Sleep/Shelter Components

[LeadOperator]

OK...here's something that's been eatin' at me.
I have a few sleeping bags, but not the kind you'd wanna carry on your back. More like the kind you'd wanna carry in your truck.
So. If you were gunna put together something light weight and relatively inexpensive from common items...what would you choose?
And before it comes up, one of them high dollar fancy goose down mummy bags is not included.
Here's my list:
G.I. poncho (the real deal)
G.I. poncho liner
Space emergency blanket (the thin one, pocket size)
Fleece blanket (like Wal-Mart sells)
Contractor trash bag (heavy mil)
Extra grommets if needed
Velcro strips sewn on any thing?
Para cord
Bungie cords
Now obviously, we're not talkin' sub-zero conditions here, but is it too much to ask that a combination of these or other components couldn't handle temps down in the 40's with a proper fire?
See, I like the poncho idea. Great piece of equipment. Shelter, ground cloth, even a good rain catcher.
Mybe take the space blanket, sew velcro strips in the right places, make a bag. Then line it with a fleece or the poncho liner. Stuff the whole thing in a trash bag.
What say you OBC?

[IndianaHiker]

I say you are going to have a cold miserable night and that this would be to big, bulky and heavy. Also if down in the 40's and you don't have a sleeping pad you are going to get very cold. The ground is going to suck the heat right out of you. Fire is nice but I when backpacking and even more so when solo many times don't build a fire. The fire is more for watching and entertainment than anything. Always much warmer in my sleeping bag then sitting by the fire. If you invest money in any gear the sleeping bag is not the place to try to cut corners. There are many good bags out there that are not to horribly expensive. If you don't like the price of down a synthetic bag is a good option and many of these down to 30 degrees that are made pack-able for backpacking are less than $200. I have a Mont Bel that I got new of $160.00. My new down bag Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15 degree down was around $250. I have slept in it down to 5 degrees with a base lay and down sweater and was very comfortable all night long.

[bsmit212]

Unless you are Bear Grylls I would say this is a bad idea and you are just asking for trouble. Dicks has several bags that are packable and are under $100 bucks. I have a Marmmot 15 degree that i got for about $90 with tax, and use it backpacking all the time. Spend the money and you will be so much happier.

[oldsarge]

We think alike LeadOperator. I have the same stuff For years I have been using my old issue gear. Old habits are hard to break. But as I get older, and even though I don't get out no where as much as I used to. I'm looking to upgrade my gear. I know it can get pricey, but all that military stuff is starting to wear thin and needs to be replaced. I lasted several nights at freezing temps with a issue poncho, liner and parka. Those were some long nights crammed in a little nook in some rocks. Luckily it was dry. I might venture over to Dicks and check out some of those less pricey bags. Those should do me just fine for what I plan on doing. Even with a good bag, I'm still keeping my poncho & liner with me.

[Lamebeaver]

I like the way you think. I also experimented with plastic sheeting etc. and quickly decided it was a very bad idea. There are two routs you can go.

1. Hammock
2. Ground

If you choose hammock (you can get them with a shelter and bug screening built in) you still need a sleeping bag. Don't automatically eliminate down. Campmor has down bags around 100 bucks and you can't beat down for warmth and light weight.

If you go with ground you also will want some sort of sleeping pad. These go from closed-density waffle foam to primaloft insulated air mattresses. Big Agnes makes sleeping bags with a sleeve for the mattress so you don't roll of the pad in the middle of the night - nice feature.

You will either want to put this in a tent, or under a tarp. Another option if you're a minimalist is a bivy bag. For tarps, I wouldn't go with the blue poly type....too heavy. Either buy one (can get expensive) or make your own. Do a web search and you'll find all knids of information on the do-it-yourself option. You also don't need to spend a on of money on a tent, but look for a good lightweight model that will fit your needs. Cheap tents need to be seam-sealed, so throw in a bottle of seam sealer.

[LeadOperator]

Thanx for the feedback y'all.
The whole idea with this deal is:
1st, light weight...my whole rig is less than 20 lbs including water.
2nd, readily available components...stuff layin around the house.
3rd, cost...yeah I know I can buy a hi-tech bag, I'm just trying to put something together for less than eleventy million dollars. just to see if it can be done to an acceptable level.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by LeadOperator

Thanx for the feedback y'all.
The whole idea with this deal is:
1st, light weight...my whole rig is less than 20 lbs including water.
2nd, readily available components...stuff layin around the house.
3rd, cost...yeah I know I can buy a hi-tech bag, I'm just trying to put something together for less than eleventy million dollars. just to see if it can be done to an acceptable level.

Saw a website a few years back where a guy was trying to put together an outfit of less than ten pounds for less than $100 dollars. You might do a search for ultralighters and find some ideas that will help. Good luck

[IndianaHiker]

Originally Posted by LeadOperator

Thanx for the feedback y'all.
The whole idea with this deal is:
1st, light weight...my whole rig is less than 20 lbs including water.
2nd, readily available components...stuff layin around the house.
3rd, cost...yeah I know I can buy a hi-tech bag, I'm just trying to put something together for less than eleventy million dollars. just to see if it can be done to an acceptable level.

Hey understand that price and weight are a bear to deal with. Getting where I am pretty happy with my set up.
Thermarest Traillite pad for winter 2 lbs 50.00
Lost Ranger 15 Degree Down 3lbs 240.00
Granite Gear White Lightning Tarp 1Lb 110.00
Dueter Air Contact Pack 50/15 3 lbs 170.00

Total kit 570.00 total weight excluding water and food 9 Lbs. Could drop 50 or 60 bucks off that using another sil nylon tarp besides the Granite Gear. This kit was put together over time by trail and error. In reality the error part in gear selection I am sure I spent more on the original and then replacing gear that I didn't like with what finally worked. However at this point I am pretty happy with what I have and it works well for me. Good luck in getting started I know it is difficult.

BTW may be off slightly on the weight didn't look up the specs and working from memory however pretty sure within 6 oz.

[Grandpa]

I covered a lot of miles with
Everest deluxe hiking pack 3' 6'' $35
Nebo Treklite 20 bag 2' 8' $79 discontinued
Stearns pad 2' 4" $29 discontinued
Texsport knowlwood tent 3' 0" $29 discontinued

But I enjoy the trips a lot more now because I spent a little more money and the more you spend the less you get. I've shaved 3 lbs and stay in a much roomier, durable tent and sleep a lot warmer and more comfortable. Life is sweet.

[Michael]

I've slept down to about 45 degrees in my Coleman X40 sleeping bag on a Coleman Sleeping pad. The long version of my bag is on sale at their site for under 50 bucks.

It's worth noting that I was in my boxers, and I was so warm I had to unzip the thing and stick my feet out to cool off. It's also worth noting that I was in a tent (also Coleman) that I picked up for something like 80 bucks.

I've done down to about 50-55 with the pad, a tarp, and a random blanket from around the house. It was really cold. I think if I'd brought my bag I'd have been more than okay, even with the wind as heavy as it was. Without the pad it would have completely sucked, though.

My lessons from this are:

Bring a sleeping pad. Seriously. They're not just to have something soft to sleep on.

Bring a sleeping bag rated for the temperature range. It doesn't have to be a super expensive one. It doesn't have to be down. Just make sure you have a bag.

Tarps are fine, but it's hard to set them up so that they'll block a stiff breeze, especially if it shifts around a lot in the night. If there is such a breeze, it'll make you a lot colder. Plan accordingly.

If you do use a tarp, don't just go for a simple A frame and be done with it. Think about the weather conditions and the area and use a configuration that makes sense. A frames are great until they become wind tunnels, than they're sort of useless.