My cold weather story

**optimator** · 12-06-2009, 22:23

Last weekend I spent two days at close to 4800 ft. Yeah It was cold

I was using my WBBB & SF with the doors. For bottom insulation I had my new KAQ LR, SPE with a old school orange 1" Thermarest, and a DriDucks poncho undercover. On the top I had my Montbell ULSS #2. The first night it hit 21. I was sleeping in my polypro base layer, rain pants, windshirt & softshell jacket. I also used my OR Ninjaclava. I stayed warm all night. My legs got cold if I slipped off the pad, but my upper body stayed toasty warm all night. The second night it hit 14. It was FREAKING cold! using the same gear I used the first night, I was fine till I woke up when nature called. I was still warm where the UQ covered me, but my legs were cold. I brought along a piece of CCF to use under my legs if needed. It really helped and soon I was back asleep. Just so you know, I'm a VERY warm sleeper. My girlfriend says I'm like sleeping next to a furnace

I honestly believe I would have been just fine with just the UQ (from Paul at AHE!!!) the first night. Along with leg insulation that is...

**Muskrat** · 12-06-2009, 22:48

Good to hear your report. I am curious to see how low my WBBB, Superfly, 3 season Yeti w/reflective liner will take me. I too am a warm sleeper. Curious to know if you had the doors on the Superfly during your outing?

**optimator** · 12-06-2009, 22:54

Originally Posted by Muskrat

Good to hear your report. I am curious to see how low my WBBB, Superfly, 3 season Yeti w/reflective liner will take me. I too am a warm sleeper. Curious to know if you had the doors on the Superfly during your outing?

Yes I did. The wind was blowing pretty good the first night, and the Superfly did awesome! I just left them on the second night because I knew it would be even colder, and hoped that it might hold in just a bit more heat. I'd post up some pics, but my camera is over at the GF's house...

**pgibson** · 12-06-2009, 23:18

Hey Optimator. Glad the Lost River did so well for you. I want to see some pics when you get done rearanging everything

man 14 wow that is cool I really want to get out for a winter trip this year, been to long since I got in some deep winter snow camping. Like since before I got married. Hmmm must be some sort of conection there. O well I will try for a winter trip in January and call it my birthday/ turning 30/ pre mid life crissis prevention trip. Yah right like that will work

**MacEntyre** · 12-07-2009, 07:14

Originally Posted by optimator

I honestly believe I would have been just fine with just the UQ...

I believe you are correct. I was toasty with my KAQ and a Thermodrape vapor barrier, fully clothed, at 16*F. It doesn't take much to extend the range of a KAQ!

- MacEntyre

**BillyBob58** · 12-07-2009, 09:14

Originally Posted by optimator

Last weekend I spent two days at close to 4800 ft. Yeah It was cold

I was using my WBBB & SF with the doors. For bottom insulation I had my new KAQ LR, SPE with a old school orange 1" Thermarest, and a DriDucks poncho undercover. On the top I had my Montbell ULSS #2. The first night it hit 21. I was sleeping in my polypro base layer, rain pants, windshirt & softshell jacket. I also used my OR Ninjaclava. I stayed warm all night. My legs got cold if I slipped off the pad, but my upper body stayed toasty warm all night. The second night it hit 14. It was FREAKING cold! using the same gear I used the first night, I was fine till I woke up when nature called. I was still warm where the UQ covered me, but my legs were cold. I brought along a piece of CCF to use under my legs if needed. It really helped and soon I was back asleep. Just so you know, I'm a VERY warm sleeper. My girlfriend says I'm like sleeping next to a furnace

I honestly believe I would have been just fine with just the UQ (from Paul at AHE!!!) the first night. Along with leg insulation that is...

I'm not sure I understand your exact set up. Is this a torso or full length UQ? Was the orange pad full length? Your legs got cold 1st night if you slipped off the pad, is that because this is a short quilt? The 2nd night though, your legs were cold period, even though still on the pad, until you added more ccf pad?

**BillyBob58** · 12-07-2009, 09:24

OK, never mind, I went to the AHE site and see that the LR is 2/3 length. So the 2nd night, your legs were cold, even though on a 1" orange TR. Interesting, I might have used the same pad for legs ( a 1" thick UL TR), and thought it might have been good to those temps, but maybe not. I'd better test!