Re: Sleeping pad recs.
I recommend the Therma-rest full length Z lite. Why! It folds up to a smaller package than rolled up foam pad, it unfolds and lays flat Vs rolled up. The ridges and pockets aid in warmth plus collect any moisture so it does not invade your whole sleeping system. Punch a small hole in one corner, tape duct tape over and around the hole, punch a hole through the duct tape, tie a piece of 4mil through the hole in a loop. Clip the 4mil loop to what ever so it will not blow or slide away when not in use. I used mine over the day for glassing, resting, etc and in camp as a chair or laying around camp fire. In deep cold, I used a Therma Rest ultralite 3/4 length air mattress on top of my Z rest. I think called X lite now. The air mattress was for comfort and added warmth and the foam for warmth and abuse. This pad system was used down to -50 with great success.
Sleeping bags I am all in for synthetic with the Integral Designs Renaissance as my favorite bag. Rated to +20F, I used mine down to -5F. It does come in a wide if you are big chested. Tip. Wear all your clothes at night minus gore-tex or similar shell. You pack clothes so why not use them at night. If your clothes are wet over the day, a synthetic filled sleeping bag with a micro fiber or nylon shell will allow your clothes to dry over night. Bad juju using down with gore-tex. Place wet 50/50 wool/synth socks on your chest at night, they will dry. In the morning just as you get out of your sleeping bag, turn it inside out and compress it like you are stuffing it. This will push out body vapor while is it sill vapor, not frozen yet, once frozen it will stay until the next time used or you get back home.
Tip, before erecting your tent or bivy or what ever at night, dig a small divet where your hip/butt will be in the ground. This will add comfort laying on your side and back relieving some stress on your back and hips due to this is where your hips and butt are, they go in the divet not stressing on hard flat ground.
Must have for pack trip is:
superb boots that fit with superfeet orange, I use and recommend LaSportiva
base layer, mid layer, soft shell clothing system
50/50 wool sythentic socks, Bridgedale is what I use and recommend
trekking pole, no need for two unless you want them, saves tons of energy over the day for the added weight plus I used mine for my tent pole with my Silshelter, use and recommend Black Diamond
Silshelter for tent
I always have to have camp booties
Take and use Degree antiperspirant on your feet every morning, this will keep the sweat at a min and min blisters too
Take a pee hose made out of garden hose, 10-12" in length with the diameter large enough to fit your penis into. During the night, use the hose while still in your sleeping bag warm and comfy, you just burnt all those calories to stay warm, do not waste them getting out of your bag and tent, pee into a square pee bottle, I use a collapsible bottle. Now place this warm pee bottle into your bag for more warmth, again, your body just heated it up so use it. Your drinking bottle is round so you can feel and know the difference.
