Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

That's great for them, but I don't like doing more than 15 miles per day. I need about 40 days to do the whole thing, but unfortunately I can't take off more than about 21 days at a time due to work. Now if I win the Powerball....

 

These guys are crafty and can answer any questions for you. Lost of great projects shared as well.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sewing-show-tell-thread.428166/

 

EE Revelation in the Xwide Xlong is pure magic. I'm 6'1" and about 230# on any given day and I can side or stomach sleep with full coverage and I do NOT use the pad straps. Length is plenty sufficient to pull up over my head even while the toe box is zipped up and cinched. It's wide enough to drape over me completely when I move around. For reference, actual weight on my 20 degree Revelation with 850 fill and 20D nylon outer shell is 25.35oz. My 40 degree Revelation is also Xwide Xlong but I got the 950 fill and the 10D shell and it weighs 17.4oz

 

For DCF stuff sacks, you don't need to sew them. I made all mine using fabric and 3M double sided tape. Just make sure you plan it out before you stick it down. because once its down, its down. Cant help with the quilts, I run a Hammock Gear and love it, but it doesn't meet your wide criteria.

 

Good intel from both of you! Thanks!

 

Message/email Hammock Gear. Adam and his staff are top notch. Tell them the quilt you like and ask them if they’d be willing to modify the size (for a fee of course) and how much.

I just ordered a replacement UQ from him and as always it’s a quality piece done right.

Random thought on HG... I like that you can order different colors
For each side. I got a muted brown for the outside and a bright yellow inside. (In my mind) I can use it as a very large aerial signal ICOE.

 

@Seabass one more question.

Do you think the temp rating on the EE 20° is accurate enough for you? What temp are you comfortable to in just baselayers?

I know EE recently started adding 5% more down to their bags to help dispel that their bags are rated aggressively. My current Backcountry Bed is a 38/29 rating, and I know the surface area is a bit bigger (2” longer and 1” wider plus it’s not a quilt) but it has 14.4 ounces of 800 FP down. The EE Rev 30° in long/xwide, for comparison purposes, has 13.72 oz of 850 FP down which would equate to roughly 14.4-14.5 oz of 800 FP down. So after some rough math, a 30° EE Rev has about the same ish fill as my current bag, but in a bit less surface area. I can sleep to the low 30s relatively okay wearing only baselayers in my current bag, so I think the EE 20° should work fine for me. If they had a 1oz overstuff option I’d probably do it, though.

 

Need to seam seal a couple of tents this off-season (winter). It's been years since I've done it and I don't recall what I used previously. Whatever it was, it had a round, foam type applicator that was very user friendly.

What's the latest & greatest for Seam Sealer these days?

 

SIL-NET for SilNylon
SeamGrip or SeamSure for other polyester/nylon fabrics.

 

Thank you!

 

Ok, real talk here. This is based on at least 3 weeks of overnight use in tents (RTT and Zpacks) in at least 40° or colder nights.

My 20° EE Revelation 850 fill has actually been a bit on the warm side for me. Granted, the lowest overnight temps that I used it in got down to 24°F (verified on a thermometer hanging outside of my tent) and I had all 4 windows of my RTT open that night. I slept on a closed cell foam pad in the RTT, and I only wore my boxer briefs and my nylon beanie. No socks, no underlayers at all. Midway through the night, I woke up sweating.

So IMO, the overstuff is the real deal. The average nightly temps I've slept in with that quilt fell in the 35°F range +/-5°, and there hasn't been a night that I didn't have to open up the quilt a bit and hang a leg out or take off my beanie to cool down a little. Now, I run a little bit warmer than the average person because I have some convenient built-in insulation and some extra muscle mass going for me. Besides the one cold night in the RTT, all of those other nights in my quilt were in my tent with at least one door completely open for condensation mitigation and to keep me cool. I like to completely cover up with the quilt at night for comfort, but can't due to how easily I overheat in it. But, I guess that's a good problem to have.

I can imagine that if I wore a single light baselayer on my legs and upper body, I could take that 20° quilt down to 0°F outside temps. But everyone is different with the heat that they generate during sleep, and their body weight/mass isn't like mine.

Due to how hot I get in the 20, I got a 40 but with the 950 fill. Unfortunately I haven't field tested it yet to see what low temperatures I can actually tolerate in it. I need to take it with me on a truck camping trip so I can bring the 40 as well as the 20 in case the 40 isn't warm enough. It's over 8oz lighter and it feels 50% thinner than the 20, but I know that has alot to do with the better insulative properties of the 950 fill vs the 850. I've got a 7 night trip coming up in February out on the Arizona Trail that I hope I can use the 40 on, but I'm not risking camping at 6000' in the cold February desert without testing it first. I know for a fact that the 20 will be just fine for that trip, but I want to go more compact and lighter.

 

Word. Thanks for the detailed answer. I sleep a little warm too so I am sure I will be completely fine.

 

One more thing to mention... 14 nights in my tent with the 20° quilt were spent using a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xtherm pad which has a huge R-value of 5+. The last few nights in a tent were spent using the NeoAir XLite which has an R-value in the mid 3's. I'll be using the Xlite unless I think temps are going to be below 20° from now on. I sweat every night on either pad.

 

Finally worked up the courage to spend the money on a quality shell. Have an Arcteryx Beta LT arriving today

 

Fancy! I got an REI Rhyolite for xmas. Not as nice of course but still a bargain for a 3 layer DValpine eVent jacket, especially at the discounted price it's at right now!

 

Sweet. I bought a Sea to Summit Insulated Ultralight pad (was on sale) since that large NeoAir Trekker that I have fills up the entire space of the TarpTent Notch. The StS has a mummy shape similar to the XLite. If it ends up not working for me I will just have to finally bite the bullet on a large Xlite....

Big Agnes also has a 3" ultralight insulated pad coming out in spring that will be 10oz for a regular size. I assume they will make a large, which will probably be 13-14 oz. Something for me to look out for as well.

 

I saw those go on sale and almost ordered one, they are super nice jackets for the money. But I have been wanting this jacket for so long I knew I wouldn't be satisfied until I got it lol.

 

So I couldn't resist and had to pick these up. Can't wait to wear them on my next biz trip so I can be reminded of my other life while I am stuck in boring meetings.

 

+1
For silnylon or silpoly you can make your own with silicone caulk and mineral spirits. Mix to the thickness you want and brush it on, let dry.

Ken in NC

 

Current rig

Hammock is a Dutchware Chameleon
Under quilt & top quilt is Arrowhead Equipment
Rainfly is UGQ Penny Pincher

3/4 of my BS troop hammocks...