Calling all Experts

“Hi folks,

Gear question here. I'm down to purchasing my last 2 or 3 items for my thru hike and have been debating with myself about whether to get an insulated vest or insulated jacket. Of course the cost, weight and space are all in favor of the vest. The plus for the jacket is the more complete coverage of the upper body. I'm wondering, however, if its that vital since the core area of the body (mine in this case) will be sufficiently covered by the vest. Is covering the arms all that necessary?

I understand Stikmon is presently occupied with his own type of gear thread, but I thought perhaps, in his absence, his apprentices might help me out.

Thank you.”

“I don't know where you'll be hiking, but a down vest and a fleece sweater are a good combo.

Good luck,

Doug”

“AT thru hike. March of '05”

“I posted a similar thread a month or so ago, debating a down vest versus a down jacket. I wound up buying both (I love being a gear whore!) and here's what I've found:

The vest works well down to maybe 35 degrees for evenings in camp. In fact, I used it for the "FALLing for Yellow River" trip and was pretty comfortable. In temps below that range, covering my arms with the jacket made a huge difference. If I could only carry one for a long hike with a potentially wide range of temps, I'd carry the jacket.

I bought both the vest and jacket from Cabelas. The jacket is 650 down and in their Bargain Barn for around 30-40 bucks.”

“Use the vest with a lightweight windbreaker OVER it....heat generated inside the vest exits through the Arm holes, and travels down the arms...

You will be carrying a wet weather jacket non? Buy one that will fit over the vest, then combine the two when cold weather steps in...want proof? put on a vest and a jacket, and walk around the block...it'll cook ya!”

“or buy a jacket with zip off sleeves”

“Only wear a jacket if you aren't sure of her history.







Sorry - kind of felt obligated.”

“Bearmagnet! Been missing ya. There's lots of other pervs, but none with quite your style...or lack thereof, lol.

Slo-Pac . Yeah, I've got a couple like that, but I want one that's really light and compressible for the trip. Well, maybe I'm becoming a little of a gear slut too, which is progress because I used to just be a slut.

Super T - I think I'm in line with what you say. Being a Yankee I tend to overheat...as long as I got my bald head covered.

Thanks to all. By the way, have you people been certified by Stikmon as able to give hiking/gear advice while he is otherwise occupied? ...I'd tread lightly there.”

“Snake Eyes, sorry I've been so out of it. I still need to get you together with my friend over here who did the AT a couple summers ago. He told me he'd be happy to meet with you and compare notes, answer questions. E-mail me and I'll give you contact info. He said he believes its his honorable obligation to help any who intend to thru hike the AT.”

“Don't stop here. I think i've been de-certified.

Be comfortable, be warm. I think you know what is best for you just from walking around in the snow. I think your long johns are your best protection from the cold. On top of them you will need some layering and water protection from any rain or snow. My coldest times on Mt.Le Conte and on the AT in GSMNP have been after I've stopped hiking. Sometimes I would just eat some dry food and get in the sleeping bag to keep warm, at times wearing all my clothing except for the boots. In my uncertified opinion I suggest that can be your base(plus some underwear and socks).

You will likely take a few days off the trail along the way. It is OK to take a few days on or off trail to keep warm, whenever it is necessary.

It sounds like Pekka will help you find your answer. If not, go to one of the AT forums and post your question.

BTY, during cold nights I wear a wool(or equivalent) hat that I can pull down over most of my face. Also, I wear wool gloves. The green, wool army inserts that fit inside of the dress gloves.”

“You should have been de-certified, lol. With all your words, you never answered my question (but it was answered anyway).

After listening to you I'll probably have Divinity posting here and giving me crap too.
last edited: 12/07/04 5:38:15 PM”

“Calling all experts...


ok..I'm here....what do you want?????”

“It wasn't me that called. Nowslimmer seems to be having some sort of reaction from his Viagra. He called you”

“I told him in the above post, "Don't stop here." But he did!

Hmmmmm. He's planning to start the AT in March. Plenty of time to get all the traps set. If he's smart, he'll take a shuttle around the 68.5 miles of GSMNP.

Let's see, I need to leave lots of food for the mice, enough to last until shortly before his arrival. That will ensure plenty of hungry mice at selected shelters. A few Contaminated Water signs at some of the springs might force him into melting snow and using up his fuel. And a trail detour up to Mt.LeConte will be good exercise for him. Calling the sheriff and reporting him as "Wanted in Wisconsin," might bring a police check at the Fontana Hilton during the middle of a night.

However, he might get upset. Perhaps I should just meet him there with a hot meal, a roaring fire and some smooth aquavit. He was good to me last summer, even showed me deer, bear and a bald eagle. Then, again, he shoved hamburgers at me, when his freezer was loaded with venison.

LOL.

P.S. - Naw, Divinity is taken with Stikmon, who is trying to get it up again with Lizs.
last edited: 12/07/04 6:18:30 PM”

“Kinda hard to keep up with it all ain't it? Glad you're surviving (what a mess us humans are.).”

“Hey.....I love all the TT men!!!!!!”

“So does NS.”

“O M G.....


:o”

“My results have basically been the same as TMac's. A vest + fleece sweater is good down to about 35-40. Below that a jacket is much better.”

“Thanks SE!

Lack of "style" is the ultimate definition of "cool".

Not to say I lack style or I'm cool. To do so would be so uncool.”

“B.M. - Now you're repeating yourself.

NS - you too.

I changed my mind in the middle of my sleep last night (what was I thinking?). It's the jacket I need, not the vest. It's not so much for "hiking" as for retaining body heat once the hiking day is over. I'm thinking it's better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks for all your help.”

“You're the boss, Snake, and you're the one hiking next spring. That is to say, yours is the opinion that counts. Comfort in varying temps is veeeeery subjective. You're from the great white north, sit on your front porch in various get-ups and see how you feel. Pretend you're sitting in a shelter waiting on your pot to boil, lol. Practice saying "hey, how's you're hike", "where'd you start", and "man, I'm hungry."

Now, for personal opinion/experience: I think your feelings this morning were the way to go. I used my jacket most often in camp, once or twice for the first hour hiking on cold mornings (temps in teens), and during breaks on cold days. Personally, I don't like vests but I do like lightweight. My opinion would be to take a light, compressable down/synth jacket and then, if you find it is overkill, adjust as necessary. If it doesn't cost alot of weight, and the diff between a jacket and a vest won't(Mont Bell UL diff is 2-3), I'd prefer to ere on the warm side.”

“I am the BOSS...”

“I think jeans and a t-shirt oughtta do it....”

“Funny, he doesn't look like Tony Danza.”

“Im a firm bveliver of wearing layers (lots) so when you get hot, you take one off, and when you get cold, you just put one on. The only jacket I carry backpacking is my litewheight wind breaker thats vented, and water proof”

“BOSS: Blow Off Some Steam

http://www.acronymfinder.com/”

“and a pogo stick, right?”

“This is depressing. You ask for an expert to give you feedback, and not one expert responds.




(j/k)”

“That's my whole point. Stikmon is so busy trumpeting his expertise he has no time to respond to a humble request for his exalted opinion;)”

“im no expert, but I do help at carolina mountain sports, and Ive been backpacking for 12 years”

“Just a kid!”

“You're more of an expert than me...but did you sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night?”

“nope, i slept in my own comfy bed, but friday night, ill be sleabing on the side of cold mt : ) lol”

“Is that how you did the Superior Hiking Trail, a different Lodge every night?”

“Yup, the Henry Shires Lodge.”

“LOL”