK-> Osprey EXOS 58
STOVE-> MSR Whisperlite Universal (white gas mode), 3 cup pot, 1 egg skillet
MATTRESS-> MSR Trail Pro
RIFLE-> Ruger American Predator 6.5 CM, W/3 - 15 x 42 SWFA FFP, mil/mil scope
Also I'll take my GTX camo gloves because the double layer fleece gloves I took this year got wet too easily. I knew better but thought it would not snow WRONG!
Eric B.
> 800 fill goose down (Most quality down bags in the -20 F. range are closer to $600.)
> This bag is a Long, perfect for storage of boot liners, water bladders, etc. I'm 5' 10"
> The European down in this bag is teated with Dri Down, a special DWR treatment that makes down highly water repellant. This means the down will gain very little vapor weight. Dri Down means the bag won't get colder each night like untreated down bags.
So yeah, a -20 F. down bag may seem like overkill until you realize that down, unlike synthetic insulation, has a very wide comfort range. I can use it from 15 F. on down. Now I won't have to wear a lot of clothes inside my +20 F. summer down bag as I did this year.
Also, at higher altitudes a sleeping bag's temperature rating decreases because thinner air means less "dead air" to insulate. And then, I'm a "cold sleeper" as well.
My other gear that remains the same is:
TENT-> Tarptent Moment DW solo tent
PACK-> Osprey EXOS 58
STOVE-> MSR Whisperlite Universal (white gas mode), 3 cup pot, 1 egg skillet
MATTRESS-> MSR Trail Pro
RIFLE-> Ruger American Predator 6.5 CM, W/3 - 15 x 42 SWFA FFP, mil/mil scope
Also I'll take my GTX camo gloves because the double layer fleece gloves I took this year got wet too easily. I knew better but thought it would not snow WRONG!
Eric B.
