Thread: Mid-winter sleeping systems

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

I'm wondering about going this way too, I saw a teenager using a rather good looking pillow from Mountain Warehouse, was quick to deflate into itself too.

The teenagers are getting softer by the day...I remember allowing myself an extra level of comfort every 10 years spent in the outdoors. I particularly remember my first item being my swazi microfleece pants and the second an inflatable mat. If you arrange your boots so that the soft bits are where your head goes and the soles act as a cradle, it works great, plus your boots don't freeze! The more uses a single item has the better IMO.

Another tip, if you get too cold and need more insulation from ground, you can use your pack as extra insulation.

One of the bonuses of being a Bush Hobit, apart from having lots of firewood, is that the only real difference in kit between summer and winter is the sleeping bag

RAB Mythic 600 and RAB Ultrasphere Sleeping Matt is my year round setup at the moment. This night was a bit bloody cold but with a sleeping bag inner and thermals on it did the trick. I can be a cold sleeper though. A cheap but effective addition I make to my sleeping matt for my winter Tahr trips is one of those $10 reflective windscreen protectors.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

RAB Mythic 600 and RAB Ultrasphere Sleeping Matt is my year round setup at the moment. This night was a bit bloody cold but with a sleeping bag inner and thermals on it did the trick. I can be a cold sleeper though. A cheap but effective addition I make to my sleeping matt for my winter Tahr trips is one of those $10 reflective windscreen protectors.

Good to hear they work. I was thinking that might be a good option.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

A cheap but effective addition I make to my sleeping matt for my winter Tahr trips is one of those $10 reflective windscreen protectors.

Now that's a top tip right there

@NIMROD I walked past one of your bivy set ups a few years ago in the bush by a little stream off a certain track in the Kawekas. No tarp. Your clearly now into luxe camping...

@Snoppernator..... I think I can narrow that down to the North Eastern Kaweka's about 30min passed the closest DOC hut ???

I’ve done a few trips in the solitude tipi and highly rate it, haven’t been in any big storms yet, had snow and sleet one trip. Im just using a aliexpress ti stove for $125 nzd and works great for the price. Having a stove to dry gear out and cook on is a game changer, 3 kg for tent and stove. Need less clothes because you can dry gear out and lots of head space. Would really like the torrid stove but not yet.







Just using Leki walking poles instead of the Peax poles.

@tikka that's awesome. Be cool to have an indepth review. Looks like you have the dyneema version. Really impressed with some of the innovations on the Peax. I've got an Argali Rincon which is a 2p in sil-polyester. Really rate this material, like dyneema doesn't absorb water - performs really well.

Not mid-winter in pics, but not too far off it temp-wise. Big Agnes tent, Macpac Solstice (700g down weight) sleeping bag, chinese (something with Nature in the name, can't recall) insulated inflatable mat, foil survival blanket under for extra heat. My son had 10mm foam sleeping mat with kathmandu self-inflating mat on top, 700g Macpac Latitude sleeping bag.

My secret weapon is some light and fluffy possum merino socks (I hate trying to get to sleep with cold feet), and sleep in Macpac Nitro pullover, with Macpac Pisa jacket if really cold.

Solstice bag was bought in the mid 90's, refilled twice since then (once 'cause I stuffed up trying to wash it early on), now it finally looks like outer fabric might be failing (they were Reflex outer), will be looking at quilt for next cold weather sleep system.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

I use one of those dirt cheap survival sheets under my mat then I have my thermal blanket - dont camp in winter without it - its a type that used in old folks homes - under patients don't let moisture thru - light as - on top of sleeping mat then fold over the top of sleeping bag- comfy as - but that thin survival sheet under the mat does give a good degree of insulation from cold coming up thru from the ground - both the blanket and survival sheet take up no room and are light as - only down side is those survival sheets dont last but they are cheap

I use a cheap double foil car window sunshade from supercheap. The longest one is around 1.7m and provides a lot of extra R value to my sleeping pad. Weighs next to nothing and lies flat in my pack.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

I'm looking hard at a quilt and better mat. I have a Thermarest Neoair but it's narrow, noisy and hardly the pinnacle of comfort for those other than a corpse. It does work well and doesn't deflate so it's not the mat at fault just the ambition of the slleper to be about 15kg lighter and 15 years younger would help. I think a wider mat with a decent quilt might fix that. Another bugbear of mine was a shit pillow, or the lack of. I did buy a Sea to Summit pillow to try get a decent kip which I hope to trial soon. Looking along Kiwi Ultralight range for the quilt. There's a nice quilt on the for sale here, but a little too warm for me.

i got the nxt xthurm in a wide its epic to sleep on

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

@tikka that's awesome. Be cool to have an indepth review. Looks like you have the dyneema version. Really impressed with some of the innovations on the Peax. I've got an Argali Rincon which is a 2p in sil-polyester. Really rate this material, like dyneema doesn't absorb water - performs really well.

Brian Call from Gritty Films does really good reviews on them.

It does have a large footprint so it hard to find a good level area to pitch it. It get bloody hot in there so unzip top of doors to dump heat out. One night it was -2 and snowing and the dog was upside down and I was in a t shirt and jocks it was so hot. Having two half moon doors is nice for easy access/exit. Dyneema is noisy with heavy rain and hail but is very rigid with the cross tracking poles stabilisation system inside and plenty of guy out lines. 50- 60 km wind was the strongest winds so far and peg it down low to stop the rain coming in.

Originally Posted by tikka

I’ve done a few trips in the solitude tipi and highly rate it, haven’t been in any big storms yet, had snow and sleet one trip. Im just using a aliexpress ti stove for $125 nzd and works great for the price. Having a stove to dry gear out and cook on is a game changer, 3 kg for tent and stove. Need less clothes because you can dry gear out and lots of head space. Would really like the torrid stove but not yet.







Just using Leki walking poles instead of the Peax poles.

I'm keen to hear more about this? I've also got a dog and love the idea of having a warm dry place to sleep. I see you don't have their ground sheet. is there a reason why? Also what do you think of the Dyneema, is it worth the extra money

@kiwijames have a look at the new Thermarest Neoloft. I am using the Neo Air (9 years old) with an exped full foam pad. Weighs about the same as Neoloft.

@SPEARONZ good idea taking the quilt in addition to the sleeping bag. I've packed the summer (0 degree) revelation quilt for the dog and winter (-6 degree) revelation quilt on roar trips. Provides a lot of extra warmth having a couple of layers and packs down well.