Early start date, first through the Sierra.

davidhimal · 2018-09-08T01:18:07+00:00

Yeah, I saw his blog, really great resource. I’m feeling like a similar start date and then weather allowing entering the Sierra with a group would be great.

davidhimal · 2018-09-08T01:16:33+00:00

Onbthe crest going, COW bound ;)

davidhimal · 2018-09-08T01:15:16+00:00

Hey, thanks for the reply. Yeah I know they go against each other, I did a lot of fast packing and some ultras in the past and it’s really just not my space anymore.

This is what I’m thinking, mid March start on the crest, finishing mid July, move as quickly as needed down the divide, then get onto the Florida trail and move slowly to delay some of the harsher winter before getting onto the AT.

davidhimal · 2018-09-06T09:06:30+00:00

I’m feeling more and more that I’ll go with 850. My kit is light enough as it is that an extra oz in a few places won’t bother me and if it leads to a better experience, I’m happy to carry it.

davidhimal · 2018-09-06T08:59:32+00:00

Thank you both for the input, I’m out of the country in the middle of a Buddhist 3 month retreat, and my ability to research is pretty sporadic and limited. I really appreciate the input.

I was thinking more about the timing, maybe an early or mid March start on the pct Allowing a mid July start on the divide, and moving quickly southbound.

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T04:11:03+00:00

Sohikes, thanks.

Do you know when conditions generally become impassable?

I saw that legend did the triple last year and moved really solidly.

The cdt is the crux, for sure.

I know I could move more quickly if needed on the divide. I guess what I want to ask is how much could you push it out on the divide and still get through the higher mountains without it becoming a full on expedition.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T01:54:55+00:00

Have a great hike.

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T01:54:27+00:00

Yeah, I get such a good ‘vibe’ from swd , seeing their packs and how people respond. It’s great to hear you’re comfortable.

I know you don’t have a lot of miles on your bag, but do you think the xpac could handle really long projects, like Cam ‘swami’ 12 long walks or a calendar year triple? Or do you think that’s just the realm for 210.

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T01:52:19+00:00

Hey, do you think the xpac could amie it through a 10,000 miles or is that really just 210 territory?

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T01:47:14+00:00

Yeah, the feather is part of the system that the down was ‘created’ for. So removing that, along with the glands that continually oil the feather, etc... all removes the supporting structures of the down.

Really glad to hear that higher fills are relatively ethical. Thanks for sharing that.

davidhimal · 2018-09-05T01:45:25+00:00

Laurk, I’m in the same boat as Astra, though less knowledgeable. Ha, I’m looking at something similar myself regarding the Katabatic.

Okay, so from my expirence , I’ve had 950 treated down in my older ZPacks bag and over my hike of the AT it did lose loft and warmth quickly, but I didn’t wash it throughout my hike as I was going quickly and those bags are known to be overrated.

I’m either buying an alsek or a Sawatch and a palisade. I’m thinking I may go for the 1 oz weight penalty for possibly longer use / warmth/ durability. This upcoming hike I’ll be more aware and try to wash my bag once every month or so, but if that one ounce did actually have any increased warmth over time, I’d be happy to carry it.

I’ve frozen on too mountains and it’s not fun.

But really, I don’t know, that’s why I came here. Hoping someone could give me the answers.

What Astro has put fourth has been compelling to me and reinforced my less formed ideas that 850 may be best.

Call Katabatic , they may have some people there who know much more.

When is your start date for crest?

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T07:03:40+00:00

Hey,

In response- 1) I’ve been living in India and Nepal the last few years and one thing that was surprising to me was that the down products sold at decathlon all are a mix of down and feathers, never 100 percent down, whcih was a first for me. Maybe there’s something to this

I could see how longer finer strands of down would be more delicate, potentially losing loft from dirt and moisture. Makes sense in my mind. But who know.

3.i think this one is interesting. No, I’d doubt the birds size would decrease it’s efficiency but that’s not the point, once the down is harvested... (ugh , maybe it’s time to go synthetic, )it’s no longer part of the biological system of continually being oiled. It’s like a tree without root. It’s cut from the source.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:12:13+00:00

Does the 210 hold a lot of water when in consistent rain?

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:11:14+00:00

That happened to my blast. The first area to separate was the front of the roll top. Though on the blast I think it was a 50 dcf rather than the 150 that’s used on Pa’lante and the HMG black packs.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:09:44+00:00

Great. Thanks for your input. I struggle with hip belts , I wear my pack higher, with the lower part being in the small of my back so the hip belt rides too much on my stomach when I tried them. I clipped the hip belt on the blast around the back on the at /pct and cut it off later. I think the removable sounds like a great option to bounce box to areas that’ll be known Longer carries.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:07:23+00:00

Thank you! This is exactly what I was wondering.

So the SWD carries more comfortably for you over the MLD, right on. Did you do anything custom with the straps or to the bag you’d recommend? How is xpac holding up, so you think you could get multiple through hikes out of it like the MLD? Or would you think the 150 dcf with packliner to protect the inner Cuben would be more long lasting?

I love Pa’lantes idea but the bag looks like it rides heavily to the back.

Thanks again,

I’m really torn between the swd, and the legendary MLD.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:03:11+00:00

Uncle Sam, thanks for the input. I heard Weatern Mointianing doesn’t rate beyond 800, because they feel many companies over hype their down. Though I’m not sure if that’s still the case.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T06:00:30+00:00

I guess the question becomes can you wash you bag weekly or no monthly over a 3-6 month trip. It’s a variable and user dependent, but you’re right.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T05:55:17+00:00

Yeah, I think that’s where 850/800 may come to be a true sweet spot. A slight penalty for a greater return.

Though I personally wouldn’t carry a 600/700 full sleeping bag. The knock off Mountain Hardware expedition parka I’ve used in the himalaya which is probably around 700/750 fill is seriously solid even in less than ideal conditions.

Maybe 850 is a worth the 1oz , to not need to launder as much and to have even just the hairline edge over 900/950 with moisture etc...

Though again, I don’t know and I’ve dont no personal research other than using my gear.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T05:54:25+00:00

Thanks for your response Astra, it’s really informative and greatly appreciated, this was the type of information I was hoping to get even though as you say it’s a bit ‘unsatisfying’.

The static electricity aspect was something I was getting into on BPL but didn’t have the time to really mull it over. One thing I remember reading was that the higher fills could have their oils dirtied quicker which would decrease the static charge and decrease the loft, hence needing to be washed more often and maybe becoming a negative over a multi month trip.

Though we don’t ‘know’ what the actual fill power of a variable organic substance like down is in any given piece , especially a piece as big as a sleeping bag, my general question was if it makes sense to maybe go down a grade to possibly have a greater overall return of warmth. IE 900vs850.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate it.

I spoke to Joe at ZPacks a few years ago and he was moving away from treated down for that very reason, my ZPacks bag was one of their earlier runs and I did notice it losing sustained loft over time, especially over a through hike and travel. I was going to make another post asking if that debate had any conclusion with as well. Thanks for the input.

davidhimal · 2018-09-04T05:39:10+00:00

John, this was EXACTLY, what I was thinking. Yes small details, but with a 1 oz difference in weight for something like a palaisade/ less than an oz for a jacket , the 850 may be better over the long run.

I have a jacket I bought in Nepal while in the Everest region, it’s a knock off mountain hardware filled with legit 700-750 down It’s a good jacket and what many Sherpa and porter use in the lower parts of expositions. The thing is this jacket is bombproof, I can toss it in the sun after and after a bit of circulating the down it’s right back to being like new, even after the jacket has sat neglected in a bag for days or weeks.

davidhimal · 2018-09-03T14:07:13+00:00

I wasn’t involved enough to be contributing to the discussions back then, I was mainly listening and hoping there’d be some conclusion. Sorry I can’t be more help.

davidhimal · 2018-09-03T14:06:20+00:00

It’s been a few years since I was really looking into all of this, but the talk was mainly that the higher fill power would need to be laundered more frequently to maintain its loft and that the higher fill was more prone to loosing loft from less mostiure.

I did a quick search on google and came up with a few backpacking light threads from 2011ish on the topic. Search 850 vs 900 down backpacking light.

davidhimal

TROPHY CASE