[Philmont]: down or synthetic?

I agree with Pete's suggestion that use of an inner groundcloth can help assure a dry sleeping bag. I use the Space brand All weather blanket, available at Campmor and many other outlets for about $11.00. It has a perfect footprint for a two man tent, is much more rugged than a simple plastic sheet, is aluminized on one side for heat retention, can be used as a blanket in a pinch, is strong enough to make a stretcher out of, and has grommets so it can be rigged as a tarp if necessary,or to protect a stash of firewood. Although I have not weighed it, I think it is lighter than the plastic groundcloths sold by Campmor. It is certainly more flexible, more foldable, more packable and easier to spread out in your tent.

At Autumn Adventure 2005, I used the Space blanket as an outer groundcloth on my Zeus 2 and went without an inner groundcloth. It is that rugged. ( I am not describing the Space "rescue blanket" here-the one that can be carried in a shirt pocket. I have no idea about whether that product can ever be folded up again to that size or about its durability). The product I mean is called the All Weather Blanket.

I have found that a quick swipe with a highly absorbent PackTowl (also available at Campmor and elsewhere) removes any residual condensation in the single wall Zeus, another source of moisture on your bag. I have also found that sleeping with your feet towards the door of this much discussed tent avoids the foot of your sleeping bag swiping the back wall, as the front wall is mostly mesh. (I use it as a one man tent-no experience with trying to share it).

Finally, my preference is for down. I bought my first down bag as a Scout in 1971. If you take care with the zipper, it is still quite serviceable (although I am now 6' 1" and it is a bit small for me). I am using a Western Mountaineering bag for the three seasons. It was quite adequate for Philmont in early September (with an extra sweater and wool hat at Red Hills). It weighs 1.1 lbs in the long version and compresses to the size of a large nerf ball (if you buy a compressor bag that small-the standard stuff sack it comes with works just fine as well). It was recommended in Backpacker Magazine's on line gear guide when warmth and weight are the sole criteria (leaving price out of it). I forget the price. Sorry. I have a Hightail 900 tall (15 degrees, about 3 pounds) from The North Face for the winter, chosen on the same criteria and with the same degree of forgetfullness about the price.

I use a wastepaper size or small kitchen size garbage bag inside my stuff sack rather than outside as others have suggested. I do this for durability reasons. I think the stuff sack will repel sticks and other puncture causing objects better than the bare plastic, although I agree that having the plastic inside can make it slightly (but only slightly) more difficult to stuff.

Of course, a real pack cover is a must. I've never seen real good results from trying to fit garbage bags over a pack that is actively being carried. The same goes for rainsuits as opposed to ponchos. In my opinion, ponchos and backpacking just don't mix and flinging the back of the poncho over the top of the pack is a recipe for channelling the rainwater directly on to your conveniently placed sleeping bag (and, perhaps, your sleeping pad as well) Now that I mention it-don't forget to waterproof your pad with an appropriately sized plastic bag slid inside the stuff sack. Bring extra bags for sleeping bag and pad-they're fragile.

All for now. YIS

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, N.J.
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05 and hopefully, '06

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Received on Mon Nov 28 08:36:10 2005