WM Flash Vest

[Jon Solomon]

Adverstised manufacturer’s weight of 3.5 ounces, mine weighs in a bit over at 4.1 ounces or 118 grams.

Loft is a bit higher than the UL down pieces from Mont Bell. Mine fits easily under a BMW Cocoon pullover with no loss of loft. For 12 ounces, that’s a huge amount of warmth, flexibility, and weather-resistance.

Once I get those Cocoon pants, I want to find a 10-12 ounce sleeping bag to pair it with. This might take the thread in a different direction, but…I was thinking of the Mountain Laurel Designs Devotion Bag, until I saw that Ryan is prototyping an 11 oz PGD quilt. I wonder which would actually be warmer in use? The down bag is sewn through, but in tandem with such warm insulating clothing it shouldn’t feel cold. How would the PGD quilt compare? Perhaps Ryan’s trip notes when he comes back will give us a clue…

[kevin davidson]

Jon, if you are thinking of the MLD Devotion , Ron Bell,the proprieter, told me he was possibly changing the specs, including possibly removing the uninsulated hood ( actually I thought that a good feature). I betcha the cocoon quilt will turn out to be the warmer of the 2 (no sewn thru cold spots) but less compressible.

Incidentally, why not also consider a Nunatak Arc Edge @ 11 oz? Warmest of the lot if the size works for one.

[Jon Solomon]

I spoke with Ron and was considering losing the short side zip and/or narrowing the circumference of the bag a bit (especially the large footbox). Even if he changes the standard specs, he’d probably custom make the bag if you need it.

I, too, suspect the Cocoon quilt will be warmer–if it ever is made available to the general public, but if the MLD Devotion is used in a layering system, it might just provide more total warmth. It claims to rise to 1.5″ loft (between the sewn-thru seams, of course). I doubt a Cocoon quilt of similar weight would be more than 1″.

The Arc Edge looks too skimpy sizewise and too plump pricewise for me.

[kevin davidson]

Yes, plump indeed.
I had considered a “Modular” sleeping system similar to your Devotion (or BMW pg quilt) + Cocoon pullover and pants but I just can’t seem to personally make it work out for me (on paper)— The insulated pants are something I would only use in Winter or the colder parts of the shoulder seasons so they lack utility for me for, say, a summer sleeping system. It would not be warm enough with the Devotion for much of the other 3 season use I normally do. I do see it as very useful system for bivouacs ( Summer Alpinism, perhaps?).

Anyway, for myself, in my neverending pursuit for truth, justice, and the UL way, I have settled on a Nunatak quilt–a modified Arc Ghost which I hope will end up under 16oz. to be used with MLD’s epic bivy and tarp (and stuffed in one of his Prophet packs)—so a few ounces over the afore mentioned options but comparable in weight when you consider the Cocoon pant weight in your system and not having it in mine. The Nunatak option will probably be a bit warmer and compress smaller. The Cocoon pullover goes everywhere with me, though—what a versatile piece of gear.

I would be curious,Jon, as to where and when you would use your potential sleeping system. Modular solutions are always attractive, where possible.

[Jon Solomon]

I’m sure such ideas are in the air, and I’m not really one of the vanguard on the cutting edge of SUL techniques, either. In most situations I prefer to have a slightly greater margin of safety. Eg. Although I have a G6, I prefer to use my 24 ounce full spectra McHale pack with hip belt and stays. I like to be able to go off trail…

Right now the main scenario for my use is in Japan and Taiwan, mostly in Taiwan, and mostly in three-season conditions with temps fluctuating from below freezing to hot and humid. The alpine climate on these western Pacific islands can be VERY wet, hence the idea of PGD appeals to me. But having some down items is fine, too.

The Cocoon pants wouldn’t really represent a weight gain for me because I always take along a separate set of camp clothes. I’ve tried going without this extra change and it just doesn’t work for me for a lot of reasons that we could have a whole other thread about. So if I have a Cocoon pant and a Cocoon pullover, there are some trips when I’m not going to really need the warmth of either one of the Arc Alpinsts I have (16.5 oz/465 gr BMW Arc X, and a 21 oz/600 gr Nunatak AA in EPIC).

I guess I’ll probably hang back and watch for upcoming developments before I decide on a 10-11 ounce bag, although I really appreciate Ron Bell’s approach and attention to function.

I’d certainly like to hear more about your modified Ghost when you get it and about your sleep system in field usage…

[Author]

Posts