Need advice on gear!

[Jonathan_S]

Bags...down.  Keep 'em dry.  Pads...there are two things to consider, weight and R value.

[sagewalker]

Bags...down.  Keep 'em dry.  Pads...there are two things to consider, weight and R value.

Any recommendations on bags and pads?

[Jonathan_S]

I cannot remember exactly what pad...it is an inflatable pad.  R Value of 1.5 and packs down to the size of a chowder can.  My bag is a Marmot synthetic 15 degree bag.  It is very heavy at nearly 3 lbs but I don't pack in farther than 5-7 miles usually and I spike and hunt from there vs carrying camp around and moving.

http://www.rei.com/product/864092/marmot-lithium-sleeping-bag 

A bag like this is what I would go for in your situation.  With a bag that warm, you can afford to go with a less insulated sleeping pad. 

PM some guys like whuppinstick, XxLojackxX and others who are really into the backcountry hunts.

[bracer40]

REI.com has excellent articles detailing how to select sleeping bags, pads and tents based on your needs. They are in the learning section.
Backpacker magazine also has an annual gear issue where new stuff is tested by users in the field.

[Karl Blanchard]

For that hunt you are gonna want a 0° bag.  Any of the good brands will work.  Big Agnes, Sierra designs, mountain hardware, kuiu, etc.  Remember,  counting ounces is cool and all but if your super lite gear doesn't function and you quite your hunt early, then your pack weight doesn't matter.  Big agnes, thermarest, klymit, and others are all great pads, just make sure they are insulated with a r value of like 4 or better.  You will see Temps in the single digits and possibly lower in the church in Novemeber.

I'm a tent guy.  Not a fan of bivy's.  If you don't sleep well in confined spaces, go with a tent.

So many clothing options it's crazy.  I use first lite and so far am very pleased.

To get fully set up with good, lightweight gear you are looking at $3k+.  Remember one thing, gear doesn't kill animals.  Grit, bush skills, and determination, kill animals.  Set a budget for what you are willing to spend on gear between now and game day, then find the gear that will fit that budget.  All that fancy gear is worthless if you cant afford gas to get to McCall.  Don't forget to learn to use it all before you go.  A snow storm on the salmon in November is no time to try and learn to make a fire with flint, steel, and trioxane. 

[ctwiggs1]

Start with the heaviest things first, that is where you will save the most weight.  For most people, that is themselves.  Loose 10 pounds and you will be in much better shape.

SO TRUE!! You'll have better stamina AND be supporting less weight!!

[kentrek]

What an awesome adventure! 

That weather can get pretty nasty ! Even in early October it's been below zero with crazy winds...

Everyone is abit different but I've found i sleep better in a bivy than a tent during fowl weather....also since your in a group I'd recommend having a tarp & a fire...something easy that can be taken down pending on winds....sleep with your heads under the tarp an keep your bivy wide open 

The best sleeping pads I've found is whiskey. ...really  but I like the z pad for warmth and the Klymit xlight for a bit of comfort. .that way you have the best of all world's and are still relatively light, if you do go with the fully inflatable options be very careful not to pop it ! Sleeping on snow or frozen ground really sucks

Good luck ! Pick your camps wisely and have a blast

[Shawn Ryan]

Bags...down.  Keep 'em dry.  Pads...there are two things to consider, weight and R value.

Any recommendations on bags and pads?

ExPed makes some great pads with good R values. An R rating of 4+ would be good. You can get an R rating of 7 with some of ExPeds down mats.

Consider a down quilt in place of a bag. Enlightened Equipment makes great quilts and you customize your order. If you move much in your sleep, a quilt doesn't get tangled like a bag can. Less weight and less money than comparable bags.

Your trip sounds like a family trip a friend takes each year into the Church. Is one of your uncles named Don?

[Karl Blanchard]

Bags...down.  Keep 'em dry.  Pads...there are two things to consider, weight and R value.

Any recommendations on bags and pads?

ExPed makes some great pads with good R values. An R rating of 4+ would be good. You can get an R rating of 7 with some of ExPeds down mats.

Consider a down quilt in place of a bag. Enlightened Equipment makes great quilts and you customize your order. If you move much in your sleep, a quilt doesn't get tangled like a bag can. Less weight and less money than comparable bags.

Your trip sounds like a family trip a friend takes each year into the Church. Is one of your uncles named Don?

  Hey Shawn,  I have a quilt question for ya.  So I JUST got my EE 0° quilt in the mail and I am VERY skeptical on its temp rating.  Have you used yours down close to its temp rating?  I'll be taking it for elk in September and then to Idaho again in October for deer to give it a good run, but at this point I don't think I will be planning on packing g it for Colorado in November temps.  It's so light,  I am convinced they sent me the wrong bag!   I can see light through parts of it,  even after really shaking the down.  Is this normal?

[Shawn Ryan]

Mine is a 20° quilt and I've used it down to about 35° in CO a few weeks ago. I was plenty warm and very comfortable. It is super light as you've said, but high quality 800 fill down. I will have no hesitation using it at its rating.  I can see the light through the down just as you're saying, too.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Karl Blanchard]

Mine is a 20° quilt and I've used it down to about 35° in CO a few weeks ago. I was plenty warm and very comfortable. It is super light as you've said, but high quality 800 fill down. I will have no hesitation using it at its rating.  I can see the light through the down just as you're saying, too.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

  awesome!  Thank you!  Comfort wise, it is day and night to a traditional mummy, so I figure worst case, it doesn't perform to rating but I could still use it in September for elk and have a bag that only weights 20oz!  I was Def experiencing some buyers remorse when it showed up though

[Shawn Ryan]

Mine is a 20° quilt and I've used it down to about 35° in CO a few weeks ago. I was plenty warm and very comfortable. It is super light as you've said, but high quality 800 fill down. I will have no hesitation using it at its rating.  I can see the light through the down just as you're saying, too.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

  awesome!  Thank you!  Comfort wise, it is day and night to a traditional mummy, so I figure worst case, it doesn't perform to rating but I could still use it in September for elk and have a bag that only weights 20oz!  I was Def experiencing some buyers remorse when it showed up though

No remorse for me. I really like it. I move a lot and always end up twisted in my bag with the zipper wrapped under and over me. Not an issue at all with the quilt. In CO I was sleeping on a Big Agnes insulated air core, about 4.1 R rating.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Karl Blanchard]

Mine is a 20° quilt and I've used it down to about 35° in CO a few weeks ago. I was plenty warm and very comfortable. It is super light as you've said, but high quality 800 fill down. I will have no hesitation using it at its rating.  I can see the light through the down just as you're saying, too.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

  awesome!  Thank you!  Comfort wise, it is day and night to a traditional mummy, so I figure worst case, it doesn't perform to rating but I could still use it in September for elk and have a bag that only weights 20oz!  I was Def experiencing some buyers remorse when it showed up though

No remorse for me. I really like it. I move a lot and always end up twisted in my bag with the zipper wrapped under and over me. Not an issue at all with the quilt. In CO I was sleeping on a Big Agnes insulated air core, about 4.1 R rating.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

  I'm the same way, hence the quilt purchase   I picked up a BA insulated qcore sl this year and am loving it!

[Shawn Ryan]

I hope you really like it. Huge weight savings. BTW, I am thin and sleep "cold," so if it keeps me warm, that's saying something.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[CAMPMEAT]

You're asking about pacs etc and getting good info, but, don't forget about 10 days worth of food and water too.