seeking help with sleeping/clothing insulation for 2016 PCT

Tarp: So what's your plan for bugs? Not much of an issue for the first 700 miles, but after that there are times they can be fierce.

Summerlite: I had mine overstuffed, and it does help, but it might still not keep you comfortable when it's freezing out.

When you get to Kennedy Meadows, you might well be adding gear, depending on time of year and your particular year. Ice axe, for example. People typically have a bear canister sent to them there. Then sometime after the Sierras (Sonora Pass for me), you mail stuff home that you no longer need.

What I did was start the trail with a 20F rated bag (also an WM bag), and then had my Summerlite mailed to Sonora Pass and sent home my heavier bag. Depending again on time of year, etc, you might want a heavier bag again sometime in WA state (I did not, but YMMV a lot).

OTOH, your down parka looks like overkill to me, so maybe that would be enough with the Summerlite throughout (?). But I'd want something lighter most of the trip, something like Montbell's U.L. down jacket. Ditto on the down pants and longjohns. PITA, IMO. Better to have a second bag and swap 'em after the Sierras. I'm taking you at your word that you're happy to buy more gear! :-)

I don't get the two different hoodies. A light rainshell that doubles as a windshirt should do just about everything, so long as you can keep your extremities warm.

Thin foam as puncture protection: a 1/8" thinlight pad can help a lot OVER your inflatable to goose the insulation, then be used underneath when not needed for warmth. Caution: if you get little debris/needles embedded/stuck into the foam it can increase rather than decrease the odds of a puncture, so best IMO is to take some care when rolling it up each morning.

I used a zpacks 20 degree quilt and a ghost whisperer (without hood) for the majority of my thru. For the rest of my hike I carried a Melanzana hoody. Along with a windshirt and rain jacket I could keep fairly warm. For my style of hiking (which rarely includes stopping) it worked great for me. If you don't care about trying to go super UL I would take the Melanzana for hiking, and extra warmth and the ghost whisperer. I got cold only a handful of times which for me is acceptable for a multi month hike. I also slept colder than most. I also carried some argon wind pants from Luke's ultralight gear instead of long johns. I slept in them or hiked in them, kept the bugs away and kept me warm from wind. never used a bivy and just used a polycro sheet with my MLD grace solo. My bag never got wet from rain, and there were quite a few storms. In the Sierra I just carried a bup headnet and wore it to sleep with my baseball cap. If the bugs were bad, benedryl+earplugs and usually I was so tired I didn't care anyway. Most of the time I'm already wearing the headnet and if the skies were clear I'd just chuck my groundsheet down throw my sleeping bag and pad down and just go to sleep. No setting up anything. Same in reverse for getting up. I found that if you ate a little before sundown, then you could eat in peace without the vampires attacking you. I am also a side sleeper but I learned to sleep on a gossamer gesr nightlight on the trail and now I sleep on my back with an almost non existent pillow.

Re: bugs – Right now, my plan is similar to Richards (sleep with headnet, baseball hat and ear plugs). I'll probably experiment over the next few months with a piece of bug netting (square meter?) hung from inside the tarp or just draped over and held in place with rocks or something.

I agree, the Mirage does seem like overkill as a warm jacket. It was bought for trips with friends where we spend A LOT more time sitting around in camp. I'll probably try the Mirage and Summerlite combo in the fall just to see what it's like.

Just to clarify, all the gear I listed should go under the heading "partial gear inventory" and not PCT Gear List – no way would I bring two down hoodys. And there are a few things I didn't mention: Houdini, rain jacket, long sleeve sun shirt to hike in…

But speaking of bringing two similar things – Richard, I hadn't thought of bringing the Ghost Whisperer AND the Melanzana. I also don't stop for breaks much so having a really warm jacket to put on during the day isn't necessary. I'm still in the process of getting the spreadsheet up to date so I don't know exactly where I stand as far as base weight goes but I'm feeling pretty good about it so far.

About sleeping pads – yes, I think I'll have to train myself to sleep on my back on CCF. The funny thing is, I already own a Z-Lite but I bought it for the dogs to sleep on.

I sense that placing another order w/ Zpacks is in my near future :)

I have found the Sea to Summit Nano Bug Net (2.9oz) very versitile bug protection. I have now used it under a Gatewood Cape and a MLD DuoMid. I tried sleeping with a ball cap, but I toss and turn a lot. I sleep on my side and have been bitten on my face more then once. The S2S net lets you read, roll around and change.

I didn't even know anything like the S2S bug net existed. At 3 ounces, its not that heavy and it's doubtful I could make anything much lighter that would work half as well. I'll almost certainly buy one for shorter, buggy trips and consider it for possible thru-hike gear.

For a sleeping bag, I'm currently considering between Katabatic Palisade quilt , Z-Packs 20*, and over-stuffing my Summerlight. Right now, the Palisade is winning. Even though the Palisade is only rated for 30*, based on reviews, it sounds much warmer than the Summerlight, and paired with a MH Ghost Wishperer hoddy (and possibly light fleece hat), would work well enough.

Hey Jed, I use a mirage and a standard (not overstuffed) summerlite. I find it perfect for Sierra temps. I have 2 temperature options. The nights can be warm or cold and it's hard to predict. I would bring it if you hit the sierras early in the season and then ditch it for the ghost whisperer later.

I've done the windpants no long underwear thing and I like it. I also always carry some merino underwear for sleeping.

On my thru, I used a Summerlite (off the shelf, not overstuffed), MLD Superlight bivy, and a Z-lite. I slept in my Montbell Thermawrap most nights, and in the Sierra I often added gloves, powerstetch beanie, and even my rain jacket on the coldest nights. I'm a coldish sleeper, and I definitely had some uncomfortable nights in the Sierra. Remember–it will get into the 20s multiple nights up there.

You might consider a ridgerest, which offers a bit more r-value, instead of the z-lite. I've used z-lites into the 20s a number of times now, and maybe it's just my imagination, but I feel like I can feel the cold seeping through the pad on those cold nights.

As for down pants, meh. You won't need them during breaks (that's what the sun is for), and even in the evening it usually doesn't start to get really cold until well after dark when you're already in your bag.

You will definitely have some bad mosquito nights in the Sierra and maybe in Oregon, so be sure that you're comfortable using just a headnet. I really liked having the bivy for the mosquitoes since it kept the bugs a bit off my face. On the worst nights, I also had a pyramid shaped net that I just suspended from my tarp or my hiking poles if I was cowboying. It's nice to have a little space to breathe and the ability to open up your sleeping bag if it's warmish.

BTW, if you don't like the confines of a bivy, that's fine, but the weight penalty is minimal. I used my bivy as a groundcloth (it has a silnylon bottom, and I coated it with seam sealant to make it more waterproof). So that's one less thing I had to carry. Plus, you get a few extra degrees of warmth with a bivy, so it might let you get away without the down pants or overstuffing the bag.

Have a great time.

For your consideration –

This worked very well for me.