u/basedtom

I wanted to be sure to reach you;

though my ship was on the way it got caught   

in some moorings. I am always tying up   

and then deciding to depart. In storms and   

at sunset, with the metallic coils of the tide   

around my fathomless arms, I am unable   

to understand the forms of my vanity   

or I am hard alee with my Polish rudder   

in my hand and the sun sinking. To   

you I offer my hull and the tattered cordage   

of my will. The terrible channels where   

the wind drives me against the brown lips   

of the reeds are not all behind me. Yet   

I trust the sanity of my vessel; and   

if it sinks, it may well be in answer   

to the reasoning of the eternal voices,

the waves which have kept me from reaching you.

My last post was removed for low effort, so here we go.

I’m planning on combining the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated (extra small size) with the Nemo Switchback CCF pad. My reasoning is threefold.

Warmth: the combined warmth of the Sea to Summit (3.1R) and the Nemo (2R) comes to a 5.1 R-value, perfect for the shoulder season. The extra small Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated is only 50” (128cm) long. I’m 6 foot (183cm), so my lower half will not be on the inflatable, but it will be on the foam. That should be okay, since I tend to sleep hot, my legs will be wrapped in my quilt, and on the Nemo website it says the Switchback can go down to -7C to 2C (20F to 35F). I’m only planning on going down to 0C (32F) at most. If the inflatable fails, I’ll be cold, but I won’t die.

Versatility: if the inflatable Sea to Summit fails, I’ll have the Switchback as a backup. Or, if I’m lazy, or I’ve found a good camp spot and don’t feel like blowing up the inflatable, I can throw down the Switchback and go to sleep. The Switchback also doubles as a sit pad, a kneeling pad, or a windscreen for my camp stove. The inflatable also improves the comfort of the ccf pad.

Weight: the combined weight of the Sea to Summit (349g/12.3) and the Switchback (415g/14.5oz) comes to 764g (26.8oz). The Tensor All Season Regular comes to 440g (15.5oz) for the pad alone, packed weight 522g (1lb 2oz). Some people pair their inflatable with a 1/8” foam pad, like one from Gossamer Gear, which weighs 76g (2.7oz), but I wouldn’t want to sleep on this without an inflatable. This combo would be 598g (21oz). For an added 166g (5.86oz) you get a lot more versatility. I also wouldn’t bring a sit pad if I had the switchback, so there’s saved weight.

Would love to hear what you think of this setup. I’m gonna send it and report back with results.

I was thinking of combining a thin, light inflatable pad with a Nemo switchback. The switchback would add R value to the inflatable, and you would have the switchback to sleep on if the inflatable failed. Does anyone else run this setup?

I have a Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, but it's quite heavy (409g) and wets out almost instantly. Montbell Versalite ships from the US, so I imagine I'll get slammed with import fees, and Frogg Toggs are super cheap but not durable. The new Outdoor Research Helium UL looks promising, but it hasn't really been tested, and I've only found two reviews on it. I live in Nova Scotia, so it rains pretty often, and when it does it pours. Any other options for a lighter, more waterproof rain jacket in canada?