Slpg bag clothing 28 deg test

Below embedded is a post I made to a Desert-Survivors.org listserve [DSOL] in 2007 about UL sleeping bags, and lightweight clothing. It contains specific reference to the Mont-bell bag I carry, and to the English-made lightweight wind layer garments I mentioned as "tennis ball sized".

This review was posted on [DSOL] by me 2007-03-31, so some of the links and prices might be stale. If I had it to do over again, I would probably buy a sleeping bag just one notch warmer, but that is not a big enough difference to motivate me to switch.

U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger #3 at 23 oz
$132 @
http://www.prolitegear.com/cgi-bin/prolitegear/montbell_ul_super_stretch_down_hugger_3_long_650_fill_sale

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This article is primarily about a low temp sleep temp test of insulation gear, but here are other major weight reduction factors:

I have put my pack on a diet over the last 24 months, resulting reduction to under 25 lbs for 5 day trips. Stove, bivvy, camera, 2 sleeping pads included, but water not included.

Ultralight sleeping bag (savings ~ 1.4 lbs)

Replaced all pile garments with ultralight garments providing equal-or-greater warmth. (savings ~ 1.7 lbs)

Replaced heavy cookset / stove with ultralight. (savings ~ 1 lb)

I don't carry a filter, using lighter weight iodine or tasteless Aqua Mira instead. (filters weigh over 1 lb)

I don't carry heavy nalgene water bottles, opting for lighter polycarbonate (soda bottle type) plastic that are smash to save space as they are emptied.

I don't carry a cup, bowl, or more than a spoon (I eat directly from the titanium pot)

I do have the food amounts dialed in quite accurately, but I always carry at least one extra day's rations. On trips more than 50 miles from vehicle stash, I may carry more extra rations.

Sometimes I carry only an 7 oz, $24 Thermalite bivy sack instead of a tent. (Adventure Medical Kits)

I own a 2 lb single-wall tent generously sized for two, including gear.

I don't carry a ground sheet, placing one of my two pads under the tent (when I take a tent)

I do carry compass, signal mirror, whistle, fire start kit, first aid kit, small sharp knife, blister kit, 50' of parachute cord.

I carry only one pair of boots, but two sets of socks. (no camp shoes or sandals).

On trips under 4 days, the weight savings of not carrying the 18 oz [stove, fuel, pot] is greater than the penalty of carrying moist food. But moist food takes up a lot more space in the pack.

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I have put my pack on a diet over the last 24 months, resulting reduction to under 25 lbs for 5 day trips. Stove, bivvy, camera, 2 sleeping pads included, but water not included.

This article is primarily about a low temp sleep temp test of insulation gear, but at message bottom are other major weight reduction factors.

I took advantage of a cold snap up here to test of my new Montbell bag. Thought you might be interested... Especially because many Montbell bags are on sale at the moment. Look for "web specials" at:
http://www.montbell.com/america/
or more specifically,
http://www.montbell.com/america/products/outlet.html

I slept out (no tent, no bivvy) on my redwood deck (colder than on warmer ground) in windless 28 degree F weather comfortably in this 19 oz bag wearing:

Polypro base layer (polartech 100 equivalent)
Mont-Bell Thermawrap jacket and pants
Patagonia Puffball Vest
2 pr hiking sox
down booties (5 oz)
polypro skull cap
Go-Lite synthetic beanie
laying on:
Z-rest foam pad, plus
1" Insul-Mat blow-up (0.75 length)

I could have added:
Montane featherlite smock and pants, but didn't on that particular test

Below are links to details on items.

If I had it to do over again, I might choose the new Mont-bell down jacket and pants instead of the Thermawraps I bought.
If price were no consideration on the bag, I might have chosen: U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger #3 at 23 oz

Recent side-by-side comparison by a friend evaluating:
MontBell U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger #7
against
MontBell U.L. Alpine Down Hugger #5
showed that the latter had no advantage in measured loft, despite its claim of a temp rating implying comfort in colder conditions. Our belief is that the Super Stretch technology has a distinct warmth advantage, due to reduction in volume of air between bag and garments.

If I had it to do over again, I might choose the new Montbell synthetic bag, now that they have incorporated new ultralight linings. (Ref: MontBell Alpine Burrow Bag #7) The weight penalty for synthetic fill is down to just a few ounces. However, synthetic fill will not compress as far, and its useful life will be far less than down, due to the memory effect during compression. For folks who don't carry a tent, or camp near water, down can be a liability.

BTW, Montbell's size charts are not always correct. I am 6"-0" tall, and fit just fine in what they claim is a bag sized "regular length" for only up to 5'-10". I wear their Thermawrap jacket in medium, but needed size large Thermawrap pants.

Nick

"Does this smaller pack make my ass look fat as I sprint up the trail ahead of you?"

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MontBell America, Inc. U.L. Super Stretch Hugger #5 Sleeping Bag: 43 Degree Down Ink Blue, Reg $175.96 from:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/MTB0013/c/s/MontBell-America-Inc.-U.L.-Super-Stretch-Hugger-5-Sleeping-Bag-43-Degree-Down.html
mfg site:
https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_itiran.asp?cat=1101

Mont-Bell Thermawrap jacket
http://www.backcountry.com/store/MTB0015/MontBell-America-Inc.-Ultralight-Thermawrap-Jacket-Mens.html
mfg site:
https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_itiran.asp?cat=2002

Mont-Bell Thermawrap pants
http://www.backcountry.com/store/MTB0006/c11/s41/MontBell-America-Inc.-Ultralight-Thermawrap-Pants.html
mfg site:
https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_itiran.asp?cat=2003

Patagonia Puffball Vest
similar to:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/PAT0556/c11/s20/Patagonia-Micro-Puff-Zip-Vest-Mens.html

Montane featherlite smock
http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=25025
mfg site:
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=40&rid=7

Montane featherlite pants
http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=25030
mfg site:
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php