u/basedtom

the Patagonia Micro Puff just went on sale, and I‘ve been comparing specs between it and a couple other synthetic puffies I’ve had my eye on.

Patagonia Micro Puff:

- 65 gsm

- 298g

- $285.99 (reg. $429)

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex 7D

- 67 gsm

- 222.83g (in men’s medium)

- $286.99

Decathlon MT100 Synthetic

- 125 gsm

- 370g (men’s large)

- $40 (reg. $60)

It seems like the warmest jacket (on paper at least) is the Decathlon, and the cheapest by a long shot, but does anyone have any experience with these jackets? The Torrid is the lightest by far, and a thru hiker classic, but I’m not sure if I’m sold on the 7D. Might opt for the 10D, which is 251g in a men’s medium. Decathlon and Patagonia’s listed weights are also always wildly inaccurate, in my experience. A puffy is a safety item at the end of the day, so I don’t mind paying a little extra.

Myself and two friends are backpacking the Jajiktek Seawall Trail this coming weekend (northbound), and we were hoping to catch a ride from Meat Cove back to our car in Pollet’s Cove on Wednesday, July 15th. If anyone is headed that way we would be happy to pay for gas, buy you lunch, beers, or all three.

I'm a very hot sleeper and I'm struggling to find a good 3 season quilt. I currently have the Neve Gear Waratah -2C (30F). I took it down to 1C while wearing socks, OR ferrosi pants (yeah I sleep in pants sometimes), a sun hoodie and a fleece. Upper body was toasty and my legs and feet were sweating. I probably would have been fine in just underwear and a fleece. In any temps over 10C it's unusable. Way too warm. For context I use the Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT, which adds a ton of warmth.

I was thinking of getting the Enlightened Equipment Apex 50F. Synthetic weighs about the same as down at this temp, compresses well (obviously not as good as down), and is good in humid and wet environments. In long/wide it weighs 379g and packs down to 4.5L. For reference my Waratah -2C (Long) weighs 665g and packs down to 4.5L. I can also get the EE Apex at Geartrade for $306. If I wear base layers and pack a puffy to sleep in, I think I could get it down to 0C.

Another option would be the Neve Gear Waratah UL 4C (40F). This would be a more conservative option and a good compromise. In long wide it weighs 465g, packs down to 3.2L, and costs $321. Only problem is it doesn't restock until September.

Do I send it and use the EE Apex 50F for the summer and try to push it into the fall? Are there other quilts I should consider? I'm mainly looking for a quilt to use in the widest variety of situations, and I like the idea of my sleep system being modular. If I'm sleeping too hot, I'll remove a layer. Too warm and I'll add a layer.

Would appreciate suggestions. Thanks guys

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?