So I'm taking a group of my friends up to Zion this summer break and I was thinking of some sleeping bag options for them on a major low budget. They still don't own one piece of gear and all of them are starving college students. I then told them about this bivy that I used up in Olympic national park last year for 19 nights up in the cold mountains. Let me tell you.. if you never been to Olympic, there is still snow up in the mountains during summer. I was not comfortable 2 or 3 of the nights due to poor layering and elevation but managed to get through the trip. But this is Zion were talking about and low elevation. We will for sure be doing the Narrows top to bottom and was wondering … would this work for them. I think yes but was wondering what you guys thought.
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SOL escape bivy for Zion in late June.
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Sounds like a bad idea. I'm not making any melodramatic claims that they'll freeze to death or anything like that but I'd go for a Blizzard Bag (I haven't looked in a while but I think Tog to EN it's basically a 40* bag) or a cheapie 40* synthetic sleeping bag before I'd suggest to someone else (I presume they have little to no backpacking experience) that they should try just the bivy.
Totally forgot about that bag! think that should work as a last resort if they cant find anything before then. Of if they want to stay light. Have a REI used sale that I'm taking them to this Saturday. Maybe we can find something good for them.
I haven't used it so I'm just going off of revues. The two gripes I've heard about the blizzard bag are moisture (which I'd expect) and that it doesn't pack down all that small after you've opened it.
I know this isn't going to happen in Zion, but I have slept next to a fire without a sleeping bag a few times and it was very comfortable, also pushed sleeping bag ratings with a fire (40 degree bag at 13 degrees was the most extreme). If all of my gear was stolen or lost and I couldn't afford to replace any of it, I wouldn't hesitate to go backpacking in mild weather and sleep by a fire every night.
If they can't afford anything then they should get some fleece blankets. Layer a couple.
Sometimes you can find cheap down jackets at goodwill.
If you don't need a shelter and you will be by water, then a sleeping bag and food are the main items they need to carry… so you could probably pull it off with a cheap bag.
I did the Narrows in September with a torso pad and a space blanket. Light fleece top and Underarmour coldgear bottoms, wool socks. This was a couple years ago. Maybe not my smartest decision ever, but it really wasn't bad. Check the temps, I'm betting June lows are higher than September lows. If they understand that it won't be as comfy-cozy as a bag and are mentally okay with that, they'll probably do just fine.
It may worth putting an advert on gear swap also.
Bad idea.
As a very recent graduate I understand being cheap.
I would be careful about bringing people brand new to backpacking on a trip with minimal gear. I would worry that if they had a bad outing on their first real trip it would deter them from going on any more.
Your best bet is to either rent gear from an REI or similar place or put out more adverts on gear swap for "cheap" gear. I'm sure there are a LOT of people on here who have walmart style tents/ bags/ etc. from when they first started for really cheap.
Offering $40 on gear swap for an xlite isn't going to work :P
Mike Clelland(NOLs instructor and author),he has some great free videos on lightening up be sure to watch(his clothing system,the entire contents of his pack,water treatment and part 1 and 2 on the dinky stuff for ideas),this is an article he wrote The fastest way to backpack weight loss ,this is pmags Lightweight Backpacking 101 and The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge .These are some other articles and videos for you to check out
Backpacking for Cheap: Gear for the Gearless
Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): 3-Season, 3-Day
Ultimate Hiking Gear & Skills Clinic
Oregon Field Guide: Ultralight Hiking
Lightweight Testimony: Lighter, Farther, Faster
Jamie Shortt talks about his progression and shows his gear list for each stage, Lightweight Testimony: My Journey into Lightweight Backpacking
That's some good stuff Link thanks.
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