Winter Gear Lists – Clothing/Sleep?

Hi Ryan,
I am writing in advance of my trip to the Sierras this next weekend and will update you with my results when I return.
I am trying hard to move to ultralight backpacking and am glad to see a recent gear list for the winter.
In some of your articles, you use a synthetic bag for winter, in others a down bag. One problem I am having with my synthetic bag (20 deg primaloft) is physically getting it into a light pack. If I compress it, it is too bulky and hard to fit into my Golite Infinity. It physically won’t get in. For this reason alone, I am ordering an Arc bag.
Have you moved to synthetics for the snow of early spring/winter as noted in one of your articles or have you come back to down again? The volume of the bag seems to be the limit as to what pack I bring, so it seems a choice between a heavier, roomier pack or a down bag with its winter condensation issues.

Thanks for your help and I will let you know what happens.

steve

In the “blizzard of 05” as the news said… not a blizzard, but you know how accurate the TV news is *rolls eyes*

(weights are rounded to nearest .25lbs)

Pack – MountainSmith Ghost – 3lbs

Shelter – Bibler Hooped Bivy – 1.5lbs
Sleeping Bag – MontBell #4 – 2.5lbs
Full Length Sleeping Pad – Full length Blue Foam pad (cut to fit) – approx .5lbs
Torso Pad – POE Uber Micro – .25lbs

Hat – Montbell UL Field Cap – 1oz
Cold Hat – Combined Balaclava/watch cap – .25lbs

Uninsul. Cagoule – Homemade design – .75oz
Insul. Jacket – Montbell Thermawrap – .5lbs
Shirt – UnderArmour ColdGear – .75lbs
Kilt – SportKilt – 1lbs
Insulated “chaps” – Homemade design – .75lbs

Shell gloves – Marmot Trigger Finger Gore Tex – .5lbs
Insulated Gloves – Marmot “trigger finger” Primaloft – .25lbs
Liner Gloves – Marmot Evolution
N2S Gloves – 2oz

Socks – Smartwool 2 pairs – .5lbs
Booties – Integral Designs – .25lbs
Shoes – Merrell Chameleon XCR – 2.5lbs
Gaiters – Homemade Spandura – .25lbs

Cook set + Homemade Stove – .5lbs

Approx 15.75lbs

It was very snowy, but did not get extremely cold. I was able to keep warm while moving but cooled off when I stopped. However I was able to set up camp in a protected area, snuggled into my bag, and cooked dinner (not bear safe – but no known bears in the area). By bed time I was quite warm and comfortable. I woke cold around 0400, but since I usually get up around 0500, it was no big deal. Boiled water for tea and oatmeal, and was warm by 0430 and on the trail a little earlier than normal.

If I had the $, Id also include a Montbell “UL Sleeping Bag” which would up the weight about 1.25lbs, but I feel I would have stayed warm for at least the additional hour Im accustomed to.