Entries Tagged as 'Sleeping bags and pads'

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

Backpacker Magazine 2008 Gear Guide Lists A Whopping 480 Bags

That number — 480 — is a bit overwhelming at first glance. But if you apply my 1-15 rule (your bag should not be over 1 pound, 15 ounces), you trim the choices to 129 sleeping bags.
To help pair this list down further, you need to consider temperature rating.
I own a Western Mountaineering Highlite, a […]

Saturday, June 9th, 2007

40 Degree Sleeping Bag - 20 Degree Nights

I’ve written about how you can stay warm in a thin, light sleeping bag, even when the temperature is 20 degrees below the bag rating. I have to admit that when I checked the weather report for our upcoming trip to the Dardenelles near Sonora Pass in California, I got the chills:
-Some patches of snow […]

Thursday, December 7th, 2006

Mike Kretzler’s Lightweight Backpacking Base

Backpacking Gear List Series, focusing on ways to achieve the lightest possible pack.

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006

Going Lightweight Begins With the Base

Going Lightweight Begins With the Base Gear - backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

Gossamer Gear ThinLight Sleeping Pad

Backpacker Magazine in its August 2006 ultralight gear guide calls the Gossamer Gear Thinlight pad, “fanatically light”, a 1/8-inch thick pad of closed cell foam that tips the scale at a mere 2 ounces.
About the only thing you could find thinner would be a pad made of dragon fly wings.
Ultimate Pack
Think about the ultimate lightweight […]

Thursday, September 7th, 2006

Western Mountaineering SummerLite Sleeping Bag

I own the Western Mountaineering HighLite sleeping bag, a 16-ounce goose down bag rated for 38 degrees. One way Western got the Highlite so light is that it has a half zipper. I love this bag dearly, but sometimes find that the half zipper pulls apart in the middle of the night when I get […]

Friday, August 25th, 2006

Secrets for Cleaning Goose Down Sleeping Bags

We’ve all heard the warnings about the sensitive nature of our down-filled sleeping bags and how easy it is to damage them with the wrong cleaning techniques.
Well, actually they are as easy to clean as one, two, three.

Place your bag in a front-loading washing machine (never an agitator, top loading).
Add Nikwax Down Wash (follow the […]

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Western Mountaineering Highlite Sleeping Bag Review

A Dream Sleeping Bag for Lightweight Backpackers
The Western Mountaineering HighLite sleeping bag, a mere 16 ounces that is rated for 35 degrees, is my personal choice for a lightweight bag.The HighLite comes with a tiny waterproof stuff sack, making it suitable for the smallest lightweight backpack, and a larger storage bag so the 850+ goose […]

Saturday, July 8th, 2006

Exped Downmat 7 Backpacking Sleeping Pad review

I own multiples of every category of backpacking gear – three tents, two backpacks, four stoves, two sleeping bags, three water purification systems.
Some people would call me a gearhead, someone addicted to buying gear.
Okay, I admit it. I am a gearhead. It is difficult for me to stick with one old loyal and trusty piece […]

Thursday, July 6th, 2006

Sleeping pads: The comfort factor

Let’s face it, most of us are accustomed to sleeping on thick mattresses. The shift to sleeping in the wilderness with minimal night-time amenities can be a shock to the system. Our home mattresses provide both comfort and insulation. The outdoor mattress serves a similar function, putting insulation and padding between you and the […]