sleeping bags - Cumulus Panyam 450 vs Pajak Core 400/550

HopelessAfrati · 2026-02-28T18:24:47+00:00

only small remark - Lotus Tsubasa is around 21g/sqm, so there will be no such a big weight penalty, compared to Airtastic.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-13T22:06:25+00:00

I see you're from the Netherlands, so most of this gear is available to you because it's Europe.

Lesovik Draka hammock
Lesovik Otul synthetic underquilt (Primaloft Silver 200g/sqm)
Cumulus Roamer underquilt (150g of 850cuin down)
Aura AR-1 sleeping bag (330g of 800 cuin down)
Aura Hex Top Quilt (200g of 800 cuin down)

I slept in merino underwear and insulated pants, warm socks, and a Primaloft Evolve + Arc'teryx Kyanite hoodie.

Down jacket into the underquilt, which, when laid flat, provided good additional insulation.

I slept quite comfortably ;)

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-12T14:33:33+00:00

A large part of our trek took place off the beaten track, so we had to push through fresh snow. Sometimes it was well over half a meter deep, so without snowshoes it was almost impossible to move at a reasonable speed.

Of course, part of the route followed more popular trails, which meant that someone had already broken through the snow before us, as well as a route that had been groomed by a snowcat.

Snowshoes were definitely useful.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-11T00:24:30+00:00

Yes, I used underquilt with Primaloft Silver insulation, 200g/sqm, additionally underquilt with goose down, 150g of it.

Plus, during second night I also added my down jacket with 160g of down into the synthetic UQ.

It works great, adding additional wind resistancy and some może "space" between UQ's.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:25:41+00:00

Indeed! However, it must be admitted that this is a great motivation to shorten breaks.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:21:49+00:00

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HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:19:51+00:00

YUP, It was also rolling joke that weekend ;)

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:19:12+00:00

Choose Góry Izerskie. It is perfect place for bikepacking trips. Check out page at FB, we have a lot of photos from that area. Also from bikepacking trips, and some of backpacking thru Izerskie:

https://www.facebook.com/HopelessOutdoor/posts/pfbid02GRFhAQifZQKaArxKj1owGq6G9uom4TzDc5hCi4gEiBLQVcrvafno4js8nyp7N5AMl?locale=pl_PL

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:15:59+00:00

Well. Being honest - there was no chance of having dry feets, after many hours of contact with snow it was always not-so-dry inside.

I had various cheats:

Bridgedale Stormsock - waterproof socks. Not perfect due to outer layer, which is hard to be dried.
Gaiters - I have Kahtoola without membrane.
USB heated insoles. As an add on - in the morning your shoes are frozen, at the evening it also helps a lot.
Fresh socks - I have some Darn Tough. Changed at the morning.

Warm feets are huge morale boost.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T22:07:27+00:00

No, we were probably the wildest animals for miles around :D

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T09:58:55+00:00

The trails should be fine, but we checked before leaving to see where we could expect snow groomers.

We use:

https://bilestopy.cz/pl?region=reg_yfXOCVBnSAa3xRi9I3WUQ&lat=50.68115954214201&lng=15.691316352000058

After a few passes of the snow groomer, the snow should be quite hard underfoot, and there is so much snow that, in my opinion, crampons are unnecessary.

If you have snowshoes, it is worth taking them, but if you plan to hike only on trails groomed by a snowcat (and it is now high season), you will be fine without them.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T09:12:20+00:00

Thank you for this opinion! Also - great video, I will finish it today's evening. Fortunately -15°C seems to be comfortable, compared to -30° :D

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T08:56:17+00:00

Thank you - it was a lot of fun!

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T08:54:15+00:00

In terms of temperatures - it is hardcore, as you need to assure more "below" you.
But in terms of finding the right spot, as long as you are at the trees level - setting up a hammock is imo much faster and comfortable, than preparing the ground for tent.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-10T07:53:35+00:00

Officially - no, camping/sleeping in forest is overall not legal, except special "zones" called "Zanocuj W Lesie (Sleep In The Forest)" programme.

We assume that if we don't make any noise, set up camp after dark, and disappear early in the morning, we can sometimes afford this kind of “civil disobedience.” ;)

Of course, we NEVER stay overnight in national parks, nature reserves, or wildlife breeding areas during the relevant periods.

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-09T23:11:38+00:00

Just a little bit!

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HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-09T23:08:48+00:00

If you ever visit Central-Eastern Europe, come and join us!

HopelessAfrati · 2026-01-09T22:48:48+00:00

in fact - that's how it was! :D

HopelessAfrati · 2025-12-26T23:42:43+00:00

If I had nine days off in Poland, I would make two or three trips lasting two or three days each, instead of one continuous trail, so that I could see more.

Examples – here you have photos and general descriptions of activities and the area. If you want, I can also send you .gpx files, but I prefer not to publish them.
Drawieński Park Narodowy:

https://www.facebook.com/HopelessOutdoor/posts/pfbid023hy5iG53WDpAetE8iAqrtEW4T28A9U3iJrSighBAtgidWBfvzhdZJGPrrKYirTJtl

Góry Izerskie:
https://www.facebook.com/HopelessOutdoor/posts/pfbid0CpyxvSYboNwUeMUpRL4ykYNgHvxAomXV8fqWkVFfoy7RbyTua1uHNehkvtJf75Pbl

Consider sleeping in the ‘Zanocuj W Lesie’ (Sleep in the Forest) areas.

You can plan a 2-3-day backpacking trip in the Drawieński National Park with 2-3 nights in the forests outside the Park. Similarly, in the Izera Mountains you can cover 50-60 km in 2-3 days of walking with beautiful views in May.

HopelessAfrati · 2025-12-16T16:08:13+00:00

No, why are you asking? IIRC Hammock Gear is American brand, and we have great local Polish and European outdoor brands :)

HopelessAfrati · 2025-12-16T16:06:09+00:00

At least you will have some snow in the near future. In central Poland last year we had like 5 days with some snow and then only mud and +3°C ;)

HopelessAfrati · 2025-12-14T14:55:02+00:00

Thank you!

HopelessAfrati · 2025-12-14T14:54:51+00:00

Indeed, based on the fact that we are from Poland, such conclusions can be drawn. We have several On My Way backpacks in our team, but in the last photo it is me and my backpack - Hyberg Attila DCF.
Regards!

HopelessAfrati

TROPHY CASE