View Full Version : UL considerations for smaller people
My hiking partner and I are both smaller women. I am 5'4" and she is 5'1". To keep our pack weight under the suggested 20% weight, we feel that UL is our only option. I have read many impassioned arguments on this forum for and against the sacrifices/advantages of UL. However, I think that if we are going to hike comfortably on a daily basis, it is really not an option to hike with 40-50 pound packs, as we are little ladies. That being said, I am worried about our weight restrictions.
We are not doing a full thru hike, but we are hiking in May next year from Springer to NY, which is a big hike nonetheless.
I am planning on outfitting myself with my big 4 in the next couple months so I have plenty of time to test and adjust, but I am having a hard time feeling out the true advice from the nitpicking on personal taste. And I know it's all truly personal.
So, this is what I'm thinking, and please supply advice which is why I am here. I am an accomplished sewer, so I am thinking of Ray-Way packs, my version of a tarptent(using Henry Shires original pattern as a jumping off point), a Walmart closed cell egg crate pad, and a 35-40+ synthetic sleeping bag.
Judge me as a novice for this as you will. I have never done more than a three night hike in the Bigelows. I am not interested in setting myself up for failure, so as much unfun as it is to give me advice, I welcome it from positive folks. I don't mean to sound negative, but I sense how easy it is for experienced hikers to get bored and frustrated with people like me and don't need a tongue lashing. I am here to learn and grow.
Hi, Sweet T! :welcome to Whiteblaze!
I don't have the same issues you have (5' 11", 215), but do have 3 sons. I've taken all of them on their first hike before they were teenagers - and 2 of the 3 continued/s to hike with me (oldest is simply NOT interested!). The key to this was keeping weight down. My youngest, 14 next month, who weighs a whopping 85 lbs, has hiked with me since he was 9, and has almost 250 miles of backpacking - about 150 on the AT. His current 3 season gear:
Golite Jam II women's small backpack. ~1 lb, 5 ozs
Hennessey Hammock Scout. 2 lb, 11 ozs (I'll avoid the hammock rant - but it allows the best night's sleep on the trail!)
campmor 40 deg down bag. ~ 2 lb (haven't weight it recently - evidently they don't make it anymore - didn't find it on their site just now...)
ridgerest small: 9 oz
MSR pocket rocket / snow peak titanium cup: ~ 5 oz
His pack weight for our 3.5 day 40 mile NC AT trip last month, with ALL of his gear and food, with 1L of water, was 20 lbs. (turns out he carried part of my food - I left my dinner bag in the frig, and we shared his dinners!)
You are on the right track! Carrying too much gear is miserable - and gear exists which will allow you to have a fun hike! As you get the gear, get out for an overnighter to try it out and make sure you are comfortable with your choices.....
Steve
Sweet T,
I am making a couple of suggestions
Buy a 45-55 liter pack from ULA, Granite Gear, or Osprey
Buy a down bag instead of synthetic
Buy a real pad instead of the Wallyworld closed cell foam pad. I'd use a Thermarest prolite You can thank me for this advice later http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/category
(http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/category)
Hi, welcome to Whiteblaze!
1) The Pack: I'd advise against the Ray-Way pack. Packs without waistbelts kill my shoulders, no matter how light the pack. ULA and Gossamer Gear would be my top choices, with Granite Gear and Osprey also worth considering, if they fit really, really well.
2) Sleeping Bag: For weight, down rules. I'd go with 20 degree Western Mountaineering as my first choice. If you want to go synthetic, that's where I'd make Ray-Way quilts from their kits.
3) Sleeping Pad: You can start with the egg crate (which is very bulky, BTW), but make sure you have the money available to add a Therm-A-Rest or Big Agnes mat, if nights are not quite as restful as they could be. Thirty miles into your hike you will pass through Neel's Gap, where you can acquire new gear and mail home the duds.
4) Everything else: The real deal with going light is to eliminate the extras, while keeping the essentials. What falls into the various classes is something only you can decide. Clothing is an area where people can really load up their packs, or not. Likewise with food and the kitchen. The most logical approach is to make a series of overnight outings. Take a notebook. During and after each outing, make notes of what you would have liked to have had with you, and what you never took out of your pack. If there are other campers around, take a look at what they're doing. You can get lots of ideas of what to do, and what not to do.
Good luck!
Wolf - 23000
07-14-2009, 08:42
Sweet T,
A 100 pound hiker carrying 1/3 of their body weight would have a pack weighting at 33 pounds. With the newest gear this is extremely easy. With your smaller frame you will have several advantages over the rest of us. For One, you are able to buy the smaller sizes sleeping bag/gear, smaller jackets/rain paints, etc. Also, a smaller hiker also will not require as much food to carry compare to a larger hiker – It takes less energy to move a body weighting 100 pounds up a mountain compare to one that weight is 200 pounds. This can save you weight when your planning how much food you will need - Instead of planning on 2 pounds of food/day, I would suggest about 1 ½ pounds/day instead for example.
I’m fairly big guy at 6’ 2 weight 200+ pounds who needs to buy long or XL on all his gear. My point being, even buying the large sizes, I’m still carrying no where close to 33 pounds. You should not have any problems at all. I would even save weight if I was a smaller guy but all well. All well. When I'm backpacking, I don't even notice the pack on my back.
Wolf
Kerosene
07-14-2009, 08:43
I've done a lot of research to try to keep the weight to 15% for my 105-pound teenage daughter, but she didn't need to carry a tent. Personally, I think a pack, with all consumables shouldn't exceed 1/5th of body weight, which for me translates to 35 pounds but I've got that down to 24-27 pounds for shoulder season backpacking. I think you should shoot for 15-20% of your weight, but you'll need to figure out what you can cut through a series of shake-down hikes.
Pack: A Ray-Way pack could work, but only if your total pack weight is under 20 pounds. You might take a look at making or buying a Gearskin (http://www.moonbowgear.com/1trailgear/1Custom%20packs/Gearskins/gearskin.html) pack. In searching for this, I found a short take on selecting a backpack (http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/pack.html) with links to a number of options.
Sleeping Bag: You're considering a frameless sub-pound pack and a closed foam sleeping pad but you're going to make a 2-lb synthetic bag?! Here's where I'd reach into my savings account to buy a high-quality down bag that weighs no more than 1.5 pounds for a Short length rated to 20F. In early May I think you're going to want more warmth for the Smoky's.
Shelter: A tarptent should work fine for you, and is simpler to use than an open tarp at a good weight. Shoot for a one-person tent to weigh-in at less than 2 pounds. A hammock will be more comfortable, but it will also prove heavier and bulkier at temps below 60F.
Sleeping Pad: I'd go with the Wal*Mart pad. You can always trade-up to an inflatable Therm-a-Rest if you aren't comfortable, but you're still pretty young.
Clothes: One set of clothes for hiking, another set that's kept dry for camp wear; no more! Go with wicking synthetics for your hiking clothes.
Hi Sweet T :)
I, like far too many Americans, am more on the "Super Sized" end of things, but I might be able to recommend a couple of things since I hike light to ultralight most of the time.
1) You won't need to carry a full week's worth of food, so don't. Plan (especially early on) on making trips into as many towns along the way as you can. You will not need to carry as much food or fuel to cook it.
2) Your feet are the most important part of your body on a long hike. Make sure your footwear is comfortable, first and foremost, before you think price, brand, etc. What works for others may not for you.
3) Buy all your gear before you buy your pack. Take a few trips to make sure it's all you need and that any extras will be used on a daily basis or are necessary for survival in dire circumstances.
4) Frameless packs can carry as comfortably as ones with frames, and often the support on such packs comes from a closed cell foam pad, which you will find many uses for even if you don't sleep on it (I use a hammock 90% of the time).
5) If you haven't slept for an extended period on a closed cell pad, try it at home first on a hardwood floor. If you're going to use shelters and tent platforms for your sleeping quarters you'll find out exactly what it's like night after night. For my Georgia hike in 2006 I left my camping hammock home and used a tent. Even with two closed cell foam pads my back hurt every night and sleep was difficult (but I weigh 220 lbs.).
Here's a pad that might be worth looking at, especially considering your petite stature:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/torsolite_inflatable_sleeping_pad.html
There are lots of ultralight information you can learn here. Check out the Backpacking Light forums as well. Some of those folks are at the cutting edge of ultralight. Some go over the edge. Most (myself included) don't go out for extended periods or rack up the miles (as a thruhiker does) on a regular basis. Take questionable "ultralight wisdom" with a grain of salt. You can get away with too little or too delicate gear if you pick and choose your weekends, weather, and terrain.
Scooby99
07-14-2009, 09:45
I dont know what your budget it, but if you are planning on buying all this gear I would suggest the following pieces for a night low base weight:
Pack: Zpacks Blast 32 6 oz if you add the hipbelt pockets and some other accessories, would really recommend the hip belt pockets makes life easier on the trail with easy access to snacks, camera, and H2O treatment. Joe Valesko is currently hiking the CDT and his store is closed until December, but he makes really nice cuben fiber packs.
Tarp: Six Moon Designs Wild Oasis 13oz. Add a few oz for stakes, guy lines, and ground cloth. Nice and light tarp tent.
Pad: Any eggs shell pad around 12 oz. Can go lighter with a torso length and that will give more coverage than a taller man as you both are a bit shorter.
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering HighLite 35 degree bag for 16oz. Im a bit of a warm sleeper and would rate it closer to 30 degrees, very nice bag. Can go lighter and grab a quilt from Bozeman Mountain works for 11 oz for later in the season if you can afford to buy 2 bags.
Total weight for the 4 would be around 50oz, 3 lbs 2 oz., less if you substitute some of the lighter options.
Cooking systems are really light and you would be sharing that weight.
You wouldnt need much warm clothing at that time of year, cant recommend enough the down jackets from Western Mountaineering. I hiked a small section this year in mid Febuary from Springer to Gatlinburg and really liked the parka with the hood.
Montbell makes some really light wind breaker jackets and pants, weight about 2-3 oz each.
On my winter hike this Febuary my base weight was 14 lbs with a 0 degree bag, a plus 1 lb golite pack, and an inflatable pad. I was very comfortable hiking and sleeping with that base weight, so depending on your budget, can really get base weight under 10lbs, even 8lbs., especially if you are sharing cooking and shelter systems.
So, this is what I'm thinking, and please supply advice which is why I am here. I am an accomplished sewer, so I am thinking of Ray-Way packs, my version of a tarptent(using Henry Shires original pattern as a jumping off point), a Walmart closed cell egg crate pad, and a 35-40+ synthetic sleeping bag.
Great ideas, especially the home made tarp tent. Every ounce counts. Weigh everything. Make sure the individual weight of your tent, sleeping bag and pack is less than two pounds. The rest will follow from there.
To reduce bulk, you might consider the Thermarest prolite X-small. It weighs only 8 oz. For small people only! I switched from a closed-cell pad to this and like it very much. You can also use it as padding for your pack.
I like the advice about a down bag. Saves weight and space.
You'll be hiking in the warmer months, so no need for a lot of clothes.
At Springer I met a tiny woman (22 years old) from Texas who was planning a thru-hike. Her pack weighed 42 pounds. She was gone by Unicoi Gap.
I would say you are on the right track. Aim for 20 pounds total weight, it is not that hard anymore.
Snowleopard
07-14-2009, 12:01
Sweet_T, welcome to whiteblaze.
"35-40+ synthetic sleeping bag" Consider a synthetic quilt, easy to make and lighter.
http://www.owfinc.com/Fabrics/insulation.asp has climashield in 100" width which is a bargain; you could make two quilts out of one length. http://thru-hiker.com/materials/index.php also has climashield. thru-hikers momentum is a good fabric for the top and bottom of a quilt. I don't know how warm it needs to be for the high elevations in the south in May.
As Deb said: "consider the Thermarest prolite X-small. It weighs only 8 oz." If I were 5'1" this is what I'd use. On the other hand, foam will never, ever leak. An advantage of a foam pad is to use it to give a UL pack some structure.
Tarptent: Another set of online plans: http://www.seattlefabrics.com/bilgy.html Also, look at pictures of the commercial tarptents to get ideas on making your own.
Pack: If you're good at sewing, take a look at http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/myog.html particularly the Mark Henley pack (super UL) out of silnylon. Whatever you use has to be big enough to hold what you're carrying. The less you carry the better (within reason).
How light you can go depends somewhat on your experience level; if you have lots of experience with UL equipment in different conditions you can go lighter. Summer going from Springer to NY won't have extreme conditions. Scooby's post shows some of what to aim for. As Deb says, 20 lb total weight; I'd say 20 lb MAX with food and a liter of water.
Be very careful of carrying too many things like extra clothes and miscellaneous little things. They can really add up. In fact, start gathering the stuff you have now and go on hikes. See what is less useful and leave it out. Weigh everything!
For two people, use either alcohol stove (free to cheap) or a cheap canister stove (e.g., Snowpeak giga) and don't overdo pots pans utensil. Start figuring out what to eat.
skinewmexico
07-14-2009, 13:35
You're in Austin, go see Grant at Gossamer Gear. Great guy, great gear. Take your gear, and try to fit it into a Mariposa or Gorilla. And I would second what everyone said about down over synthetic; worth it in space and weight savings. WM bags are great, or a JRB or Golite Ultra 20 quilt is even lighter. And I would look at insulated air mattresses instead of self-inflators.
Sweet T-- I concur with the Thermarest Pro lite small. I am 5 ft and when sleeping on my side I fit just fine. No leaks during my thru and am still using it with out leaks today. I did use a Mountain Hardware 32* bag (down) and at less than 2 lbs it was great.
My HS tarptent was light and worked great. As for the pack, I'm still working on that. I haven't been able to try an ULA that fits but the oversized one was light and comfy.
Smart woman. My first time thru GA, my pack was 53#. 30# was much more enjoyable.
Good luck and safe journey.
Something I thought of today: Consider how serious your hiking partnership is before deciding to share gear. If there is absolutely no way you will ever split up on the Trail, shared gear can lighten both your loads. If you're partners of convenience ("Hey, you want to hike the AT, too! Let's hike together!) then you should each have all your own gear.
My goal is to keep my total pack weight, including food and water, under 15% of body weight. For folks as light as you are, that will be a challenge, but doable.
First of all, thank you all for your thoughtful replies. This is a great group of people on this forum and I appreciate the time you all take out to give advice. And I hope I see some of you on the trail.
Marta, I totally hear you about sharing gear. As much as I trust my hiking partner's commitment, I know that things may change. I am taking into account that I may have to go forward alone. Even if I have to hole up in town for a week to take care of an injury, I am fully committed to completing my hike.
So, as far as keeping my weight down, I know that I will have to make sacrifices to do so. That is why I am here for advice to figure out where it is good to do that and where it is foolish.
I am seriously considering a ULA pack if making one, as some have suggested, is a corner I should not cut.
I also appreciate all the feedback on the sleeping pad. I certainly don't want to be dead tired on the trail and not be able to sleep. I have to say, lying the $6 foam mat out on my floor and lying on it and rolling around did not make me feel good about learning to live with it. The egg crate one for $13 bucks actually wasn't bad, but I'm comparing it to the base option.
I heard that REI rents gear and I was considering trying some things for myself. I feel the way about and urban outdoor outfitter the way I feel about auto mechanics though; as much as they seem to have my best interest in mind, I don't know if I can trust them. Unless I talk to a thru hiker, I suppose, I am wary.
Anyway, I want to consider all of your replies individually and I will report back. Thank you again.
I heard that REI rents gear and I was considering trying some things for myself. I feel the way about and urban outdoor outfitter the way I feel about auto mechanics though; as much as they seem to have my best interest in mind, I don't know if I can trust them. Unless I talk to a thru hiker, I suppose, I am wary.
I love REI to pieces, but I wouldn't buy my pack for a thru-hike there. They don't carry the small "garage manufacturer" gear, like ULA, Gossamer Gear, and Henry Shire. The only way you'll get the really lightweight stuff is to order online or to go to one of the few speciality stores, like Mountain Crossings (Neel's Gap, GA), Bluff Mtn. Outfitters (Hot Springs, NC), and MRO (Damascus, VA).
Buying online can be scary, but if you ask around, you'll hear over and over that ULA and Henry Shire, for example, have customer service that goes above and beyond. ULA will work with you to make sure you get a pack that fits, even if you require a smaller-than-normal waistbelt, for instance.
Re: hiking partners
I totally hear you there. My "partner" quit halfway through Day One. That added some drama to the start of the hike, for sure, but at least we had made a pact that each of us would hike our own hikes, regardless of whether the other girl quit. And we had our own gear.
Wolf - 23000
07-15-2009, 08:13
Sweet T,
I think you are on the right track. Renting gear from REI or anyplace else to try it out first before buying it is a great start. Also seeing what works and what doesn't also can make a huge different. Trying your sleeping pads for example on the floor is a good start also but it is going to be different when your outside when it is wet.
I'm going to disagree with Marta about sharing gear. In my experience of backpacking over 24,000 miles, I have never met anyone sharing gear that were not carrying at least 2 or 3 times the gear weight of myself and sometimes there was a different of over 30 pounds. The lightest hikers I have ever met have always hiked with their own gear without exception.
One suggestion I would like to make, before buying or making your pack get the rest of your gear first. The backpack should be the last piece of equipment you pick up. It never fails to amaze me that everyone thinks they should get the pack first then the rest of the gear. Most hikers will purchase to big of a pack then have a habit of filling it up with thing they don't really need.
After you get all the stuff you feel comfortable with and get ready to purchase/rent your pack, add some weight to your pack. Every pack in the store will feel comfortable while it is empty, adding some weight to the pack will help you decide what pack is right for you.
Wolf
Wolf - 23000
07-15-2009, 08:32
I love REI to pieces, but I wouldn't buy my pack for a thru-hike there. They don't carry the small "garage manufacturer" gear, like ULA, Gossamer Gear, and Henry Shire. The only way you'll get the really lightweight stuff is to order online or to go to one of the few speciality stores, like Mountain Crossings (Neel's Gap, GA), Bluff Mtn. Outfitters (Hot Springs, NC), and MRO (Damascus, VA).
Buying online can be scary, but if you ask around, you'll hear over and over that ULA and Henry Shire, for example, have customer service that goes above and beyond. ULA will work with you to make sure you get a pack that fits, even if you require a smaller-than-normal waistbelt, for instance.
Re: hiking partners
I totally hear you there. My "partner" quit halfway through Day One. That added some drama to the start of the hike, for sure, but at least we had made a pact that each of us would hike our own hikes, regardless of whether the other girl quit. And we had our own gear.
Marta,
I picked up most of my gear from REI and had a gear base weight of less than 4 pounds without needing any special stores. My REI Flash UL weight is 10 oz new after a little trimming it now weight just over 6 oz. It is my favorite pack and one of the lightest on the market anywhere. Sure there is some lighter gear that you can get on line or in the special stores - I have that stuff too but you still can travel reasonable light weight shopping at REI without breaking the bank.
Wolf
Marta,
I picked up most of my gear from REI and had a gear base weight of less than 4 pounds without needing any special stores. My REI Flash UL weight is 10 oz new after a little trimming it now weight just over 6 oz. It is my favorite pack and one of the lightest on the market anywhere. Sure there is some lighter gear that you can get on line or in the special stores - I have that stuff too but you still can travel reasonable light weight shopping at REI without breaking the bank.
Wolf
Good to know. I love REI and have bought plenty of stuff there.
I will say, though, that if you throw yourselves on the mercy of the folks in my local store, you will probably end up with a 35-40 pound load. If you have the UL mindset and experience (of which you have more than just about anyone, Wolf), you can get your gear almost anywhere. If one goes in cold, one will end up with whatever any convincing salesperson wants to sell you.
skinewmexico
07-15-2009, 13:22
Not an REI fan here, although I've been a member since 1973. If you know what you need before you go in, and don't have time to order online, they're OK. I sure like emailing ULA though, about what I think is a pack problem, and Casey calls me at home asking for pics of me wearing the pack loaded, so he can understand the problem. Or calling Henry at Tarptent, and finding out that based on pics, it looks like a Rainbow door was sewed into my Double Rainbow, and a new one is on the way. Or callining Grant at GG, and getting offered a retrofit with the new aluminum stay on my Mariposa for $20. Or SMD, etc. Nice to call people who want their product (made in the USA) to work spectacularly for you, because they are thru-hikers, not marketeers.
I second the recommendations for using cottage gear outfitters. I believe that you get the gear you want that way instead of what an urban outfitter salesperson is pushing.
cwayman1
07-16-2009, 18:06
Good to know. I love REI and have bought plenty of stuff there.
I will say, though, that if you throw yourselves on the mercy of the folks in my local store, you will probably end up with a 35-40 pound load. If you have the UL mindset and experience (of which you have more than just about anyone, Wolf), you can get your gear almost anywhere. If one goes in cold, one will end up with whatever any convincing salesperson wants to sell you.
yeah i can attest to that one... although not personally, but my girlfriend went into a local outfitter and ended up buying a pad that she "could comfortably take down to 0 degrees.. no problem and no worries at all!" as the salesman put it. for the trip she needed it for, the temps are not to get below ~50*. while the pad IS a really REALLY good pad, it was about $30-50 more than ones I had recommended.
--although I think the idea of only pumping with your hands also appealed to her over actually blowing one up herself... so what can you do?
I will try to keep this reply as focused as possible!
Re: Sleeping bags. Only now have I begun to research sleeping bags, and WOW, guys, I am bummed at how much they are! I cannot pay $400 for a bag. It seems that you all are steering me towards a down bag. Okay, done. So, we’re leaving in mid May, so I looked into the Lafuma Warm'n Light 600G Down 40° Sleeping Bag, since it’s 1lb 7oz and reasonably priced. Do you think that will be warm enough in GA in mid May?
Re Sleeping pads. I did go to REI today, and I did not decide to talk to anyone, and I checked out all the sleeping pads, and settled on the Z-Lite pad. The guy ringing me up tried to talk me out of it without even asking me anything about my needs, but hey, whatever. I took it outside and laid it on the rocks in my driveway, and I was pretty impressed. It is so easy to pack up and I am quite sure I will be stoked that I can use it as a seat.
Skinewmexico - thanks for the suggestion to see the folks a Gossamer Gear!
Tinker - You’re right, I’m sure, about buying my gear before the pack. BUT I WANT ONE NOW! Haha, the pack is like the wedding dress, women want to buy it the day they get engaged. Kidding aside, I will be waiting.
Kerosene - Thanks for the link on selecting a backpack!
On geartrade.com I found two pairs of Montrails (the continental divide and highlander) new for under $40, so not a huge investment to see if I like them.
Re shelter: I really do want to make my own tarptent. I’m going to try! If anyone can point me in the direction of guides to making your own other than Henry Shires, I’d appreciate it!
Thanks again, everyone!!!!!!!!!
Snowleopard
07-17-2009, 00:07
Z-lite pad is a decent choice. It's what I used before my bones got so old. Cut it down to your height (or shorter).
A pattern and instructions for a cat tarp with details useful for other plans: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/cat-tarp/index.html
You'll need to figure out bug protection with this.
Wolf - 23000
07-17-2009, 00:49
I've run into some very knowledgeable personal and some that might have been great talkers but knew nothing about the gear they were trying to sell. I personal prefer if a sale-person were to tell me that he/she did not know rather than tell me a tall tail. The key to it is finding out who is being straight with you and who is pulling your leg. A trick I picked up years ago when I needed help is to ask the sale-person don't tell the sale personal what you are planning first off. The moment you tell them your planning on hiking the AT is when they will try to sell you a store of merchandise. Find out how much they want to know about what you want you are planning. Let them ask the questions.
For example, I asked a sale-personal what type of pack would he/she recommend. If he/she right away took me over to the largest or expensive pack in the store, I knew he/she was just trying to make a quick sale. If however he/she would ask me follow up questions like, “What did I plan on using the pack for?” or “How much was I planning on carrying?” etc. I knew he/she had more of my interest at heart.
Ask them about their own experience. Even if they told me they have never used one pack over another, I would feel comfortable dealing with them because I know what may be right for him/her may not be right for me.
Wolf
skinewmexico
07-17-2009, 02:20
I understand about the costs, I only have a WM bag because of the 40% off deal at Backcountry.com several months ago. But if you prowl the forums, you'll find a lot of good deals, because there are an amazing number of gear junkies around here. Hikers are good people, for the most part. They buy something because it is a great deal, and if it doesn't work for them, they'll usually pass it on. As far as down bags, watch for sales on Kelty Lightyears, or GoLites, or Marmots. Watch Ebay. Download the Steep and Cheap plug-in. And if you know what you want, plug it in at spadout.com to find the best deal. If you wanted a ULA, you may be out of luck, looks like Brian broke his leg, and right before they shut down for the annual thru-hike at the end of the month.
I understand about the costs, I only have a WM bag because of the 40% off deal at Backcountry.com several months ago. But if you prowl the forums, you'll find a lot of good deals, because there are an amazing number of gear junkies around here. Hikers are good people, for the most part. They buy something because it is a great deal, and if it doesn't work for them, they'll usually pass it on. As far as down bags, watch for sales on Kelty Lightyears, or GoLites, or Marmots. Watch Ebay. Download the Steep and Cheap plug-in. And if you know what you want, plug it in at spadout.com to find the best deal. If you wanted a ULA, you may be out of luck, looks like Brian broke his leg, and right before they shut down for the annual thru-hike at the end of the month.
Here is an example of a $455 retail bag offered for $175. It's a great bag at a fantastic price. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52227
If you wanted a ULA, you may be out of luck, looks like Brian broke his leg, and right before they shut down for the annual thru-hike at the end of the month. I will be waiting to buy my pack as one of the last things I purchase, so hopefully ULA is up and running when that time comes. And there's Gossamer Gear, which is here in Austin, although I don't know much about their packs, it would be nice to have my customer service local!
So, I totally broke down and ordered a Lafuma 20* down bag that's under 2 lbs. I bet I can get the weight down by shortening it to just the length I need. I got it super on sale, and I can't imagine that they are all that bad. If it is, I'll sell it and pony up for a more expensive bag. Texas can get pretty cold at night in the winter, so I can test it out on the really cold nights with plenty of time to change my mind.
The reason I am trying to keep my costs down (but be safe) is that I'm moving to NYC at the end of my hike(hence the GA->NY), so I will need a financial cushion.
Next up on my gear list is my shelter. Woo hoo!
skinewmexico
07-18-2009, 00:31
What are you waiting for? Go see Grant. Then order a Tarptent. Your LaFuma will be optimistic by 10-15 degrees.
What are you waiting for? Go see Grant. Then order a Tarptent. Your LaFuma will be optimistic by 10-15 degrees.
It was advised that I buy my gear before my pack. But I definitely will be going to see him!
Also, do you think I will see those temps in May? This bag is not the end all for me, just to get me through the hike.
Thanks for the feedback, again.
IMO, a 20 degree sleeping bag is an excellent choice. You will very likelyl have some chilly nights where you'll have that bag snugged around you. On warmer nights, just unzip it and use it as a quilt over the top of you.
Don't listen to the guys about what sort of temperature ratings you need for nighttime comfort. I carry a 20 degree sleeping bag as my summer bag, and am often happy that I have it.
I heartily endorse the fit and comfort of Gossamer Gear packs. My absolute favorite weekend sized pack is the GG Gorilla.
I heartily endorse the fit and comfort of Gossamer Gear packs. My absolute favorite weekend sized pack is the GG Gorilla.
And, lightweight down sleeping bag! It's the most expensive thing in my backpacking gear kit, but worth every penny.
I was going to wait to buy a pack, but I got a great deal on the Gossamer Gear G4. I've talked to several ladies that love it, and it fits me like a dream. I think my final weight before food and water will be around 11 lbs, which isn't ideal, but doable. My partner and I decided on the Lunar Duo for shelter, which is why my pack weight will be what it is. We haven't purchased it yet, but we are fairly committed to it. I am going back and forth about the clothing I should pack. I feel like I'm in the middle of all the advice I've read. Mid May in Georgia and beyond I'm sure can get cold, but I'm not sure how cautious I should be. Any thoughts?
highfisher
07-26-2009, 06:41
HI, SWEET T
Sounds like you have done your homework and got some good advice on WB. I think This is the fun part of hiking, I would add some shakedown hikes to shave any extras that may be done without
. Being a fellow Texan I would recommend doing the "LONE STAR TRAIL" near houston a 96mi foot path thru the piney woods,its Not the AT but it's a good place to start and try out gear. I'm doing it in Feb for a pre hike to the "COLORADO TRAIL" in June.
Scooby99
07-26-2009, 08:16
For Suches Ga: May: Avg High: 74, Avg low: 49 Record low 25, even knocking 10 more degrees off for the mountains, night time averages shouldn't be much lower than high 30s to low 40s. For clothing, it really depends on you. Personally, I never pack for the worst case situation, if that happens I can put all my clothes on, use socks for extra mittens, whatever, and I suffer for 1 or 2 nights out of a month rather than carry everything I could possibly need. I can hike comfortably in the winter in 10-20 degrees with a long sleeve light weight and heavy weight poly shirtd and a rain jacket, others might need more. For camp a short sleeve shirt with a 50 weight fleece and a down jacket while in my bag was fine in Ga in Mid Febuary, but this is something that is very individual. If you can find some of those temps before you leave, try some different clothing combinations. I tend to believe people over pack when it comes to clothing. Remember, in camp you can always crawl into your bag in your tent if you are a bit cool, for hiking, just hike faster, makes you warm right away ;)
A few other considerations from an under 5' hiker. Depending on the manufacturer, I was able to comfortably get away with a 3/4 length sleeping pad. I also have found several good quality childrens sleeping bags that were lighter than the comparable adult versions and still fit me fine.