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Tried swapping my 5lb tent for a 2lb quilt setup on the PCT
Saved 3 pounds on paper but froze my ass off near Mount Adams when the temp dropped. What do you use for insulation when you're trying to cut weight but still sleep warm?
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jennifer20429d ago
Heard a buddy tried the same thing on the John Muir Trail last year. He swapped his 20 degree bag for a 10 ounce quilt and a thin foam pad, figuring he'd save a ton of weight. First night out near Thousand Island Lake it dropped below freezing and he ended up shivering in his puffy with all his clothes on. He said he finally gave up around 2am and hiked two miles to a lower camp just to get warm again.
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daniel_martin28d ago
Honestly, that exact situation is why I stick with a closed-cell foam pad underneath my inflatable. The foam blocks the ground cold way better than air alone. @jennifer204's buddy had the right idea with the quilt, but that thin pad was probably the real problem. Ngl, a 2lb quilt can work if you pair it with a proper vapor barrier liner too, but only if you're sleeping in a real shelter that blocks wind.
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tylerpark29d ago
That story about hiking to a lower camp reminds me of the time @jennifer204 and I tried cowboy camping on the PCT in Oregon and woke up with frost on our sleeping bags, so we just hiked through the night instead.
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