.... Plan Of Attack

[SilvrSurfr]

Hey SilvrSurfr.
I'm re-reading this thread tonight and I didn't notice if you mentioned whether or not you use a pad with your 3/4 uq and tq.
Im assuming you must.
If you don't mind telling me what kind and if you cut it down ect...

I don't generally use a pad, though I'm still working that out. My feet have gotten cold without a pad, and with a pad. They've gotten cold with socks, and with socks and down booties. The last few trips I've used no pad, no socks, and no booties, and my feet have been warm, even down to 18 degrees.

When I have used a pad it's just a ccf pad that I use for support in my GoLite Jam - nothing fancy, maybe 18" x 36 inches.

[creativeKayt]

This is all most-excellent info. Two things I find invaluable in cold temps? Weather shield and hot water bottle.

I'm a cold sleeper. For extra cold temps, I use a 0* HG Incubator, which I had slightly overfilled, with The 20* Burrow. I love this combo. For extra, extra cold nights (at my folks in the Eastern Sierras, it often gets down to -20 F and colder), I have a DIY weather shield that keeps the wind from robbing UQ heat an gives me just a bit more insulation. It doesn't weigh much and it is so worth it. I sometimes also snug my tarp down close, giving me more of a cocoon vibe. I also have a 2x2 square piece of and small thermarest sit pad I use if it gets real cold. The only other thing you might add to your cold temp arsenal is a hot water bottle for between the legs, feet, or wherever you feel a draft.

That said, I'm planning to try a modified Exped Dreamwalker 450 bag as a pod layered over my UQ, next trip. I suspect I'll be too warm, as we are not expecting much lower than mid-twenties, but this will be a good "proving ground" test I'll let you know how it goes, but here's the pre-test photo to give you an idea of what I am on about.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1268576...57625116433414



Great post!!

[creativeKayt]

Oh! One more invaluable thing in cold? My down booties!!

[ADKrella]

Oh! One more invaluable thing in cold? My down booties!!

They are definitely on the list as well

[Floridahanger]

I haven't used them, but want to DIY some booties.

What I have heard from many others, like SilvrSurfr up ^ there on top, is that socks WITH booties sometimes still keep the feet cold and when switched to booties WITHOUT socks, their feet stay warm.

I don't know, just what I read here. I will experiment after I make them.