Sleeping Gear for NH+

imported
#1

I am working on my winter gear selection at the present time, and am looking for a few pointers on wat I should really prepare for (weather, temps. etc). I am thinking of layering (45 degree bag, fleece liner, heavyweight hot chillys thermals, possibly rain suit/silk thermals if really cold) instead of getting a new sleeping bag for colder weather. I have heard of others hiking the PCT doing a similar venture w/ success in the layering department, and am wondering if this is a safe venture for NH-ME. Any comments?

bearbait

#2

ummm… no. Well, thats my opinion. I use a 38* down bag for summer hiking. Every now and then I will don on thermals, even through the summer. I do understand your theory of layering, but I think youre selling yourself short and will probably freeze your ass off. Personally, I have a summer bag and a winter bag. I believe this is the way most people do it who camp 3-4 seasons of the year. My winter bag is a Moonstone 10* down bag. Ive never been happier or have slept better than in a down bag. I had been using a synthetic bag for 5 years before making the switch. I never really had any complaints from the synthetics, but I didnt know what I was missing.

The down seems to breathe better at night, so I dont get overly hot/sweaty. Its an ‘airy’ warmth feeling thats hard to explain and can only be experienced from getting in a down bag. Then theres the super-light/compressable factor of down products. Thats always a plus when keeping your load light.

The only reservation I had about down was the age-old question… what happens if it gets wet, I’ll freeze my ass off. Well, perhaps down from the 70’s or 80’s… or perhaps early 90’s was that way. Most of the bags I see today have such a good shell, they just cant be beat. Before I set out on a winter trip I poured a nalgene bottle of water onto my bag, as it was set up on my livingroom floor. I let it sit there for quite awhile. I watched it as it just set ontop of the bag pooled, but never soaking into the material. I then wiped it away, thus pushing the liquid onto the bag. After I wiped it up I got into the bag only to discover the water didnt premiate through the shell at all and the bag was very warm.

So, I suppose what Im saying is that Im a huge fan of down. The manufactures I would suggest for bags are: Western Mountaineering, Marmot, Moonstone. There are others, but these have my votes. Spend the extra money and get a nice bag, youll be glad you did.

guru

#3

The temperatures in the Whites obviously vary with the season. No matter what the season, you need to be prepared for wet, cold, and freezing weather. It has snowed on the higher elevations every month of the year.

If your combination of bag, liner, and thermals works in sub freezing temperatures, then you will be fine. And don’t forget that a closed tent provides about 10 degrees of warmth. Try it out this fall or winter.

Peaks

#4

I used a 30d down bag, a layering system, and a tent for the whole AT, starting in early January. Would do the same again. Don’t know about NH in winter.

weaselears

#5

Being a NH boy I can tell you its GD cold in the Mountains of NH in the winter. I use a zero degree down bag and a silk liner. On real cold nights I wear thermal undies and wool socks and am still cold. This may not be the place to experiment with layering. You should try your system somewhere that you can get out of easily if the combo you use is not working. Having said that I have to say that nothing is more beautiful then the Whites in the winter. If you get your layering down right its a great way to spend a few days. I have heard that if you wear too much clothing in you sleeping bag it hurts the heat retention. This doesn’t sound right to me. Has anyone heard of this?

Big B

#6

I mostly hear about 10 or 20 degree bags being used on the PCT during the thru hiking season, I could see a person getting by with a 45* bag with extra layers in the Sierra in June (others may know better). Here in the Whites that system might work during the day, a twenty degree day can actully feel pleasant in the middle of winter when temps have been around 0* F for a month. Night time is another, much, much colder world.

celt

#7

Hey, if you intend to do winter stuff, get a winter bag. It can be pretty cold in the Whites and other places this time of year, and in another month it will truely be winter-like.

woodstrider

#8

I hiked the length of the AT in 2002 mid February to early October with a down 20 degree bag, a silk liner and a fleece jacket. I did use some mid weight thermals early in the south. I carried it all the entire length with the exception of the thermals which a swapped out for light weight halfway up. I slept in the silk liner on top of the bag in hot weather. This system worked for me and I would do it again that way. A fleece liner is heavy and only really serves one purpose in my opinion. You can always put on extra clothing with a silk liner. I’m just saying the silk liner, clothing and the 20 degree bag was very versatile for me in a wide range of conditions. I did get cold in single digit to zero temps but that wasn’t very frequent that year. The silk liner also gave me sheets in hostels without sheets.

Two Scoops

#9

I winter hike with a synthetic 20 deg bag and a fleece liner down here in WV-VA (and a big-A$$ parka). I do fine with a nice layering system of heavy weight thermals, sleeping hat, and throw in a fleece if too cold. But you will freeze your behind off up in the Whites with a 45 deg bag, even with layering. I used to live in Maine and I have been in the Whites during winter. Get the winter bag and be safe. You can aim to be an ultralighter 3 seasons of the year, but when it comes to winter in NH, carry the load. The weather is extremely unpredictable and help is not often close. The margin of safety is to have at least an extra piece of clothing and a nice toasty bag to crawl into should you need to, not to “have just enough but I am a little chilly.”

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