Originally Posted by
BillyBob58
Diva, I'm not Blackwolf, but I am somewhat partial towards a VB approach, at least sometimes, so may I comment while we await BW's response?
Not sure how the naked thing would work or if it is needed, except to say that the less between you and the VB the better. EXCEPT, VBs don't always feel the best anyway- all of that humidity can freak you out when you 1st feel it and your brain screams "your getting wet and you'll soon be cold, do something!". But if it is bare skin against the VB it feels even worse, just not a pleasant feel. So I'm thinking at least a very thin layer of non-absorbent Long Johns against the skin, then a VB ( cloths or sack ) then all other insulation.
I've done it that way a few times over the years, but what I really like is the fairly inexpensive VB clothing from Stephenson's Warmlight in NH. Their VBs are already lined and it feels better to me than the a separate thin layer. But either way, I think you are going to need something between your skin and the VB.
Have you ever thought of this: If you block evaporative cooling, which can be a quite significant factor at cooling you down, then you also keep your insulation dry. Because your bodies vapor output can not get into the insulation and maybe condense. If you use your VB with less than old pro skill, and over heat and sweat, this won't be the most comfy possible scenario, but at least your sweat stays next to your skin and can not get into your down. (And after all, it is possible to over heat and sweat with no VB.) And if your vapor or sweat can not get into your down, then you are free to use any type of outer shell, including totally non--breathable, water and wind proof, fog proof Sil-nylon for one.
Are you worried about overheating and sweating? The only reason to be concerned about that is because that moisture won't feel right. But, at least it won't make it to your down. Still, we don't want sweat of course. So try this experiment. Rig up some kind of VB, for torso, pants or socks or all of the above. With no other insulation, go sit outside a while when it is cold or cool. If you are like me, you will not sweat. You might be way warmer than you would expect with no thick insulation. But maybe it is colder, enough to feel cold even with the VB. Then add a thin layer of insulation. Once again, you probably won't sweat, but you might be way warmer than expected at those temps with such thin insulation.
It is worth experimenting with. Probably the easiest to start out with are VB socks, or bread bags. Just make sure that whatever socks you put over them are still nice and loose even with the VBs added.
Dirtwheels just used a 45F UQ to stay nice and warm at 23. What was different? He added a space blanket, which also functions as a VB. As if adding ~ 20F additional warmth is not good enough, you also have bone dry insulation even after a week or two, unless you let the rain get to it.
Lastly, I'm not sure the temps have all that much to do with it, as long as you regulate your insulation with skill. I have sat around in the house for lengthy periods, wearing just the VB top, temps around 70. With no sweating observed. Of course, the warmer temps at some point do become a problem with possible sweat.
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