Backpacking - Theory and information on light weight packing

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SLEEP

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TENT:

The ideal tent would be two person 2 pounds, give or take. This is difficult if not impossible to find other than a one person bivy bag, not because they can't be made, (I had one 30 years ago) but because most tents today are stand alone which requires metal framing, because tents are designed to sell new models every year for the market and thus are designed for show, and because people like the netted roof with a 'flysheet' or cover tarp as a two part tent. The tent must be water proof and be able to withstand strong winds. One of the biggest problems with tents is the condensation that can form inside when it gets cold outside caused by moisture from breathing. This condensation is not so much a problem of wetness as it is dampness which can make it colder in the tent than it otherwise would be. Proper ventilation reduces or eliminates this problem but it can to a great degree be an aspect of the design and the materials of the tent. The tent material should water proof but breathable. This helps prevent condensation. Generally on a frame pack the tent is carried outside the bag and because of its weight, more than 2 pounds, above the bag.

GROUND CLOTH:

The ground cloth also called a 'footprint' is optional. Its purpose is to help insulate the floor of the tent from the dampness of the ground. Damp ground can mean a cold tent.

TENT
2 to 6 lbs

GROUND CLOTH
1/4 to 1/2 lbs

SLEEPING BAG
3 to 5 lbs

SLEEPING MAT
1/2 to 1 lb

PILLOW
2 oz

TOTAL
6 to 12 lbs

Tent floors are usually made with a slightly heavier grade of nylon primarily for water proofing. So the ground cloth is optional and relative to the quality of the tent floor. The ground cloth can be a light or heavy grade of plastic or nylon. A heavy grade of plastic insulates better from cold or wet ground. For lightness water proof nylon is preferred. Added insulation comes from the sleeping mat. The ground cloth can be put under the tent or inside. If it is outside and under the tent, no part of it should stick out from the sides, such that rain and dew can run off onto the cloth and run under the tent. Some prefer the ground cloth inside the tent, where this is not a problem. The size of it should be equivalent to the floor space, perhaps a little smaller when under the tent, and the same or a little larger when inside, giving added side protection.

SLEEPING BAG:

The ideal weight for the sleeping bag should be about three pounds. Again this is difficult to find with temperature coverage below forty degrees, but may be available today, but expensive. If a bag is rated at 30 degrees, one usually assumes this means 40 or 45 degrees and so buy accordingly. There are two basic kinds of bags, or down and acrylic fill. Holofil is cheaper but not recommended. Different people prefer one or the other. Goose or duck Down is considered the lightest and most compactible. Its only drawback seems to be if it gets wet, will take forever to dry. Acrylic fill is a little cheaper. Its main drawback is said to be that it tends to lose its warmth the more times it is compacted or if over compressed into the carrier bag. A sleeping bag should also not be compressed into a bag that is smaller than what it is sold with. This can accelerate the crushing of the fibers real fast. For this reason it is also recommended that bags should never be stored compressed in its carrier bag. It is recommended that sleeping bags never be washed as it will affect the fill. Dry cleaning may be acceptable or it may not, so one should make an effort to keep them as clean as possible. Every effort should be made to never get a sleeping wet while backpacking. If a sleeping bag is to cold even with clothes, one can use 10 gallon garbage bags pulled over bag. Also one can sleep with nylon over clothes and even rain gear to help hold the body heat in. The theory here is that the body generates its own heat which 98 degrees Fahrenheit . So the idea is to hold that heat in and not let it escape. Mummy bags are the best in terms weight and size. And they cover the whole body including the head. If one sleeps one one's stomach with a knee up, one should be careful not to buy a bag that is to narrow. For this individual who likes or needs a pillow under the stomach, an inflatable might be considered.

SLEEPING MAT:

The mat is to insulate the body from the ground and to act as a cushion or mattress. There are primarily three kinds, which are foam, blowup and inflatable. The foam is very light from a half to three quarters of a pound, rolls up and is easily carried on a frame pack, but is bulky and not packable inside an interior frame pack. There is usually two lengths, as three quarter and full length. The three quarter is lighter but will not insulate from about the knees down. The blow up is light and very compact. The problem is you have to use mouth to valve inflation. These also subject to punctures. The new self-inflatable is said to be more comfortable than the foam, and it is more compact, but it is also heavier.

PILLOW:

A bag or pile of clothes may be used for a pillow unless it is so cold that all the clothes are worn. A small inflatable pillow may be taken which are available at many travel stores.

WARMTH:

Sleeping with a cold bag or if one is thin and cold sensitive can require sleep wear. Fleece pants and jacket might be best. If more is needed nylon pants and one or more nylon jackets over that. If that is still not enough, day clothes over all of that, and as a last resort one's rain gear over all again.

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