High Sierra Topix

Good find, Mike. Thanks for posting. I'm seriously considering getting some.
Let us know how the Kookabay thing works out. I was thinking maybe 24" wide.

...Tom

Tom

I ordered two sheets of the 1/8" x 50 x 74. I will trim one to fit the Contrail then duct tape the trimming to the other sheet to use under our Big Agnes Seedhouse UL3. Also finally bought a digital food scale to find out actual weight of stuff I use not just publicised weight. Contrail in stuff sack with actual number of stakes I use comes out to 29 oz. Tyvek for contrail is about 5 oz. It will be interesting to see what bender comes up with in price/weight. I still think that the warmlite might be the way to go as they have been selling their downmats for 35 years and claim a 20 year lifespan.

Mike

just sent bender the following request:

I am interested in downfilled airmat similar to what you constructed for Suluk 46.

1. Same mummy shape with 3 to 4 feet of max width but 26" wide.
2. 72" long
3. Max width tubes should be slightly larger than the others.
4. 30d material
5. R-6 down fill

Please provide me with cost and weight estimate and time from order to shipping.

Thanks

Mike

Oh heck just ordered the 64 model downmat from Warmlite/Stephenson

Mike

Thanks for the update. I'd be surprised if Bender gets back to you quickly, but who know....
--Tom

Received two 50x74x1/8 sheets of plastizote today. Trimmed one down to slightly smaller than my Contrail Tarptent. It weighed 2.4 oz which is exactly half the weight of a similar sized sheet of tyvek. Because it is closed cell foam plastizote has a little more volume than tyvek however I can lace it externally on my Exos 58 with no problem. Might even roll it around my downfilled airmat and carry externally. In order to protect the airmat from getting stabbed by a branch or abraded by a rock I have been carrying it internally and will probably continue to do so on short trips or the last half of longer trips. With the protection of the plastizote I can now create a little more internal volume until I can start adding cooking stuff to the Bearikade.

So I have a question for everyone. It seems to me that the plastizote is likely to collect a lot of dirt if used as a groundsheet. I'm thinking that I ought to roll it out inside the tent to protect the pad and not worry too much about the bottom of the tent. Until I started using downmats I never put a groundsheet under my tents. If placed inside the tent the plastizote stays cleaner and would eliminate the problem of the downmat or any other sleeping pad sliding around in the tent.

Oh yeah, I just shaved 2.4 oz off my load with some other benefits. And the other pad will save about 5 oz off the tyvek I use for my Big Agnes Seedhouse UL 3 I use when hiking with my wife. But I might cut another two lbs off our load by purchasing a Lunar Duo. The 50x74 pad will be just about perfect for either tent.

Mike

Any Ideas? Thanks for any feedback.

Mike

oldranger wrote: Any Ideas? Thanks for any feedback.

Mike

I see a Llama in your future. that will reduce your pack weight significantly.

Russ

No!

1. In my experience llamas are about as stubborn and intractable as I am--not a good mix.

2. I once observed a llama spit what seem to be a quart of spit into the face of an innocent passerby.
I'm not so innocent so I'd be in for worse!

Mike

oldranger wrote:
So I have a question for everyone. It seems to me that the plastizote is likely to collect a lot of dirt if used as a groundsheet. I'm thinking that I ought to roll it out inside the tent to protect the pad and not worry too much about the bottom of the tent. Until I started using downmats I never put a groundsheet under my tents. If placed inside the tent the plastizote stays cleaner and would eliminate the problem of the downmat or any other sleeping pad sliding around in the tent.
Mike

Any Ideas? Thanks for any feedback.

Mike

Mike,
Yes, if you put the plastizone inside the tent, it won't collect dirt. But the bottom of your tent will ? I guess it's pick your poison. Personally, I would put the plastizone under the tent.

Tom, Yes the bottom of the tent will get dirty but the surface is harder/smoother so it can be wiped off from time to time but I would think that dirt could be imbedded in the plastizote and much more difficult to brush off.

mike

Every time I see the title of this thread, I keep wondering why anyone would bring shaving gear along on backpack trips.

So OR, did you get your new Warmlite? If yes, have your first impressions been?
I need to get a new mat myself, some thing comfy this time.