What is best for a thru-hike? i.e Tent, Sleeping bag

[SOBO 2011]

Hello there...

Just picked up a pack and boots for my thru-hike in spril - need suggestions for a tent and sleeping bag as well as a floor mat and any other items that you might have some info about... Thanks to all who reply to this ... any and all infomation is GREAT

[BrianLe]

I suggest that you search existing threads over recent years on this site. I think you would get more helpful responses also if you gave some information about yourself --- experience, where you stand in terms of light (or ultralight) gear vs. a more conventional approach, what pack (incl pack capacity) and boots you opted for, etc.

There's a wide range of approaches to this stuff, the better folks can calibrate you the better the suggestions you might get.

Also helpful would be how tight a budget you're on (or not), and whether you're willing and able to make some of your own gear.

[Hooch]

There is no universally regarded "best" anything. Way too many variables are involved, especially when it comes to things like sleeping bags and tents.

Sleeping Bag Variables: Do you want down or synthetic? 20 degree, 30 degree, 10 degree? Long or regular? Left or right zip? Gonna use a liner or not? Plenty more not listed.

Tent Variables: Up front, I'm not a tenter, but a few of the varibales I can think of off the top of my head include: 1 or 2 person? 3 person? Single wall or double wall? Interested in a tarptent or no? Freestanding or not? Single or double entry?

Just do your research and make good, solid, well-informed decisions.

[Tagless]

SOBO this link might be of help. If you are soloing, the Tarptent Contrail would be an option to seriously consider.

[johnnybgood]

I'll second the Tarptent Contrail andwill suggest a 20* down Western Mountaineering sleeping bag if you want great quality.

When the weather warms up you can send the winter bag home and pick up a WM SummerLite 40*.

[tammons]

Cheap, Cheap Cheap

Eureka Casper 15dF bag, about $60, sub 3# but very tight and bulky.
Tarp. 5x9' campmor poncho/tarp (9 oz) but its small. 8x10 is better.
MYOG 1.25 oz tyvek bivy - 7oz
Blue pad, 2 in winter


Budget,

Campmor 20dF down bag, about $130, tad over 2#
Spitfire Tent (regular not the UL version) $100 and just under 3# if you replace the stakes.

MYOG 1.25 oz tyvek bivy for a little extra protection if you need it. If you just need a topper then maybe a driducks poncho would work.

Blue pad, 2 in the winter or a used Thermarest prolite 3 short on top of a blue pad.


Mo money

WM, MH or montbell etc 15dF UL high quality down bag
Tarptent moment
Neoair, neoair on top of a blue pad.

Also get some frost king window insul for a ground cloth.

[Pacific Tortuga]

The one's I own, naturally.

I thought half the fun was finding out what fit my style. Take your time and check it all out, enjoy.

[SOBO 2011]

thanks for all the info and sorry about not providing any info... i am really new to all this... I am
6 foot
230
looking at a tent with room for a big guy and his gear... money is not too much of a issue as I want to get it right and not have the truhike appempt end due to gear(although I know people can make it with next to nothing) ... my pack is a Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack and my boots are Salomon Quest 4D GTX Hiking Boots - Men's so there is some more info...

other than that i was inerested in knowing what the thoughts are between the Tarpttent Contrail and Rainbow... if anyone has any views

[bigcranky]

other than that i was inerested in knowing what the thoughts are between the Tarpttent Contrail and Rainbow... if anyone has any views

I have views. I use my Double Rainbow when I want a solo hiking tent. For a 6-2, 210-lb guy, it provides plenty of room for me and all my gear. Plus I really like having doors on both sides, for views and ventilation.

The single Rainbow has a door on one side, which provides good access and views out that side. The Contrail has a door at the head end, which I didn't like as much (but plenty of people do.)

[Kerosene]

Franco can give you all the comparative info you can stomach on the Tarptents you mentioned. He appears to have a passion and an abundance of knowledge on this topic.

[Franco]

At 6' you will fit inside any of the Tarptents with room to spare.
First you need to like the look of a tent, if you don't get the hots for one, maybe it isn't for you...

The Contrail is provably the best compromise if you use trekking poles (or at least one)
If you invest a bit of time practicing the various set ups possible with this one (before you start your adventure...) it is very versatile and can handle pretty strong wind and rain. Search the forums for tips on this.

The Rainbow has a lot of room, side entrance and head room in the middle. Some particularly like this, No need for an extra pole. Can be freestanding with trekking poles but I never use it that way.

The DR, as suggested, has the advantage of the extra door and vestibule, still lighter than a lot of solo shelters.

If you do not use trekking poles, I would get the Moment. I don't have this one but am familiar with the design having played with several single hoop tents. Two pegs will keep this up, add the two guylines on the pole and it will be very stable in the wind.

If you prefer a two wall shelter, the Scarp 1 is quick and easy to set up and very large for the weight.

Again I suggest that if you do get a Tarptent you search the net for tips on how to use them.

Franco

[tammons]

6-0 and 230.
Do yourself a favor and get a montbell #1 UL SS 800 down hugger.
Extremely roomy stretchy and warm.
Prolite is the place to go. Very good on exchanges.
If you dont like it send it back for something else.

I am 6-3 and 235 and they are nice. Get the long.

$ no object - get a neoair and a blue pad and trash the blue pad when it warms up.

$ no object on a tent I would probably get a hilleberg or a tarptent of some sort. Stephens warmlight if I was looking for a winter tent. Your size you could barely fit into a spitfire. I have one and its tight. If you can afford soemthing better get that.

[BrianLe]

I guess I would suggest that you at least look at, consider the light/ultralight ideas, whether or not you end up drinking just some or all of the kool-aid ...
In conjunction with that, get out and do as much backpacking as possible with whatever you can easily make, rent, or borrow. There's nothing like some experience to put all the ideas into context.

To consider the light/ultralight approach, I suggest a book which you perhaps can get from your local library system (if not in the system ask for an "interlibrary loan").
Of various books available I suggest "Lightweight Backpacking & Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Hiking", by Ryan Jordan or "Lighten Up!", by Don Ladigan. The latter is shorter, more approachable perhaps to someone new to this stuff; the former is somewhat more in depth.

You'll certainly lose some pounds off your body in a thru-hike, but IMO trying to start out with the pack weight at least "decent" if not truly light is worth considering before you buy a lot of gear.

[SOBO 2011]

I am also interested to know if the Tarptents are as good overall for a tent or do you give some things up to have the ultra-light?

[Pacific Tortuga]

I gave up a few pounds switching to my hshires Rainbow 2 T.T. I had condinsation only once and loved, yes loved, the Rainbow.

[BrianLe]

"I am also interested to know if the Tarptents are as good overall for a tent or do you give some things up to have the ultra-light?"

There are a number of threads on this site alone that discusses this; a hasty search will turn up a lot, a few examples are:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...p/t-46171.html
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...p/t-27650.html
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...hp/t-3586.html
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...p/t-16012.html

Searching outside of just whiteblaze you can certainly turn up a lot more stuff, for one somewhat random example:
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/shelter.html

[rpenczek]

You mentioned your pack, a Gregory Baltoro. I am the proud owner of four packs (too little reading here, too little try before I buy). My last pack before the current one is a Gregory Whitney. GREAT suspension and very very comfortable, but given its weight, I only use it on winter trips when I carry my 7yr olds gear too. I now use a Granitgear Nimbus Meridian. I had GG add a waist belt from their next level of pack and I have been very happy with its comfort and space available. I think I saved about 4 pounds on the pack alone

The easiest places to cut big weight are your tent, pack and bag/pad. I am not an ultralighter (in what I carry or in my stature). I am 6'3" 300 lbs. I use a Tarptent Rainbow II, which at 2.5 lbs is very light in my mind and holds me and my gear very comfortable. I use to carry a Mountain Hardware haven III, I saved 4 pounds here. I also use a Big Agnes Lost Ranger and Big Agnes 2.5 dual corem, I use to use a Marmot Trestles, I saved about 2 pound here.

The pad is not the lightest, but is very comforatable and works well with the BA bag. I would really like to go the a WM bag, but my shoulders (and belly) are just too big. The other I might consider is the Mont Bell bag mentioned.

Spend some time here reading past threads and if you can try gear before you buy, don't be afraid to get in a bag right there at the outfitters. Also check out trail journals, some people post of what of their gear worked well and what did not.

Good luck

[Trooper]

I am looking into replacing some old gear and have been considering buying a Tarptent Moment and either a Marmot Pinnacle or Arroyo sleeping bag

[Montana AT05]

Bag: As others stated, get Montbell Long version, I'd say a 35 degree variant. Wonderful bags. www.prolitegear.com has them.

Tents: Lot's of choices. People swear by the Tarptent Contrail. I didn't like mine...at...all. Hubba's, Seedhouses, all sorts of options exist. Just get one that is FREE STANDING! The AT can be rocky...hard to stake at times. Think about packed size too--volume in a pack is as important as weight. A nice compact backpack, close to you body and bearing weight correctly is important.

But consider a Hammock. The standard is the Hennessy Hammock but many new makers have come about. Hammocks aren't good in early season where it gets cold at night...but they are wonderful things. No worries about the ground and space to pitch. There is a hammock forum on this web site.

Pad: But any cheap foam pad, but it down to save space and weight if you want, I just use a torso length (goes just to my bum)

Clothes: Keep these to a minimum. Just be sure to have a rain layer (for colder weather) and at least one set that you can be sure is always dry. I always overpack on clothes and regret it as I hit the first post office.

Lastly--gear won't make or break your thru-hike. An injury might, but by far, the thing that breaks a thru-hike is the mind.

[tammons]

I would add to above. MB makes a Exp -20dF, #0 0dF, #1 15, #2 25, #3 30, #4 35, #5 40, #7 50.

I have used the #7, #5, #2.

Some things to keep in mind are that the #5 and #7 do not have zipper baffles.

That said I slept in a solid 40dF, in the open, no bivy or tent, hunid with heavy dew in a #5 and I stayed very warm.

The #3, #4, #5, #7 do not have neck baffle. The neck baffle starts at the #2 25dF bag and that makes it a really nice bag andwould be my choice.

The Montbell spiral bags are not quite as big and are not huggers, but they are lighter than the SS bag. Unfortunately the zipepr does not go all the way down, but the Spiral #3 30dF regular bag only weighs 1 #3oz. I tried a spiral #1 long and the zipper went to my knees.

Also the spiral only comes in right zipper.

I did hear the other day that Montbell is changing their lineup. They will still have the normal spiral but will add a SS spiral. The new SS will be spiral with elastic thread similar to the current SS.

They will have fewer bags in the lineup, IE no more #2 and no more #4.
Not sure if the #3 will have a neck baffle.

The new lineup will be Exp, 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 in all models.