Lighten the Load

[CalebJ]

I would just say that possibly the worst experience you can have hiking/camping is to have an insufficiently warm sleeping system. The ratings for bags is the point at which you will be miserable (ask me how I know..).

That's certainly true with particular brands, but is not a universal truth. A number of brands rate their sleeping bags with reasonable numbers (Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are two obvious examples).

[cmoulder]

That's certainly true with particular brands, but is not a universal truth. A number of brands rate their sleeping bags with reasonable numbers (Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are two obvious examples).

I would concur that things are a lot better than they used to be. It seems that "survival" ratings were what used to appear in the ad copy, and now, hopefully, manufacturer peer pressure and customer complaints are pushing things strongly toward realistic "comfort" ratings.

On the hammock side of things, this is practically universal. I know that Hammockgear, UQG, Loco Libre, Jacks R Better and probably all the rest of the cottage/specialist makers have adopted this approach. And even Enlightened Equipment, which was widely recognized as having very, uhh... 'optimistic' ratings, started adding more down to their quilts. I'll confess to having not a clue to what the big operators like Marmot, MH, TNF etc have been doing the last few years.

Of course there will always be people who are naturally cold-natured and need more insulation, or those who complain about the quilt/bag when their ground mat is inadequate, but by and large the situation is a lot better these days.

[Tipi Walter]

I went the light bag route last summer and got a WM Everlite rated at 45F at 14ozs and what makes it great is it can be either a quilt or a zipped up bag---cuz it has a bottom drawstring for the foot box and a full length zipper in case you need to mummify---which you won't in the summer. It becomes a down blanket too when fully opened.

Trip 212 (133)-XL.jpg

[HankIV]

Whoa, that can’t be the real Tipi.

[No Match]

Planning an AT trip through Smokies in mid June and need to lighten my load. I was looking at the average low temperatures. I'm trying to swap my sleeping bag out for a super light blanket of such. Now I'm carrying a 3 lb. 600 fill down bag. Can I get away with just a 'bag liner'? Any suggestions? I don't want to spend a bunch of money.

A week ago today, it got down to 20 degrees on LeConte & various other summits in the area, though I don't believe it will do this again this summer, at the least something 40 degrees, and considering that their was an emergency SPOT beacon activation for assistance on Fontana Lake near Eagle Creek due to hypothermia this past week, get over the gram counting, you're not filming a reality survival 'show.'

[cmoulder]

A week ago today, it got down to 20 degrees on LeConte & various other summits in the area, though I don't believe it will do this again this summer, at the least something 40 degrees, and considering that their was an emergency SPOT beacon activation for assistance on Fontana Lake near Eagle Creek due to hypothermia this past week, get over the gram counting, you're not filming a reality survival 'show.'

Seems to me the OP is indeed practicing due diligence to find out what worst case scenario might be and hopefully preparing accordingly.

To that end, I would advise to add rain and fog to the mix. 40°F and dry is a whole 'nuther world compared to 40°F with rain, and fog can be even worse... it just permeates everything and you can end up totally drenched under a tarp and even inside a tent.

[needlefish]

Planning an AT trip through Smokies in mid June and need to lighten my load. I was looking at the average low temperatures. I'm trying to swap my sleeping bag out for a super light blanket of such. Now I'm carrying a 3 lb. 600 fill down bag. Can I get away with just a 'bag liner'? Any suggestions? I don't want to spend a bunch of money.

don't know if this is in your budget but it's a good value...https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/hi...recast/2085941

[needlefish]

don't know if this is in your budget but it's a good value...https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/hi...recast/2085941

^^^ignore this^^^

look at this>https://hammockgear.com/economy-burr...8aAigoEALw_wcB