Best Tent / Best Bag

[crabcreekhunter]

I run a big Agnes fly creek ul2 and also the ul3, can't say a bad thing about them!

[hogslayer]

I was looking into getting a EE quilt myself.  After reading a ton of reviews and putting my own experience with down into the mix i backed out of it.  To me if something sounds to good to be true it most likely is.  I can see where a quilt would be really nice, but living in Washington where we get a lot of rain i wouldn't want to risk getting the down wet.  It could get wet from a tent or condensation dripping off from the inside.  Either way, i know that if down gets wet, it's worthless.  I am going to stick with my synthetic bag.  Feel free to correct me if someone  has used one for a few season's.

You shouldn't really make comments or give advice without first hand experiance. I've slept quite warm in my down quilt after getting wet. Don't just blindly believe every thing you read on the internet. I hunt and live on The west side and I use down exclusivly. I've used EE quilts for several seasons now and taken them through some
 Of the worst rainstorms I've ever been in

I hope your right.  I just bought a EE revelation quilt 10 degree.  Going to give her a try.

[jackelope]

I run a big Agnes fly creek ul2 and also the ul3, can't say a bad thing about them!

Fly Creek vs Copper Spur....both are great tents.
Fly Creek has a front entry and less than vertical walls, which cost you space inside.
Copper Spur has more vertical walls and side entry which a lot of people prefer.
2 side doors on the Copper Spur also which is nice.

[bradslam]

Don't worry about if a tent is freestanding.  Because of wind considerations, you should be staking a tent down anyway, and regardless, you will have stakes with you.  With non-freestanding tents you will get more area for less weight.  One tent you might want to take a look at is the Sierra Designs Tensegrity 1.  It is a very different design than the normal double wall tent.  There are two versions: the FL is 2 lbs 6 oz packaged weight and the Elite is 2 lbs 1 oz packaged weight (packaged weight includes poles, stakes, guy lines, etc).  They carry the FL at REI.  I am ordering the Elite and have no first hand experience with it yet, but it looks intriguing and I am tired of vestibules.  Sierra Designs has some very good videos on their website regarding their take on equipment design, as well wind tunnel tests that you can watch.

Regarding down sleeping bags, don't be afraid of them.  I have used down bags for at least the last twenty years in rainy climates and would never go back to synthetic.  These days there are many bags that use down with water repellant treatments like Dri-Down, so it is even less of a problem.  Here is a good video from Sierra Designs on sleeping bags where Michael Glavin talks about the myths concerning down.http://www.sierradesigns.com/blog/brandlive-video-recap 

[jjhunter]

I just pulled the trigger on my system:

KUIU Ultra Star 1P w/ footprint
Enlightened Equipment Enigma Pro 850 DownTek   (Wide/Long)
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (Long)
LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Trekking poles

I'll give them a few test runs this summer before I hit the WY high country in September.

Thanks for all of the advice.    I am pumped about the EE quilt!

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the same quilt and will be very interested to hear what you think about yours when you get it.  I think I'll wait until you do a review before I order

[jjhunter]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the same quilt and will be very interested to hear what you think about yours when you get it.  I think I'll wait until you do a review before I order

I don't know if I am the guy to post a review, I've got nothing to compare it to?   

[Karl Blanchard]

Eh!  I usually wing it anyways! 

Just tell me it doesn't suck and I'll probably just order

[longwalker]

You'll like that quilt, it's the same one I run except in a extra long.

[MtnMuley]

I have the same quilt, size and all. It's getting sent back for a Revalation pro.

[longwalker]

Yes the revaluation is pretty awesome. I have one of each and may actually buy another rev in a higher temp rating too. If I had to choose one it would be the revaluation but the enigma is a warmer quilt for the real cold stuff

[longwalker]

Let us know how you like that kuiu tent jj. Got a chance to take the zpacks out in Idaho for the first trip of the year. That thing is amazing.

[Shawn Ryan]

BLRman

Don't wait too long to order your EE quilt. They are 7 weeks from order to shipping, unless you buy from their in stock supply, which is mostly returns and there are none "in stock" as I write this.