Originally Posted by
widdors
I was all fired up to order the New River, and then I saw the weight. I didn't like the idea of packing the New River in the summer when my daughter is using the Jarbidge. So I ordered the Jarbidge in Apex, along with a Bear Burrito Oven. I gave it a shot last night, temps started in the low 20's and dropped into the teens. I had a piece of CCF in my bag, a Ledge Featherlite 20, for my feet, and thermals and a fleece top and pants. I also had a Nalgene filled with hot water, and a new pair of wool socks. I really wanted to make it through the night. I was so close. I gave up at 5 this morning, with two frozen big toes. I'm blaming the Ledge. I think the rating of 20 should be more like 40. When I first get in the hammock, I can feel the heat radiating of the Jarbidge almost immediately. I can never feel any warmth of the sleeping bag unless I zip up completely and try to breathe into it.
It was funny climbing into the hammock, I had to shed my fleece within the first 10 minutes or so because I was starting to sweat. I put those back on around 2, when the hot water was starting to becoming cool. The BBO was great, I never felt like I was breathing in cold air, or having my face freeze. I think a decent top quilt would have seen me through.
The weight of the New River in long is listed as 32 oz. The Jarbidge, CCF pad, and BBO together are 28 oz. A few ounces less, and I have a modular system that I can add to or take away depending on the weather.
I wanted to add, this test was done on my back porch. If I was out in the woods I would have made it safely through the night. I didn't want to hang out in the cold anymore when I had a nice warm bed 30 ft. away.
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