What's your sleep set up ?

[Alphatreedog]

I'm looking to shed some lbs and re do my sleep system . I'll be utilizing it for some adventure motorcycle camping as well as hiking .
Would like to even incorporate as my go to for shtf on the go .
Looking at ultralight sleep bivys but don't have any experience with them .
I've used a two man tent , tarp and ranger roll , just the ranger roll and just a sleeping bag no pad . Thinking I want a lightweight pad , bivy and a wooby or bag liner .

What are you guys runnin for sleep ?

 

[Grim's Reapers]

I have a one man Bessport tent with an inflatable pad and sleeping bag. I ride a V-STROM DL 650 and did a ride through the Appalachians from Northern Georgia to Pennsylvania using that setup. A little telescoping camping stove, sutures and Celox for "just in case" where's there's no cell phone coverage, as many parts of my trip were offroad and I did it solo.

 

[Aftermath]

THESE GUYS don't make the one I have anymore. Mine is a solo tent that weighs 15 ounces, if I recall correctly. I use a closed cell foam pad and a down bag.

If I were to get a new tent, I'd do THIS and add the freestanding kit.

 

[LuckyDuck]

I have a few years under my belt using a bivy rather often/frequently. Given the choice- for similar weight/money (for a good bivy at least) I'd humbly suggest that you'd be far better served and much happier with some of the ultralight backpacking tents such as below.

Copper Spur HV UL1 Ultralight Tent | Big Agnes

The high-volume, 3-season, freestanding Copper Spur HV UL1 is one of our best-selling, full-featured, ultralight backpacking tents. Shop now.

www.bigagnes.com

Tiger Wall UL1 Solution Dye | Big Agnes

The Tiger Wall UL1 is our lightest technical backcountry 1-person tent, redesigned using solution-dyed fabric that resists UV fading. 2lb packed weight.

www.bigagnes.com

Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Solution Dye | Big Agnes

Keep it fast, light and packable with the Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Solution Dye. Shop Big Agnes industry leading bikepacking tents.

www.bigagnes.com

As for a sleeping pad- you've got closed cell foam and inflatable options. Lots of companies offering the spectrum of choices, check out exped & thermarest to quickly get caught up with what the market has to offer and go from there.

The last part of your question regarding a wobbie or bag liner- you can certainly get away with that choice but again- for similar size factor/price, if you haven't taken the time to look into 'quilts' from sleeping bag manufacturers, you'd be cutting yourself short in my opinion. Think of the quilts as a wobbie on steroids with double the comfort and 10% less convenance of packing.

Just an opinion but hope that it helps you.

-LD

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I still use a hammock with a mosquito or rain cover if needed. Lite, compact, and very comfortable.

 

[MikeMiller]

I still use a hammock with a mosquito or rain cover if needed. Lite, compact, and very comfortable.

Once I moved to Florida from California sleeping on the ground became a no go. The bugs will eat you. Lol

I use hammock and rain cover now

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Once I moved to Florida from California sleeping on the ground became a no go. The bugs will eat you. Lol

I use hammock and rain cover now

Mike
Apple cider vinegar w/mother will keep the bugs away in most people. I do two table spoons in a glass of water everyday, some folks add local honey. Drier sheets rubbed on all exposed skin work for some as well. In Fla there is a whole host of eaters, some real small some otherwise, no matter the leg count. Nothing like waking up and mister no shoulders is laying next to or across you.
Long ago we spent a week and a half training some guys from up north, in Green swamp. We tried to tell them about what lived in that swamp but they knew everything, well until the first night. They could not get out of that swamp fast enough once we finished their training & signed off.

 

[Herb Stoner]

Big Anges tents mostly these days - I use the lightest one possible for the trip / conditions
Tarp if it’s a short trip with a solid forecast.
Western Mountaineering bags mostly - again keeping it as light as possible.
Various pads - mostly Thermarest. A very key part of staying warm at night so don't ignore this. If I want to fudge it to something a few ounces heavier to stay warm I’ll go to a heavier pad before going to a heavier bag.
I go a lot farther and it’s more enjoyable with less weight. My pack weight for summer is around 8 lbs. including everything (shelter, clothing, cooking, med, etc.) before food and water. Not UL but easy to carry.
This is a gun board so to clarify, I don’t carry any weapons when backpacking - even weeks at a time. Never have and never encountered a reason to in many years, thousands of miles, and probably well over a thousand nights In the wilderness. You do what ever makes you feel safe though.

 

[carbonbased]

Check http://sectionhiker.com for lots of good non-shill reviews.

I’m no expert, never used a bivy but researched them a lot…seem to be more in their element when in high alpine environments/snow.

I too would 100% choose a light tent over a bivy. Just think how wet you would be setting up/taking down a bivy in the rain, not even counting the condensation in the morning.

Think about how awkward it is trying to get out of a bivy in wet conditions. Filthy.

Think about where you’d store your gear if you didn’t have the nice dry vestibule that a decent light tent provides.

I would never choose a bivy unless I was a hard man with a goretex sleeping bag with a separate first layer vapor barrier liner so not to soak the bag’s insulation with your sweat vapor. Especially important with down bags over extended trips.

 

[Herb Stoner]

Check http://sectionhiker.com for lots of good non-shill reviews.

I’m no expert, never used a bivy but researched them a lot…seem to be more in their element when in high alpine environments/snow.

I too would 100% choose a light tent over a bivy. Just think how wet you would be setting up/taking down a bivy in the rain, not even counting the condensation in the morning.

Think about how awkward it is trying to get out of a bivy in wet conditions. Filthy.

Think about where you’d store your gear if you didn’t have the nice dry vestibule that a decent light tent provides.

I would never choose a bivy unless I was a hard man with a goretex sleeping bag with a separate first layer vapor barrier liner so not to soak the bag’s insulation with your sweat vapor. Especially important with down bags over extended trips.

Yeah, that’s pretty much the deal with bivy sacks. Best if you’re sleeping tied in and there’s no space for even a small tent. Outside of that they’re good in a pinch or as an emergency option but I’m over the hard man stuff and will opt for a small tent where possible. If you feel like you need a bivy sack get one with a hoop.

 

[Modoc]

I’m a bit on the heavy side here. When my son bridged over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts (ScoutsBSA now), I talked with a friend who owns a Mountaineering shop. He sold me his MSR Nook with vestibule for a great price (thinning his personal inventory). At less than 3 pounds with vestibule and footprint, this two man tent has served me well through my son‘s scouting career. A Thermarest pad and Wiggy’s bags (30* Patrol and 0* Inner) and a poncho liner round out the kit. I mix and match depending on the activity and predicted Wether.

The Wiggy’s bags are not as light as some of the UL bags, but I was also looking at durability since they replaced a 30 year old Slumberjack 0* bag.

This set has done me well from Klondike camping in the snow at 5* F, to backpacking in the 40*’s, to car camping/Scout Camp when night time temps are in the 70’s.

FWIW, Wiggy’s is a GSA supplier for sleep systems. The Mrs. has a U.S. G.I. Full sleep system and a woobie too and manages just fine in the above mentioned activities.

I‘d love a Western Mountaneering UL 0* bag that packs down to the size of a cantaloupe, but I had to balance durability/weight/size/cost and went the route that I did.

 

[HerCoStarNTheBeaverPictur]

Seek outside cimmaron w/ half nest and stove jack
0 degree down bag
Neoair lite sleeping pad
Cheap foam pad

Depending on location and weather, only pack what’s needed

 

[Forrest84]

ProTrail

Tarptents are made in the USA and offer lightweight sleeping options for all of your adventures. Order online now at https://www.tarptent.com/.

www.tarptent.com

Ultralight insulated sea to summit pad
I’m going to a underground quilts custom bag

https://ugqoutdoor.com/

Can’t get much better than this

 

[carbonbased]

On the tent front, I’d seriously consider a Durston hiking pole tent:

Durston Gear | Tents

Our premium ultralight tents are developed to be stormworthy, simple and highly user friendly while pushing the limits of ultralight. These tents are perhaps the most highly awarded line of tents in recent years and are among the most popular tents on challenging long trails.

durstongear.com

Reviews say that the geometrical arrangement of the poles give you more headroom, especially in the two man version.

I am an old Sierra Designs Clip Flashlite tent user. It is currently dissolving in the garage lol.

 

[Ronws]

I sleep while I am driving, like everyone else on the road.

To be serious, though, I live an hour from my hunting grounds. So, I have not had to rough it, yet. But when I have been camping, it was also not on a hike or back country hunt. So, I could set up the 3 man tent and a sometimes a blow-up mattress.

If I was to take one hunting, it would need to be a two man (I am 6' 4", shrunk down from 6'6".) Probably just the sleeping bag. Very minimal.

 

[jabonra]

Check out Borah gear if you're set on a bivy. Wiggys is mentioned above, heavy but warm and durable.

 

[Aftermath]

On the tent front, I’d seriously consider a Durston hiking pole tent:

Durston Gear | Tents

Our premium ultralight tents are developed to be stormworthy, simple and highly user friendly while pushing the limits of ultralight. These tents are perhaps the most highly awarded line of tents in recent years and are among the most popular tents on challenging long trails.

durstongear.com

Reviews say that the geometrical arrangement of the poles give you more headroom, especially in the two man version.

I am an old Sierra Designs Clip Flashlite tent user. It is currently dissolving in the garage lol.

I had one of the first Clip Flashlights. I would pack it strategically and could be inside of it in 35 seconds, fly attached. I won several tent pitching competitions with it. I wore that tent out, Sierra Designs would not repair it anymore. LOTS of hard use. I'm not that athletic anymore.
The HMG Echo 1 takes a bit more time to set up but with everything, it weighs something like 21 ounces. It lives in the Jeep now as a shelter for when I am out and about and decide to not go home. It is not made anymore.
I have a Mountain Hardware Trango 3.1 that is very nice and plenty roomy but more than I want to carry. I should swap it out the with the Echo.
I also have a North Face Tadpole that gets used quite a bit in the good and warm summer weather, usually without the fly.

 

[Fx51LP308]

I haven't been camping outdoors, since I was a kid. And I probably never will again.

I was traumatized on the one overnight bivouac I did. Although I do heartily admit now that it was my fault. As a kid, I attended a summer day camp. One of the personnel there was a "specialist" of sorts... not a counselor outright but functioned like one (sort of like the Water Safety/pool instructor). Officially this guy was the bus driver. But that skill proved handy as he was able to take us kids places, such as to a local rifle range at a private high school associated with the academy that ran the summer camp. He was an NRA instructor. I believe he was ex-Military because he also organized and supported a 2 day bivouac at a local forest. He had these two tents (both had the center pole and the tie down cables radiated out from the edge. I think they slept like 10 people (well, 8 kids and a counselor), with two other counselors always awake and on "fire watch." Our "instructor" had his own lean-to. The girls would go the 1st night and the boys the 2nd night. Usually the girls would have to help put up the tents, dig the latrine and garbage pits, etc., and the boys would be responsible for striking the tents, filling up the garbage pits and the latrines, etc. before departing the site for the year. I guess these days, you'd probably be required to take all your trash with you and perhaps your fecal mater as well. I know you do in some of the Natl. parks like Joshua Tree, etc.

The Setup: I was, in essence, not very prominent at all on the totem pole of the campers... not at all. Some of the town local kids hated me for "ethnic" reasons (or their perception of my ethnicity... I'm actually a "mutt" as most people are). And they would do things to express their displeasure, even without a reaction from me. I was the very last to be picked for dinner,, etc. etc. Thankfully, there was enough to eat so I didn't miss anything there. The counselors were good about that. And for breakfast, they switched the group order so I wasn't last.

My Mistake: We were not allowed to wear our shoes/sneakers inside the tent, just to keep the floor surface clean. One could either leave their footwear outside at the tent door, or carry them inside and put them on something that kept the dirt/grime off the floor. I did both, at times but, critically, I left them "outside" overnight. I shouldn't have, and I knew I shouldn't have, but was too lazy to go get them. My mistake... Big Time!

The Trauma: When I awoke, I discovered that my sneakers had been "baptized" overnight by one of the bigoted campers.I knew he was going to do it. He even said he would. And I actually watched him get up in the middle of the night and saw/heard him whizzing away. Silly me, I thought, "Nah, he won't aim for them." I was wrong. And he taunted me all the way home on the bus, telling the other campers, "Somebody pi$$ed in his sneakers, overnight" knowing full well he had done it himself. I don't know what became of that kid, but I hope he's rotting away in prison somewhere - Life without Parole... with a whole pod full of "Bubbas" to take care of him. I don't wish him dead. That would be too easy!

To this day, I've never stepped into a tent again... ever. Although, TBH, I think it has more to do with just not liking the "roughing it" part of camping outdoors than anything else. I'd have to have a pretty decent air mattress (can't do a hard floor/surface), etc. This, and some kind of "climate control" inside the tent. Yeah, I know... Go ahead and laugh! I'm just not generally big on outdoor camping. Perhaps, I might have been if that childhood incident hadn't happened, but we'll never know now, will we...

 

[Aftermath]

I haven't been camping outdoors, since I was a kid. And I probably never will again.

I was traumatized on the one overnight bivouac I did. Although I do heartily admit now that it was my fault. As a kid, I attended a summer day camp. One of the personnel there was a "specialist" of sorts... not a counselor outright but functioned like one (sort of like the Water Safety/pool instructor). Officially this guy was the bus driver. But that skill proved handy as he was able to take us kids places, such as to a local rifle range at a private high school associated with the academy that ran the summer camp. He was an NRA instructor. I believe he was ex-Military because he also organized and supported a 2 day bivouac at a local forest. He had these two tents (both had the center pole and the tie down cables radiated out from the edge. I think they slept like 10 people (well, 8 kids and a counselor), with two other counselors always awake and on "fire watch." Our "instructor" had his own lean-to. The girls would go the 1st night and the boys the 2nd night. Usually the girls would have to help put up the tents, dig the latrine and garbage pits, etc., and the boys would be responsible for striking the tents, filling up the garbage pits and the latrines, etc. before departing the site for the year. I guess these days, you'd probably be required to take all your trash with you and perhaps your fecal mater as well. I know you do in some of the Natl. parks like Joshua Tree, etc.

The Setup: I was, in essence, not very prominent at all on the totem pole of the campers... not at all. Some of the town local kids hated me for "ethnic" reasons (or their perception of my ethnicity... I'm actually a "mutt" as most people are). And they would do things to express their displeasure, even without a reaction from me. I was the very last to be picked for dinner,, etc. etc. Thankfully, there was enough to eat so I didn't miss anything there. The counselors were good about that. And for breakfast, they switched the group order so I wasn't last.

My Mistake: We were not allowed to wear our shoes/sneakers inside the tent, just to keep the floor surface clean. One could either leave their footwear outside at the tent door, or carry them inside and put them on something that kept the dirt/grime off the floor. I did both, at times but, critically, I left them "outside" overnight. I shouldn't have, and I knew I shouldn't have, but was too lazy to go get them. My mistake... Big Time!

The Trauma: When I awoke, I discovered that my sneakers had been "baptized" overnight by one of the bigoted campers.I knew he was going to do it. He even said he would. And I actually watched him get up in the middle of the night and saw/heard him whizzing away. Silly me, I thought, "Nah, he won't aim for them." I was wrong. And he taunted me all the way home on the bus, telling the other campers, "Somebody pi$$ed in his sneakers, overnight" knowing full well he had done it himself. I don't know what became of that kid, but I hope he's rotting away in prison somewhere - Life without Parole... with a whole pod full of "Bubbas" to take care of him. I don't wish him dead. That would be too easy!

To this day, I've never stepped into a tent again... ever. Although, TBH, I think it has more to do with just not liking the "roughing it" part of camping outdoors than anything else. I'd have to have a pretty decent air mattress (can't do a hard floor/surface), etc. This, and some kind of "climate control" inside the tent. Yeah, I know... Go ahead and laugh! I'm just not generally big on outdoor camping. Perhaps, I might have been if that childhood incident hadn't happened, but we'll never know now, will we...

You just need a better tent.

Classic | Travel Trailers | Airstream

The Classic has an elegant design, luxurious finishes and features, and a spacious living area. It feels like home, no matter where you go. Take a look!

www.airstream.com

 

[Fx51LP308]

You just need a better tent.

Classic | Travel Trailers | Airstream

The Classic has an elegant design, luxurious finishes and features, and a spacious living area. It feels like home, no matter where you go. Take a look!

www.airstream.com

Ah.... To me, an RV is not "outdoor camping." I could do that all day, especially if I bring my generator with me.

 

[Modoc]

Ah.... To me, an RV is not "outdoor camping." I could do that all day, especially if I bring my generator with me.

I am too over prepared for camping, from ultralight back pacing through the tin-teepee. Each has a time and a place along with trade-offs.

 

[Taylorbok]

Midori 1 tent -lightest I could find that still had a bottom and didn't require walking poles or something else to set up
Alps Zenith 0 bag- Cheapest down I could find that met my temp needs
Alps Swift insulated pad- again lightweight, insulated and reasonable price.

 

[Ronws]

Nothing wrong with comfort in the wild. The public land where I hunt, I once saw a motor home.

And I have read hunting stories from a guy who bought a 1995 Chevy Astrovan and took out the seats so that he had a place to sleep and stow his gear, even take out a deer when he got one.

 

[kthomas]

Mike
Apple cider vinegar w/mother will keep the bugs away in most people. I do two table spoons in a glass of water everyday, some folks add local honey. Drier sheets rubbed on all exposed skin work for some as well. In Fla there is a whole host of eaters, some real small some otherwise, no matter the leg count. Nothing like waking up and mister no shoulders is laying next to or across you.
Long ago we spent a week and a half training some guys from up north, in Green swamp. We tried to tell them about what lived in that swamp but they knew everything, well until the first night. They could not get out of that swamp fast enough once we finished their training & signed off.

Does that trick work for ticks?

 

[kthomas]

You just need a better tent.

Classic | Travel Trailers | Airstream

The Classic has an elegant design, luxurious finishes and features, and a spacious living area. It feels like home, no matter where you go. Take a look!

www.airstream.com

You're on the same page as my wife

That's about as close to camping as she will get.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Does that trick work for ticks?

Yes. I've used to all over this rock, tic's, mosquitos, bloat flys ect always leave me alone. It works for most all, but some it only helps a little. Why, I do not know. My Great uncle started me on it as a kid on the farm I grew up on. I've always used the liquid and found the brand "Bragg" w/ mother, the best for me. Never tried the chewable's so don't know if they work as well or at all. I put 2 table spoons in a 16-24oz glass of water every night before bed time. Some folks add a little honey to take the bite out, but I've used it so long it does not bother me.

Research ACV benefits, as beside bugs it helps with many other things.

 

[Conqueror]

Ultralight Sea to Summit rectangular sleeping pad

Feathered Friends sleeping bag that turns into a rectangular quilt (I prefer a quilt unless it’s pretty cold)

TarpTent Stratospire Lithium 2-person tent. It’s awesome but pricey. Dyneema composite, lighter than most 1-man tents but big enough to keep my backpack in the tent with me.

 

[clark33]

Vital Outdoors 0* down bag

Thermarest NeoAir Xlite pad

Argali 4P tipi - titanium stove if its late fall

 

[Clownbuster]

This is my current sleep system for backpack/dirtbike hunts. The only thing missing are the Black Diamond Carbon trekking poles that serve to also setup the tarp and/or bivy depending on weather.
The Montbell UL pillow comes with a pillow case sleeve that I slip the S2S Aeros Down pillow with. Doubles the width of the pillow setup and makes it a dream to sleep on for a side sleeper. Then I run an extra quilt/pad strap through the pillow sleeve so it doesn't slip around and migrate out from under my head. Great system so far and extremely light kit.
I can pm you the full spreadsheet of my entire pack loadout if you like.

 

[shoobe01]

I've just this week been playing with my shelter, after a spring realizing my beloved ICS is so old it's starting to get a bit of the cheese smell, so soon will die. So, now am experimenting with an ultralight parabolic tarp (designed to be arranged on diagonal but you can use as a square tarp, set up any number of ways) with hiking sticks as poles if needed, knockoff MSR groundhogs for stakes, 1.8 mm kevlar line, etc. I can share links to the line tensioners etc. I have opinions on this stuff from experience (e.g. buy bright stakes. Dark or camo ones will become lost, bright ones are too low to the ground to give away your position).

The sleep system itself has long been redone as:

• Bivy - Always always, a Goretex bivy. Keeps everything safe and dry, can be used alone, without shelter. Mine now is the OR Wallcreeper Cover which is weird, look it up, but I am big and a side sleeper so it gives me the room I need and doesn't weigh as much as you'd expect.
• Mat - For years I have used an REI AirRail (or some similar name) because of the rails, keeps me from rolling off so higher confidence so better sleep. I used Therm-a-Rest for 40 years before that, but now am long-term trying a Klymit to save bulk. Comfier than expected, deflates fast, but takes FOREVER to inflate. Friend has an electric inflator that is apparently not an embarassment of noise or weight (he is a UL guy, so really must be small), must find which one.
  • Another mat. Usually I carry a folding German for campsite working, quick hides, kneeling etc. In the real cold I either use that or make room for two of them, add to the pad warmth because it's so important. You cannot warm the earth with your body, you need insulation!
• Quilt - Paria, but many options, mine doesn't matter. Principle is that you cannot use the bottom of a sleeping bag since you lay on it, so don't carry that. Quilts have straps, so it remains tied to the sleep mat all the time, no gaps etc.

ALSO critically:

• Booties! Camp booties changed my life, with my early-20s stupid getting frost nipped on a mountain. I got Enlightened Equipment ones
• Muffler. Well, something to act as a neck seal. Again because I roll around etc and do NOT like my head inside the bag etc, I tend to get drafts at the collar, so have fond the best choice is to have either a puffy coat or woobie I wear as a sort of scarf, under my neck there. I almost always have one or the other so this is a zero weight item.
• Sleep hat, sleep shirt, in winter sleep long johns. Do NOT sleep in your regular clothes, be able to if very cold add a layer though. Do NOT sleep in your outside hat; what if it gets wet? Yeah, that's a problem, so I always bring a spare.

 

[clark33]

I toss and turn WAY too much for a quilt. I've tried and always got a draft at some point in the night

 

[Clownbuster]

I toss and turn WAY too much for a quilt. I've tried and always got a draft at some point in the night

Yep, that's why quilt manufacturers will tell side sleepers to get the extra-wide quilt. A Reg or Wide just can't stay down for us.

 

[Conqueror]

To a lot of quilt users that’s a feature, not a bug. I get too hot in sleeping bags and it’s nice to be able to stick a leg out to cool down.

 

[mrtoyz]

Picked up a Peax Solace 15 bag this year. Liked the features. Not a new concept but done well.

Solace 15 Hunting Sleeping Bag by PEAX

SLEEP BETTER | HUNT BETTER After 7 iterations of development and testing, we introduce the SOLACE 15—a hunting sleeping bag designed to optimize mountain recovery. Scientific evidence highlights sleep's pivotal role in decision-making, muscle recovery, focus, and fostering a competitive edge...

www.peaxequipment.com

 

[TheHorta]

I sleep in the buff.

 

[carbonbased]

I sleep in the buff.

TMI lol

 

[flogxal]

From an old guy's POV, if you expect to see colder climates, I suggest sorting out your clothing layering well in advance with day hikes in similar temps/precip. You can definitely fudge on sleeping bag warmth rating if you sleep in your layers, rather than shedding clothes to sleep and using a warmer bag.

If you layer wisely and your bag is not too warm, you will not sweat out in your sleep and you will have less weight/bulk in your clothing/bag end of carriage. If it's multi-day and you hate the stink, use wool base layers because wool doesn't like to hang onto your sweat odors as much as poly stuff.

Agree w/ Herb Stoner on your pad choice, it's where you get more warmth than anything else, when the ground is cold.

Above from backpacking, backcountry skiing, day jaunts, bike trips w/ camping involved, fishing trips w/ camping involved. Anywhere I'm trying to save bulk/weight on my back or on my bike.

 

[shoobe01]

...You can definitely fudge on sleeping bag warmth rating if you sleep in your layers, rather than shedding clothes to sleep and using a warmer bag...

Solid option. Not mine but I know several who do not do sleeping bags ever, just dress properly before "bed" and then lay on a mat, cover with a woobie. If raining, a fly. Many leave their boots on, but some do switch to camp booties of some sort.
It is very not me, but it seems to work for them, and they have a very small ruck from dumping much of the sleep system.

I am not a fan of sleeping inside a legit bag with clothes on as it gets dirty. Enough you can see notable degradation in performance after just a week or two (or equivalent: a few months of weekend trips). At least add a sleeping bag liner (which itself can add 10° of warmth!) and wash that regularly.

 

[Clownbuster]

I sleep in the buff.

Don't I know it!

 

[Clownbuster]

TMI lol

Only from holding his mouth open that long... wait, that's TMJ, carry on.

 

[flogxal]

Solid option. Not mine but I know several who do not do sleeping bags ever, just dress properly before "bed" and then lay on a mat, cover with a woobie. If raining, a fly. Many leave their boots on, but some do switch to camp booties of some sort.
It is very not me, but it seems to work for them, and they have a very small ruck from dumping much of the sleep system.

I am not a fan of sleeping inside a legit bag with clothes on as it gets dirty. Enough you can see notable degradation in performance after just a week or two (or equivalent: a few months of weekend trips). At least add a sleeping bag liner (which itself can add 10° of warmth!) and wash that regularly.

Real good point on treating your sleeping bag right. If you want it to last, keep it clean. Wash it sometimes, too. As mfr suggests, I think.

In cold months the outer layers are not denim full of dirt (which is like sandpaper inside your sleeping bag), but usually very flexible nylon. But more often than not I'm shedding the shell only, and sleeping in my baselayer+insulation combo, socks on, hat on. Hats are pretty good at keeping you warm just like a good sleeping pad -- if you're thin-haired, part-bald, or bald.

 

[flogxal]

I sleep in the buff.

The gear chasers want to know, which one?

 

[shoobe01]

Very much the best neck gaiters there are. Not on their normal website, but they make them for various militaries, so you can get legit camo. Here are a few (they are going to sell out soon) in M05: https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/original-buff-m05-neck-tube/68714

 

[Crews]

I use an Exped mat because they’re the most comfortable. Don’t skrimp on R value if it’s going to be cold.

I have a quilt with 3.6oz Climashield Apex insulation. It’s light, manages moisture like a champ, and is crazy warm. I have been plenty warm down into the 30’s with just this and merino wool base layers.

If it gets really cold, I have a 40 degree down quilt that is used as inner layer below synthetic. If you layer synthetic over down it will transport all the moisture out of the down and not wet it out.

I carry a $230 8x10 tarp that weighs 11 ounces. It’s more room than any tent, and I can break it out by itself for weather and friends during the day if needed. Plus, I don’t have to crawl into my shelter if the weather is nice.

I use a bug bivy that’s 5 ounces. The solid floor replaces a separate ground cloth, and it keeps me free from snakes, bugs, etc in a floorless shelter. A bug bivy is all I’ll use, as I’ve heard too much feedback about condensation in solid ones. When it’s time to roll out I just pull the plug on the Exped and roll the whole thing up, quilt and all.

 

[alfack]

Haven't been out for a few years, but go with the Z-packs Duplex 2 person tent, Nemo down 20 degree bag and one of their step on to pump up sleeping pads. Used to have a Western Mountaineering bag but got rid of it due to the zipper being on the wrong side.

 

[LRRPF52]

Picked up a Peax Solace 15 bag this year. Liked the features. Not a new concept but done well.

Solace 15 Hunting Sleeping Bag by PEAX

SLEEP BETTER | HUNT BETTER After 7 iterations of development and testing, we introduce the SOLACE 15—a hunting sleeping bag designed to optimize mountain recovery. Scientific evidence highlights sleep's pivotal role in decision-making, muscle recovery, focus, and fostering a competitive edge...

www.peaxequipment.com

That bag looks great man.

If I was going really lightweight/minimalist for motorcycle bundle, are you riding in extreme cold conditions or reasonable days with reasonable temp drops, mainly looking for shelter from rain/sleet/flurries?

Whatever you choose, when I use a bivy in combination with sleeping bags and an inflatable mattress, I learned to put the coffin-shaped mattresses inside of the bivy between the Gore-Tex and the bag.

You can also take some of that aluminum foil-coated bubble wrap and make a sheet of it the same shape as your inflatable mattress, and place it inside that layering system to reflect and resonate your body’s heat within the bag for extreme cold conditions.

This can also help reduce the weight of the bag you’re using because the thermal efficiency of such a set-up will impress you.

I’ve been in heavy snowing conditions inside my bivy with that set-up and the ECWCS sleep system at high altitude and had to unzip the bag and bivy so I didn’t cook myself like a sauna.

I don’t like tents due to all their bulk, complexity, and hassle, so after spending 22 years mostly using poncho hooches or sleeping in the open, I grew accustomed to being without a tent.

Regions of the world where I have slept many nights out in the open, regardless of season:

Sierra Nevadas
High Uintahs
Georgia
Virginia
Korea (probably the worst due to Manchurian winds in the winter deep freeze)
Washington, to inclue Mt. Rainier
Panama (totally different ballgame for shelter and sleep solutions, definitely want a mosquito net)
Middle East
Rockies
Finland
Estonia

That layered sleep system with the pad inside the bivy and optional thermal reflector will cover your bases really well, but the ECWCS sleep system is a bit bulky.

Another thing that helps with sleep is sleep prep and meditation, which can really get you through normally-uncomfortable conditions.

 

[Dispatcher91]

This popped up in my YT feed. Weird how this was recommended for watching after I read this thread.

I liked the Permethrin. You may grow a third eye, but it does stop bugs.

 

[db2000]

Then there’s the Anker batt for the CPAP

 

[Fx51LP308]

This popped up in my YT feed. Weird how this was recommended for watching after I read this thread.

I liked the Permethrin. You may grow a third eye, but it does stop bugs.

No Joke, actually! I went on "Safari" in Kenya for one week in 1998. The precautions we had to take against being bitten by mosquitos carrying Malaria and/or Dengue were phenomenal. And this camp was right "in the bush" as it were and not in a cleared out area. This camp was on land that was owned by the local Masai tribe and they served primarily as the "guardians" for the campers against animals that could kill you easily (lions, leopards, rhinos, hippos, crocs, venomous snakes, etc.). But they could do nothing about disease carrying mosquitos except take as many "prophylactic" and preventative measures as possible.

And let me get this out of the way, now. Earlier in this thread, I mentioned that, since childhood, I never had and would never again sleep in a "tent." Well, when I said that, I had forgotten about this Kenya trip. This camp was not like the other "touristy" Safari camps with constructed dorm buildings, HVAC, etc. This camp was "real." The dorm areas were all "tented." But these were "luxury" tents with wooden support structures, wooden floors, high foundations with stairs, huge living areas and "en-suite" toilets/showers all with the supporting plumbing/water. They would, of course, turn it on./off as needed, but... As good as these tents were, they would, of course, not protect you from "critters" of any/all sizes. So the Masai had overnight guards in the dorm area for the larger critters, but we had to take care of the smaller ones (bugs/mosquitos).

One week before my arrival, I was started on a course of anti-Malaria drugs. I couldn't take the primary "quinine" based drugs (Chloroquine, Mefloquine, sold under the brand name "Larium" as I recall, etc.), because of a drug conflict with my current meds at the time. Good for me, as I was scared of those quinine based drugs for the "LSD like" side effects, etc. So, they put me on Doxycycline. I was advised to bring a Mosquito net to drape around the bed when I slept. I still have that net today. I also bought a mosquito net jacket (which I also still have) with a "hood" on it that I could put on when out in the field. And, of course, a whole bunch of sprays. Mostly "Off" but also permetherin based sprays. I still have some of that as well.



As it turns out, the camp had its own commercial permatherin based spray called "Doom!"

You would "Doom your room" (well, tent, actually) before you left it for each Safari truck trip and once again when you came back but went to the dining hall for dinner. They also did things like light kerosene lanterns at night, not only for "light," but also to have the smoke/fumes keep the bugs away. I don't recall, but I do think one had to extinguish the lantern before you actually went to sleep, but....

Thankfully, I was never bitten. Not once. There were sufficient precautions against Malaria. The greater issue was Dengue fever as there was no real cure for it. The only prophylaxis against it was just, simply, not being bitten.

 

[shoobe01]

My new shelter arrived and so far I could not be happier. It's a GT (ground tarp) from Warbonnet which has that simple name because they are a hammock shelter place but they make ONE for us weird ground sleepers.

Use cords entirely and trees, or get walking sticks etc to serve as poles. Has end flaps, turns into a sort of ultralight pup tent:

Or, clip points to tie them back and make it a rectangle, deploy it however you want in basha mode, etc:

I also had many struggles with my new crazy cord (I am using 1.3 mm Kevlar) tangling so created some cards, since the concept was front of mind as this weekend I also set up a mast antenna for reasons: