EDIT: correction. I said this was my frst time getting it wet in 12 years, but not correct. In Sept 2007, I soaked the foot end of the pad, along with the foot end of my Polarguard bag, this ONE time. I camped in the 40s, in uber humid Olympic National Park beside the Hoh river. This happened because I did not put the space blanket on top of the pad as per directions, but left it in my pack. We were setting up by headlight at night, I was tired, and it wasn't very cold, I didn't think I would need it. And I didn't need it at all in the sense of being warm, as I slept very comfortably. I didn't notice how wet the foot end was until I went to get out of the bottom entry hammock next morning. That is the only other time I got this system wet, and it was my fault for not following the directions. However, it was also warm enough when wet (in the 40s) and also dried very quickly, as did the PG bag. The next night I put in the space blanket and slept warm and dry the rest of the trip, despite lots of rain and fog. This was one of two trips where my buddies down gear lost noticeable loft- enough to concern him- despite never getting wet from the outside, that we could tell anyway. Apparently either from condensation of vapor he was giving off, or because he was sweating without even realizing it.
Wow, lots more to it than I thought. Thank you all for clarifying a lot of that. Lots to learn.
Roy
You are correct, Hennessy did stop making them a long time ago. I added velcro to the full length OCF, kdney, and torso pads, so they stay in place, and also sewed a piece of metalized fabric onto the full length OCF pad. It needed reinforcing to keep it from getting ripped when adjusting. I am a big believer in incorporating heat reflective metalized fabric into my stuff. But, that's another story. I often wonder why Hennessy stoped making those pads, and why he doesn't develop more under insulation ideas. What he does market does work very well.
As to condensation, well......... that's hit and miss. Condensation in under layers, for me has always been slight, if at all. Top is another issue. Up here, in very cold conditions, I probably just am out in the very low humidity weather.
Since I retired, some times I stay awake all day, some times all night.
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