Half Bag idea (BEWARE: Gear Th read)

“I made a sleeping bag for my dog (I hear ya laughing) in cold weather. I did it by cutting off the lower half of a 30F bag (hemmed it up, of course) and used the top half, cutting out the zipper, and sewing on velcro patches as attachment points.

The bag unfolds like a small blanket, and i put a portion of a Z-Rest underneith as a ground pad for frigid temps. When he lays down, I'll throw the rest over him, and velcro a few points so it won't slide off. ANYWAYS

Looking at it the other day, I got the idea to try it out myself...a half-bag, just covering my torso and head.

Maybe I haven't thought through all the logistics of using it yet. So can I get some imput...wha'da'ya think?”

“Nunatuk makes half-bags. Just goes up to your chest and you wear your parka in it. For the light and fast crew.”

“I know a guy that is currently using one on his AT thru-hike. He has his journal at Trailjournals.com/sweeper

Look for Sweeper. He is the one that turned me on to Nunatak. He started last month and has hiked through some pretty crappy weather with a Nunatak half bag and I think a Moonstone down jacket.

I guess if your going to bring a jacket anyway, might as well get some double duty from it and save weight on your bag.”

“Cool, I'm interested to hear how it works out for Sweeper.”

“M, it seems more logical to make a lower-half bag rather than an upper half bag. Why cover your torso and head rather than torso and legs? Curious.”

“Feathered Friends makes a +20 bag called the Great Auk. Basically it has down on the top and just a pad pocket at the bottom. I think something like this would work great. Sort of like Jardine's quilt idea.”

“You mean the quilt Jardine uses...it ain't his idea!

I use a sheet of fleece and a bedsheet in the warmer months...going to sleep on, and wrapped up in by the morning. Noone gave me that idea, and I ain't claiming it to be original as RJ does.”

“Blasphemor, Ray is my God. :^)”

“Oldie - the Nunatak bag is a lower-half bag.”

“I'd like to see a bag that has customazable insulation. So you could have extra insulation around your feet and leave it thin around your waist. If you like it a certain way, just take off or add more to where you want it.”

“Shades of the 50's and 60's! We used to call them a 'pied d'éléphant', you used them with your down jacket. One's pack had an inner sleeve that pulled out as a half bivy sack and one's anorak served as the top part. My pack, a 70 litre Karrimor Alpiniste from Lancashire, England has a bivy sleeve with a draw string and I'm not 100 years old yet. It still wouldn't be a bad idea, what with Gore-Tex and all - but modern gear has become so light and efficient that one can bivy in a lot more comfort for the same weight burden as in the old days and I guess that the sport has progressed in that manner. Golite has some good ideas if you live in a warm climate, but some of those old tricks would be pretty effective with modern materials. Just my opinion. Happy trails.”

“Sorry M-nutz. I meant to address Budder who said he wants to make an upper half bag.”

“Already made it Mr.Oldie. I already cut a sleeping bag in half, and rigged the upper half for use by my dog. I was thinking of using it myself in warmer weather...but I'd have to leave my pants and shoes on :(”

“I can get everything I need for a two day hike in 20 - 40 degree weather into a pack that weighs 38 pounds. That includes food and water. Why would I want half a sleeping bag? If thirty-eight pounds is too much maybe backpacking is not your sport.”

“I don't think I'd feel too comfortable sleeping like that just to save 1 pound of weight. My 20 degree down bag weighs only 2 pounds so it's no big deal to carry. I think the drain on energy from not getting a good sleep wouldn't be worth the weight saving. Try it though if it works for you go for it.”

“Mr.RichB...you up for a 2-nighter this Fri n Sat in Central PA's Quehanna Trail?

I'm jonesing to get out and have been seriously contemplating Dolly Sods, WV for the last 2 days now, but would like more time down there cause the drive is farther.”