Lightening My Pack with REI Dividend + Gift Card
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:19 pm
I was lucky enough to get a $100 REI Gift Card for Christmas from the in-laws (cool, but still not worth it.. ), and then of course the dividend should be coming soon. I am wanting to try to further lower my base pack weight and so I am considering options on some gear - I already have a Gregory Z-Pack and SnowPeak Titanium Solo Cookset so I am focused mostly on the sleeping bag and shelter options.
Sleeping Bag
Currently: Kelty Light Year 25 (down) = 2 lb 3 oz
Thinking about either a Marmot Atom (down, 40 deg, 1 lb) or a Marmot Pounder (syn, 40 degree, 1 lb). This seems like a reasonable weight reduction (a full 1 lb 3 oz), plus the Atom would pack smaller and take up less space. My main concern with this approach is that the bags are only rated to 40 degrees - although I sleep warm and would probably take the Kelty for early/late season trips, and I could always wear warmer clothes to bed to alleviate any cold problems. Plus I already have down booties! (luxury item!) The other thing is the Atom is still somewhat pricey, at about $250. The pounder somewhat less but still about $159. The upside for the Pounder is that being synthetic I would think it more resistant to rain/moisture (see Shelter, below)...however it does pack slightly larger (7x14 as opposed to 6x12).
Shelter
Currently: REI Roadster (1 person, about 3 lb 3 oz) or just a GoLite silnylon tarp (not sure about the weight, but lets assume its about a pound with the titanium stakes and stuff).
This is a harder call. I love the Roadster, but aside from extra weight the thing that is sometimes a pain is needing to stake it out well (it is not freestanding). The tarp is better staked too, but at least I can tie it off on rocks or something if that is not an option. I do like sleeping under the tarp but I worry that if I'm on my 2-week solo trip this year and I get caught up on the Silver Divide in one of those legendary t-storms that I might be getting a little wetter than I would like. For this reason I have considered some kind of even lighter tent (which I haven't seen one I like that would justify the $$, and then I would still have the staking problem), or a bivy. The bivy sack I was thinking about is the Black Diamond Lightsabre. At $189 its kind of pricey but its only 1 lb 4 oz and would seem to fit the bill for what I am looking for. Between the $100 and the dividend I could probably cover the $189.
Does any one have any experience with any of these products? Or any other ideas? I'm certainly open to suggestion.
Sleeping Bag
Currently: Kelty Light Year 25 (down) = 2 lb 3 oz
Thinking about either a Marmot Atom (down, 40 deg, 1 lb) or a Marmot Pounder (syn, 40 degree, 1 lb). This seems like a reasonable weight reduction (a full 1 lb 3 oz), plus the Atom would pack smaller and take up less space. My main concern with this approach is that the bags are only rated to 40 degrees - although I sleep warm and would probably take the Kelty for early/late season trips, and I could always wear warmer clothes to bed to alleviate any cold problems. Plus I already have down booties! (luxury item!) The other thing is the Atom is still somewhat pricey, at about $250. The pounder somewhat less but still about $159. The upside for the Pounder is that being synthetic I would think it more resistant to rain/moisture (see Shelter, below)...however it does pack slightly larger (7x14 as opposed to 6x12).
Shelter
Currently: REI Roadster (1 person, about 3 lb 3 oz) or just a GoLite silnylon tarp (not sure about the weight, but lets assume its about a pound with the titanium stakes and stuff).
This is a harder call. I love the Roadster, but aside from extra weight the thing that is sometimes a pain is needing to stake it out well (it is not freestanding). The tarp is better staked too, but at least I can tie it off on rocks or something if that is not an option. I do like sleeping under the tarp but I worry that if I'm on my 2-week solo trip this year and I get caught up on the Silver Divide in one of those legendary t-storms that I might be getting a little wetter than I would like. For this reason I have considered some kind of even lighter tent (which I haven't seen one I like that would justify the $$, and then I would still have the staking problem), or a bivy. The bivy sack I was thinking about is the Black Diamond Lightsabre. At $189 its kind of pricey but its only 1 lb 4 oz and would seem to fit the bill for what I am looking for. Between the $100 and the dividend I could probably cover the $189.
Does any one have any experience with any of these products? Or any other ideas? I'm certainly open to suggestion.