Last year's gear used?

[Wandering Daisy]

My backpack conditions this season were higher, colder and rainier than what you specified. Since I cannot afford gear for only Sierra summer, here is what I have. It is a bit overdone for Sierra summer conditions.

pack - Go Lite Women's Quest. About totally worn out- full of holes, broken zippers. The pack is also my pillow.

tent- TT Moment (old version- annoying condensation problems) I have replaced zippers twice. Tyvek ground cloth (salvaged from a building site).

sleeping bag- WM Super Antelope short, DWR coating, 5-degree (men's rating- they did not make women's specific bags back then so it is probably a 15-degree bag for me). It weighs 2#13 oz.

pad- Pro-lite x-small (8 oz) plus one 2'x2' blue foam (2.5 oz) that I use for my feet and as an outside sit-pad. If I want luxury I bring a second blue pad to put under the pro-lite.

bear can- Bearikade weekender or Ursack where approved.

Rain gear is my big problem. I have a closet full of "breathable" raincoats that leak in a real sustained downpour. I have gone back to heavier simple coated nylon. I am seriously thinking about using an umbrella. Believe it or not my best performing rain pants are REI kids- keep me dry for about 3 hours in moderate rain, but it is a pain to have to remove shoes to get them on. I am thinking about making a "rain skirt" or chaps. I stayed drier 30 years ago in an old fashioned mid-calf length cogule (sp?) and cowboy hat.

[Bluewater]

"One note on your quilt - I treat 15 oz of 900fp in a quilt as 25- degrees, yet you're under 12oz. I used T-H's kit, which comes standard with 12oz, but ordered 3 more. I base my logic on Feathered Friends calcs for their 20 degree Egret (since it uses 900fp)"

I like the thru-hiker kit but this time I used the chart on Zpacks and the weights on the Katabatic site as basic guidelines, along with the chart from BPL on baffle height for given temp ratings. With similar dimensions the Zpacks 30 degree bag/quilt weighs 16.4 ozs (w/ 9.9 ozs of down) and the Katabatic weighs 18.5 ozs. Mine came in between those two at 17.5 ozs. I used 1.75" baffles every 5" with 30% overfill and a combination of horizontal and vertical baffles to keep the down right where it's needed (labor intensive!). If you're interested I did a blog post with some details:

http://seatosummitultralight.blogspot.c ... spots.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This 10 degree quilt has 17 ozs of 900 fp down and a trapezoidal footbox with room for down booties. I've had it down to 11 degrees and was warm in silk long johns and a down vest.

http://seatosummitultralight.blogspot.c ... oidal.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


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[longri]

I like the thru-hiker kit but this time I used the chart on Zpacks and the weights on the Katabatic site as basic guidelines, along with the chart from BPL on baffle height for given temp ratings. With similar dimensions the Zpacks 30 degree bag/quilt weighs 16.4 ozs (w/ 9.9 ozs of down) and the Katabatic weighs 18.5 ozs. Mine came in between those two at 17.5 ozs. I used 1.75" baffles every 5" with 30% overfill and a combination of horizontal and vertical baffles to keep the down right where it's needed (labor intensive!).

Cool. Using these other charts my bag just got 7F warmer. Thanks!

[GoPoly]

Backpack - Jansport Klamath 72
(This has been a great pack for the price with lots of compartments. The shoulder straps could be better)
Tent - Marmot Aura 2P
(One of the best investments I've made so far)
Bag - Hi Tec Elevation 15
(It worked for a couple of years and a few trips, but I'm ready to invest in a nicer 0 degree down bag that will last much longer)
Pad - Thermarest Trail Lite
(Works great, but a little on the heavy side)
Bear can - Garcia Backpacker's Cache
(Getting ready to replace this and go with a lighter type. It's definetly durable and fared well for the last 10 years of backpacking though)

Chuck

[EpicSteve]

TT Sublite Sil
Mountainsmith Circuit 3.0
WM Ultralight
ProLite 3, Short (plus a torso-length Nightlight pad for my legs and feet - also serves as a sit pad and protects the bottom of my pack).

The pack is way too heavy for UL, but for trad weight packers like me, it's pretty light considering the capacity, comfort, durability and features. I like having things like a floating top that can be removed and used as a lumbar pack; tunnel pockets for carrying skis; daisy chains for strapping on snowshoes, snow shovel, crampons, ice axe, etc.