So last weekend I got out with my all-new UL gear list.
The trip: a shakedown hike in Tahoe National Forest between 5,000 and 7,500 feet, snow drifts remaining, cool clowdy condition.
The gear:
SMD Comet- fantastic. I left the frame stays out, and with a torso-length foam pad folded as a frame, this may have been the most comfortable pack I've ever used (though the overall weight probably helped).
Golite ponchotarp- Used as a shelter, the pitch stayed taught in a-frame mode with trip-tease line, but the ridge-line tieout stitching looked a little sketchy, maybe it's just me. Otherwise, worked fine, but the small coverage made me nervous as I watched thunder clouds forming to the east.
Tigoat dwr bivy- The mosquito net worked well tied off at the trekking pole at my head under the poncho, the fabric hood didn't work as well with the tieout in the middle of the hood. Other bivies use the tie out at the opening zipper, which would have provided better ventilation.
Not the bivy's fault: slippery silnylon plus slippery air mat meant some silnylon ended up on top of me and some DWR below me.
Jacks'r'better No Sniveller- Very warm, comfortable, great in poncho mode. Very comfortable with the bivy, but the warmth was compromised by my pad (see next)
Insul mat max thermo short- The real weak link of my kit. While it was very cushy and comfortable, it was cold despite the insulation, and shifted around alot under me. I had the blue foam framing my pack under my legs, and ended up switching the foam to under my torso early in the morning to stay warm enough.
I will be re-exploring my pad system for my next trip, but closed cell foam will likely be my future. My next attempt will probably involve layering blue foam with 1/8 Gossamer Gear thinlite padding.
REI Gossamer hooded jacket- Perfect warmth for the cool conditions, especially combined with my quilt.
OR Ion windshirt- Very nice, comfortable even in temps I would probably have been comfortable wearing just a shirt, very breathable. No rain to test the DWR, but a stupid mistake with my filter and platy made for a decent test.
Salomon XA Pro3d trail runners- Very comfy, quick drying through snow and runnoff streams combined with smartwool socks. Slightly more foot stress than with hard shanked boots.
REI Peak UL trekking poles- My second real use of trekking poles, I am finally sold, and really liked the REI carbon collapsables. I think I will still pack the poles from time to time to maintain the balancing muscles in my legs.
So what did I learn? UL is great. Insulmat max thermo is not particularly insul or thermo.
I will probably not use a poncho tarp as a primary shelter often until I feel more comfortable with the rest of my sleep set up.
