Episode 92 | Tenkara, Ultrarunning, and Performance Minimalism

i just listened to this and curious about the comment in the minimalism section about the UL Ghost Whisperer jacket only good for 50 degrees and above. Do people actually bring a down jacket if it only going down to 50? My thought I only bring a down jacket if it is getting down in the 30s. I went backpacking 2 weekends ago and it got down to 33. Around camp I had a long sleeve shirt, fleece vest, Rab Alpha Flash jacket and a windbreaker on and I was comfy. I did have a Ghost Whisperer jacket with me but never put it on.

Borah gear down vest baffles are 4 inches wide. Lots of warm for 4oz.

It’s a good question Mark. Clear sky, night time, evening breeze, inactive (hanging around camp in my chair reading or something), body trashed after a long day of walking, calorie-deficient, I get pretty chilled at 50 degrees once the sun goes down. Plus, I’m a little older (50s), slowing metabolism has an effect, maybe? My 25-yo son can hang with me in the same conditions wearing a t-shirt and wind shirt and be fine!

An underquilt on your chair?

There’s also what you’re willing to tolerate versus just being comfortable. I could get away with not brining items a, b, and c but if combined they weigh an extra pound but bring me a lot more comfort and recovery it’s worth it. Even when not hiking I wear so much more clothing (tights, hat, gloves) compared to the kids in their 20s on group long run mornings. #2old2becold

camp

Setting up camp last summer, I met a young smaller framed woman who used both an alpha direct layer and a Timmermade down puffy.  Lots of warmth considering she could combine it all with her Borah bivy sack and her quilt if need be (going to assume she had alpha pants and sleeping socks with her visible set up).   Individual warmth preferences, hanging out vs diving right into the quilt/sleeping bag, etc..  We had a common table stopping at “Hikertown” during the unseasonal chill, and, despite the cold wind when we went through, I was doing ok with a Airmesh (“Octa”) hoodie under a Montbell Tachyon until that sun set.  Could’ve used an added puffy vest myself.

At a certain number of long sleeves layers, the Michelin Man effect takes over.

performance minimalism

Another idea may be toughness.  I took a first version of the Ghost Whisperer, with water-resistant 800 down, on a trip and the shell survived a slip on a slimy sidewalk with slight cheese grater surface (then again, ripped a hole in the sleeve when I brushed it against regular drywall).  Wonder how much toughness could be imparted for little weight gain?  (down here there’s always spiny or thorny plants waiting to snag fabric … remember Mountain Hardwear had a now defunct baselayer that would handle even desert spines).