Colorado trail Aug thru-hike clothing + sleeping

[Dont Wantto]

Planning a thru of the Colorado Trail starting last week of July – last week of August. Might skip the first 100 miles or so (near Denver) in order to finish in that time frame.

Here are things I own now.. help on choosing would be great! I've used all of these and find them all comfortable..

I tend to be a reasonably warm sleeper.

Sleeping bag choices:

1. Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 F – 30 oz

2. North Face Cat's Meow 20 F – 40 oz

Sleeping pad:

3. Blue foam, torso sized – 7 oz

4. Ridgerest – 14 oz

CLOTHING

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Hiking clothing:
5. Outdoor Research warm weather hiking t-shirt – 5 oz

6. White Nylon hiking pants – 13 oz

Warm clothing:
7. Lightweight Merino top (Icebreaker 200) – 6.2 oz

8. Midweight Merino top layer w/ hood (I/O Bio) – 11 oz

9. Patagonia Capilene 3 Zip-Neck

10. Midweight Merino + polyester bottom (Kombi) – 6.3 oz

Down jacket:

11. New Balance FUGU jacket – super warm!! winner of Nisley's tests.. – 14 oz

Rain gear / outerwear:

12. Pants from DriDucks set

13. Jacket from DriDucks set

14. Expensive Gore-tex Rain and Wind stopper Outdoor Research Jacket – 26 oz (yes, 26 oz!).

(I bought #14 last year before I knew anything about UL.. it is a solid jacket though for any wind or rain and adds warmth by cutting out all wind. Does have pit zippers which might allow me to wear it while hiking..)

Other warm stuff:
15. Beanie – 2.5 oz

16. Thick wool socks for sleeping that will not fit in my shoe — 4.5 oz

17. Merino midweight socks that will fit in my shoe for hiking as well — 3 oz

[Chris Gray]

I usually recommend +20 degree bag for the CT in the later months, but I would say that you could get away with the lighter +32degree bag combined with the ridgerest, Capilene 3 and Fugu jacket.

Basically, from your list I would go with:

-Ultralamina +32
-Ridgerest (Perhaps cut this down to torso length?)

Hiking:
-OR warm weather or Icebreaker 200
-Nylon pants

Clothing:
-Capilene 3 or Midwight Merino hoodie
-Merino bottoms
-Fugu Jacket

-Driducts pants and jacket
-Beanie
-I just use ankle socks for sleeping in. No need for a heavy pair of sleep socks.

-I would also add to your items a windshirt and a pair of glove liners.

[Author]

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