NOW is the time to test your gear!

[JackOfAllTrades]

It was 17 degrees out this morning. Wind chill is well below zero.  I slept outside last night. (Wife thinks I'm nutz.)  I was toasty warm all night. Made it to work on time this morning after I broke down the tent.  I sleep cold, with my hips aching from cold, so I tried a different insulator under my REI Stratus inflatable. My yard has been quite frozen for days so this was a great test.
 
The tent I'm using now, A Mountain Smith Razor, is not great in 40mph gusts.  I'm still looking for what I want....
 
Now is the time to test what you've bought that should keep you warm on a high hunt if a storm hits. If'n you get cold or wet, you just go in the house and snuggle with the wife. You likely won't have that option on a back country hunt. -Well, your huntin buddy might not be too keen on the snuggle part.
 
-Steve

[Easy-E]

Brilliant! Thanks for posting this.

[Oldguy]

I ran into your son this morning and he said that when got up this morning, there was an extension cord running from the house to the backyard. Also someone had taken his electric blanket off his bed during the night.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I ran into your son this morning and he said that when got up this morning, there was an extension cord running from the house to the backyard. Also someone had taken his electric blanket off his bed during the night.

I'm gonna call Bull Snot on that!  Neither of the boys slept at home last night! Cody at his girl's place with the power out. Shane at Johns so they could get up at 4:am and get their decoys set out before sun-up.  No electric blanket involved. (block heater plugged in on the Power Stroke though)  North Face SnowShoe bag with the combination of insulators under me.
 
-Steve

[pianoman9701]

I ran into your son this morning and he said that when got up this morning, there was an extension cord running from the house to the backyard. Also someone had taken his electric blanket off his bed during the night.

 

[vandeman17]

I ran into your son this morning and he said that when got up this morning, there was an extension cord running from the house to the backyard. Also someone had taken his electric blanket off his bed during the night.

And the truth shall set you free.... 

I do like your idea to test stuff out when it isn't a MUST USE situation. Not quite to this extent but when I repair a set of waders I always fill up the bath tub and sit in it to give them a good test before I go out into the marsh. Rather learn they still leak at home then out in the cold! 

[Oldguy]

I thought I had a good joke going and then Shane messes me up by not being home! I have to admire him in regard to hunting this morning; it sounds like a wind tunnel outside the window.

[timberghost72]

Brrrrrrr. I prefer to set up my gear and have my wife test and report  I am thoughtful though and bring her some hot chocolate 

This is a good idea and I should probably do it. I haven't tested my gear under 35* so now with the dry cold air, is a great time to do it.

[Houndhunter]

17 degrees? With the wind chill out here the low is -50!!! Im not testing out any gear tonight, staying inside with a few hounds on the bed

[Lingcod]

My question is what did you do for the wife to make you sleep in the yard..

[netcoyote]

17 degrees? With the wind chill out here the low is -50!!! Im not testing out any gear tonight, staying inside with a few hounds on the bed

Sounds like a Three Dog Night there...

[Wea300mag]

What are you using for a bag?

This is the mattress I have been using in the cold after a recommendation by Actionshooter. It works very good in the cold.

http://www.amazon.com/Exped-DownMat-Pump-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B0038WRMVW

[JackOfAllTrades]

What are you using for a bag?

This is the mattress I have been using in the cold after a recommendation by Actionshooter. It works very good in the cold.

http://www.amazon.com/Exped-DownMat-Pump-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B0038WRMVW

If I use the NorthFace Snowshoe with the REI Stratos inflatable mat, (R3.8 and weighs less than a pound.) in temps around zero degrees, I get cold hips. Everything else is just fine. I'm certainly warm, but I get sore hips. (I literally have no fat on my hips and sleep on my side) I don't blame the sleeping bag at all. I believe that the issue is that I need to insulate from the ground better when the ground is frozen.  Like you point out a better sleeping pad...  I never had this issue with any bag if I used my hammock.  I tested a couple of combinations that only add a few ounces to my pack. A section of closed cell foam under my mid section takes care of the cold hips.  I also tested an older synthetic bag with a super light liner bag with that extra foam to success in the cold. -That tells me I can ditch the Snowshoe that zips on the wrong side and is too long for me anyway.
 
-Steve

[JackOfAllTrades]

My question is what did you do for the wife to make you sleep in the yard..

She didn't make me do nuthin!
29' camp trailer is out back under the carport with full propane tanks and power/furnace.. I still chose the tent and sleepin on the ground. 
 
-Steve

[Jonathan_S]

I like to do gear tests when coyote hunting, it's a good time to test possibilities without ruining an important hunt.

[ICEMAN]

What are you using for a bag?

This is the mattress I have been using in the cold after a recommendation by Actionshooter. It works very good in the cold.

http://www.amazon.com/Exped-DownMat-Pump-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B0038WRMVW

If I use the NorthFace Snowshoe with the REI Stratos inflatable mat, (R3.8 and weighs less than a pound.) in temps around zero degrees, I get cold hips. Everything else is just fine. I'm certainly warm, but I get sore hips. (I literally have no fat on my hips and sleep on my side) I don't blame the sleeping bag at all. I believe that the issue is that I need to insulate from the ground better when the ground is frozen.  Like you point out a better sleeping pad...  I never had this issue with any bag if I used my hammock.  I tested a couple of combinations that only add a few ounces to my pack. A section of closed cell foam under my mid section takes care of the cold hips.  I also tested an older synthetic bag with a super light liner bag with that extra foam to success in the cold. -That tells me I can ditch the Snowshoe that zips on the wrong side and is too long for me anyway.
 
-Steve

Steve, ever try the coldweather sleep outs with standard foam backpacking sleep mats? We swear by them, put two under you... An added advantage to these is that you can sit on them around a fire, or around on sharp edges and not destroy them. I am convinced airmats over cold ground do not work well, especially when you compress heavy at the hips and shoulders, almost no insulative value left when you compress them.

[Jonathan_S]

When I'm camping in snow that is too deep to shovel away from my bed, I sleep on a 8" foam pad from JoAnn's fabric store   
 
It's bulky but I can get it rolled up enough to pack in and out.  Nice dense foam that keeps the chill away.  I've used a 15 degree marmot bag in sub-zero temps doing this 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Steve, ever try the coldweather sleep outs with standard foam backpacking sleep mats?

Well, that's what I cut for my mid section. Just part of a backpacking sleep mat.

-Steve

[actionshooter]

What are you using for a bag?

This is the mattress I have been using in the cold after a recommendation by Actionshooter. It works very good in the cold.

http://www.amazon.com/Exped-DownMat-Pump-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B0038WRMVW

If I use the NorthFace Snowshoe with the REI Stratos inflatable mat, (R3.8 and weighs less than a pound.) in temps around zero degrees, I get cold hips. Everything else is just fine. I'm certainly warm, but I get sore hips. (I literally have no fat on my hips and sleep on my side) I don't blame the sleeping bag at all. I believe that the issue is that I need to insulate from the ground better when the ground is frozen.  Like you point out a better sleeping pad...  I never had this issue with any bag if I used my hammock.  I tested a couple of combinations that only add a few ounces to my pack. A section of closed cell foam under my mid section takes care of the cold hips.  I also tested an older synthetic bag with a super light liner bag with that extra foam to success in the cold. -That tells me I can ditch the Snowshoe that zips on the wrong side and is too long for me anyway.
 
-Steve

Steve, ever try the coldweather sleep outs with standard foam backpacking sleep mats? We swear by them, put two under you... An added advantage to these is that you can sit on them around a fire, or around on sharp edges and not destroy them. I am convinced airmats over cold ground do not work well, especially when you compress heavy at the hips and shoulders, almost no insulative value left when you compress them.

If it gets into the negative temps I have used a foam Thermarest under my Exped downmat,  But I use a -20 REI expedition bag though, its kinda like sleeping in a furnace.

[bracer40]

I've tested my goose down mummy bag enclosed with a Goretex bivy sack on top of a thermarest pad in weather ranging from freezing rain on the deck to single digits in a tent on Rainier, to snow caves and igloos and have been warm every time. Essential to staying warm is staying dry. In the field it means keeping back up clothes dry until time to climb in the bag.

[fillthefreezer]

gave the new sleeping bag a good run last night. wouldnt say i was toasty warm, but i definitely wasnt cold. just wore base layers and a light stocking hat.

[JackOfAllTrades]

gave the new sleeping bag a good run last night. wouldnt say i was toasty warm, but i definitely wasnt cold. just wore base layers and a light stocking hat.

There ya go!  Wind chill temps have been single digits at my place for four days now. It's a great time to test gear. Sleeping bags and tents set up with no wind deflectors. Winds have been steady 20+ with a few gusts to 40 over the last few days. Now is time to test to be sure your gear will keep you warm, and stay put/all-together, before you really need it in the high country when an unexpected storm hits.
 
 
-Steve

[fillthefreezer]

There ya go!  Wind chill temps have been single digits at my place for four days now.
 
-Steve

thermometer said 11, noaa said 12, and when i left for work, my car said 15. id say bag is pretty true to temp. i usually sleep cold.

[JLS]

There ya go!  Wind chill temps have been single digits at my place for four days now.
 
-Steve

thermometer said 11, noaa said 12, and when i left for work, my car said 15. id say bag is pretty true to temp. i usually sleep cold.

My Marmot Sawtooth is pretty true also.  It's a 15 degree bag, and I've slept in it down to +10 with a beanie and a base layer.  Like you, I wasn't roasting, but I was comfortable enough to sleep.

I put my new Sitka Jetstream through the wringer last week, and it performed very well.  I am very impressed with these coats.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I have a new Camo Columbia Omni-Shield Omni-Heat coat that seems to keep me very warm out in this wind.
 
My home weather station says it's pretty chilly outside.
 
 
-Steve
 

[swanny]

Went out two weeks ago and did some gear testing. I'm not sure if the hammock is the right piece for backpack hunting, but the sleeping bag is perfect. Could easily do away with your puffy jacket for August and most September trips.

http://www.exped.com/usa/en/blog/snow-camping-hammocks

[JackOfAllTrades]

I used a net hammock for years of hunting and backpacking. I've switched to a lightweight tent. Hmm... Not add the puffy down jacket during the high hunt? I've done the opposite. New down vest for those chilly mornings and just in case a weather system blows in.

-Steve