Borrowed gear is awesome, but you can't find similar?

[Alittleruff]

A good friend ended up lending me her bag. Now I can see your point about spending more on a good sleeping bag!!! I was fine all night even when the temperature dropped to -2 degrees above the snow line. Some other members of my group were not. My friends bag is a mountain design standhardt.... It was fairly heavy, I can't seem to find the same bag for sale or specifications on it. Now, I'm happy to spend a little more if it means that I don't have a freezing cold night. I'd say that is money well spent now.

My friend also lent me their sea to summit pillow... oh my gosh luxuary. It wasn't blow up or anything, just spongy and has a draw cord to pull it into the shape of a small dinner plate ball. Wouldn't mind one! Can't find them.

Can anyone direct me to bags & pillows that are of a similar nature?

Has anyone had experience with the Sea to Summit Spark UL bags? Probably dreaming, but it's a good dream.

[neilmny]

......My friend also lent me their sea to summit pillow... oh my gosh luxuary. It wasn't blow up or anything, just spongy and has a draw cord to pull it into the shape of a small dinner plate ball. Wouldn't mind one! Can't find them.

Google tells me it's called a Sea to Summit Travel Pillow and here it is........well I think this is it........ http://www.downundercamping.com.au/sea- ... illow.html

Has anyone had experience with the Sea to Summit Spark UL bags? Probably dreaming, but it's a good dream.

Keep in mind the Spark only has a 1/3 length zip so you can't open it out much if you are too hot.

[Sandbars]

Hi Little - welcome to the gear slippery slide. Now, I have not slept in that particular sleeping bag, but I have slept in some far less severe mummy style bags - and I found that constrictive. If you are restless at all overnight - you might find it difficult. Also, because they are such a slim fit - they have limited room for girth - either yours or extra clothing if it is especially cold. My favourite ever piece of gear is a Katabatic Palisade quilt. Spendy - but, so are the STS sparks, and they are really versatile - you can wear your puffy under them for snow, and vent if its warm.

Pillows... I carry a airplane sized pillow case - with the adaption of adding some ties to keep it closed. It weights 15 grams, and in all but the coldest nights provides me with a nice squishy pillow when stuffed with my puffy or fleece. On the coldest nights, when I am wearing every piece of dry clothes I have with me, I put a slightly inflated dry bag inside.
longer walks, the weight of food and water adds up, and how you "spend" the remaining weight you can comfortably carry becomes a juggle. Pillows, collapsable buckets, complicated kitchen kits with cups, bowls AND plates, knife fork AND spoon, portable showers... these are all things that beginner walkers tend to buy and experienced walkers tend not to carry.

cheers, Julie

(PS, wanna buy a kitchen kit, or a plate, or a collapsable bucket????)

[icefest]

Have you ever tried using the stuff sack of your sleeping bag? Just fill it up with anything softish that you have in your pack. Put the clothing next to the part that your head goes on for padding and you can use your zip lock bags of powdered milk and cereal as extra bulk/volume.

I have one of these and the extra 10g of fleece is a godsend.
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/zpacks/p ... paign=post

[icefest]

Regarding sleeping bags, I use something similar to this
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=21674&view=unread#unread

It's a little less restrictive and a bit lighter.

[ErichFromm]

+1 for palisade quilt. Also check out nemo filo pilo. Best ever, and you can stuff a jacket into the bottom so it fully allows for shoulders if a side sleeper....

[perfectlydark]

Just recently got the Kymit x-pillow (used to use a cheap $2 inflatable thing). Its pretty good although i admit it doesnt work too well for sidesleeping.

[Supertramp]

I have one of the Sea 2 Summit Micro MCIII sleeping bag & love it.
I was looking at the Spars series bags, until I read heaps about quilts & decided that my next bag/quilt would probably be a Zpack's quilt, but the Micro MCIII is perfect & I do not need to upgrade (unless I want to save weight) the versatility of this bag is perfect for any situation.
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/sleepingb ... ries=micro

[keithy]

For bags, check out the Polish Malachowski sold by Kasia on this forum mentioned here viewtopic.php?f=27&t=21644 The Ultralight II 300 looks good for the weight.

For pillows, I've now got the S2S Aeros Premium Regular as mentioned in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=17131. Its an extravagance, but for me nicer than waking up with a sore neck.

[neilmny]

............For pillows, I've now got the S2S Aeros Premium Regular as mentioned in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=17131. Its an extravagance, but for me nicer than waking up with a sore neck.

X2 for this one. I finally settled on this one after trying many different pillows. Very comfortable.

My bag is a Sea to Summit Trek 111, comfort rating -5C and weighs 1200gm.
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/sleepingb ... eries=trek
http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea-to- ... K3-R700-UD

Another note on the Spark is comfort rating. Spark 1 - 12C, Spark 2 - 7C, Spark 3 - 2C.

[Alittleruff]

I LOVE that idea to make a pillow from a stuffed sack. I think I'll be doing a little sewing. A little fleece bag will probably do the job and be cuddly and light. I've got some left over fleece from making dress-ups..... so looking at almost free.

After much research, I've found that you can easily over research.
I ended up buying two sleeping bags. Very expensive, but cheaper than I was initially thinking. With a 0 rating.
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/sleeping-ge ... -grey.html

I got them for $209.99 each. Which shows how much profit margin is in this stuff!

If it gets very cold, I'll add a thermal liner. But in good weather, I won't need it

Much lighter too. The regular is 0.71kg and the Large is 0.83kg... winning.... hopefully?!

[neilmny]

Hi Alittleruff those bags are only 5C comfort rating not 0C. They will be quite cold at 0C.
You have to be careful how they write up these details. I don't even know what transistion 0C even means.
It's usually Comfort, Lower Limit, Extreme.

[Alittleruff]

I'm thinking of using a thermolite reactor liner from Sea to summit, if the weather suggests anything lower than 0? Thoughts, did I make a bad move?

[neilmny]

My own experience with a Thermolite Reactor is that it adds some improvement but nothing like that stated on the product.
I think you will find that you will need the reactor if it goes below 5C. I hope others will add their thoughts but my opinion is if you were looking to be comfortable and warm around 0C you've made a bad move.

[Moondog55]

Well it will depend on how much room there is inside that bag for you. I would consider it a summer bag in the Alpine regions myself but we are all different and feel the cold more or less
That comfort temperature of 5C is for the "Average" women
If the bag is big you can always wear clothing inside it to gain 10C [ wearing extra clothing in in my opinion a better way to utilize carried weight than a S2S reactor liner] and if it's really cold you use that bag as the inner of a double bag OR you sleep with the minimum on and use a vapour barrier liner

[kitty]

The reactor will not add as much as claimed. I have one rarely used - you want to buy it?

[Sandbars]

The reactor will not add as much as claimed. I have one rarely used - you want to buy it?

me too if you need a pair!

[Alittleruff]

Icefest- thanks for the pillow idea. I've just sewed up a couple from stretchy velvet/fleece. 42g. Will do the job nicely. Off to Wilsons Prom next weekend. Not giving up on hiking yet

[icefest]

No problem.

A light pack makes for a more fun walk!

[Alittleruff]

As does the right kind of company Thank you Icefest.
I've packed my daughters pack. 4.7kg That is enough for her.