I need to evaluate all of my gear, and decide if it's worth the cost to upgrade.
Current Bag
Backcountry Bed 600 Long (weights 2 pounds and 11 ounces)
Modifying into a single TQ, cannibalizing extra down for the other DIY projects
Reference: HF thread Backcountry Bed modification
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Down
Cannibalized Down - X ounces Dri Down 600fp (available for MYOG filling)
Reference: Goose Down 900fp, zero feathers from Amazon $65 per pound
Beanie - 0.5 ounces
Jacket - 4.0 ounces
Pillow/Stuffsack - 0.5 ounces
Balaclava - 1.5 ounces
Mittens -
Booties -
Top Quilt -
Under Quilt -
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Vapor Barrier
Tyvek for ground lay and cold protection
Can I improve upon this design? Would DIY have a cost savings or weight advantage?
bivyback.jpg
Reference: Tyvek Bag Cover - 135g - $11 from AliExpress
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Top Quilt:
Karo style quilt, starting with 4.5 ounces of down fill
Here is my spreadsheet for this top quilt. I'm unsure of the height, as I keep going back and forth between 70 and 78 inches for my 5' 6" frame.
Reference: DIY Top Quilt Calculator Spreadsheet
Reference: Costco Down Throw 2 for $50
Reference: HF Thread Modifying-a-Karo-baffled-quilt-on-the-trail
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Underquilt:
Karo style underquilt starting with 6 ounces of down fill
Plan to stuff to 16 ounce fill when needed
Is it too much a stretch to list the width as 62 when there's 63 or 64 workable inches in the wide?
Reference: Sleeping Pad R Values (is an UQ needed)
Reference: Underquilt Chart Matrix
Reference: Differential Cut UQ Calculator Spreadsheet
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Beanie:
beanie.jpg
Reference: Blackrock Beanie Down Ultralight
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Balaclava:
Slight modification to this pattern to have it extend further down in the front and back.
Unsure the fill amount needed - 1 or 2 ounces?
What is the best fabric to use for something like this currently?
Would I want to have one membrane layer and one mountain layer like an underquilt?
balaclava.jpg
Reference: http://rob-thegreatoutdoors.blogspot...balaclava.html
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Down Jacket:
I've always enjoyed how shug fastens his down jacket around the foot of his hammock. I've always wanted to have removable down sleeves on my jacket. I remember the sleeves being held by shock cordage in the back, but I'm blanking on who did the modification (it's been tough to find).
jacket.png
Reference: Whitney Down Jacket Plans at Thru-Hiker
Reference: 8.5 ounce down hooded jacket Argon with 5 ounce fill at BPL
Reference: Patagonia article discussing the amount of fill in each of their jackets
Alternative: I own an authentic alpaca wool jacket. Together with a pair of alpaca wool socks, they weigh 420 grams (assuming the jacket is 350 grams of that). ThruHiker estimates the down jacket to weigh 8 or 9 ounces.
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Stuff Sack Pillow:
A hybrid between a down pillow and a stuff sack.
Fill with clothes to create pillow size desired.
Down pocket sewed into stuff sack for pillow "face"
Pillow Stuff Sack.jpg
stuff sack pillow.jpg
Reference: HG Pillow (too heavy and not multi-use)
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Tarp:
Lightweight fabric - 5 yards - 8.33 square yards
0.51 Dyneema Composite Fiber weighs 4.25 ounces x 32 dollars = 160 dollars. (0.15)
0.74 Mountain 7D weighs 6.16 ounces x 16 dollars = 80 dollars (0.20)
0.75 Membrane 10 Ripstop weighs 6.25 ounces x 11 dollars = 55 dollars (0.29)
1.10 Silnylon weighs 9.16 ounces x 6 dollars = 30 dollars. (0.36)
These numbers show that 0.75 membrane and 1.10 Silnylon are the frontrunners for a budget tarp. Comparing Silnylong to Membrane 10, we see a 1.75 ounce drop for 25 dollars. The 1.25 ounce drop when moving to Cuben Fiber for an additional 100 dollars would be one of the very last upgrades that I perform (since there's not much savings for a good deal of money)..
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Grizz Beaks:
Two versions to consider. Long connected or individual detached. The GrizzBeak2 aka SonOfBeak might work as a proper rain kilt for me. The rain kilt is 72cm by 177cm. Son of Beak measures 132cm by 132cm by 30cm.
GrizzBeak.jpg
grizzbeaky2.jpg
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Hammock:
Lightweight single layer hammock - 11 foot gathered end
3.5 yards of fabric = 6.3 square yards
MTN 0.74 weighs 4.66 ounces x 16 = 56 dollars (0.38)
Membrane SilPoly weighs 5.86 ounces x 7.25 = 25.38 dollars (0.67)
1.0oz DiamondD ripstop weighs 6.3 ounces x 6 = 21 dollars (0.76)
Hexon 1.0 weighs 6.3 ounces x 6.75 = 23.63 dollars (0.67)
1.1oz Ripstop weighs 6.93 ounces x 4.40 = 15.40 dollars (0.94)
1.1oz poly ripstop camo weighs 6.93 ounces x 6.25 = 22 dollars (0.66)
1.6oz Polyester Ripstop Camo weighs 10.08 ounces x 6 = 21 dollars (0.47)
1.9oz Ripstop weighs 12 ounces x 4 = 13 dollars (0.64)
hammock.jpg
Reference: HG Hexon 1.0 - $30 weighs 217 grams
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Suspension:
Straps (purchased) - considering 8 foot 1.5 g/ounce spider (maybe longer)
Evo Loops to connect hammock to straps
Reference: Expensive splicing tool 1.6 ounce $22
Reference: Cheap splicing tool 0.75 ounces $8
Reference: Dutch 1.5 Spider
Reference: How to make Evo Loops Youtube Video
Reference: Hammock Suspension with Beckett Hitch Youtube Video
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Rain Pants or Kilt
Very simple DIY - unsure best fabric or if it's worth the time
kilt.png
Reference :Rain Kilt from AliExpress - 8 dollars - 65 grams - 72cm x 177cm
rain pants.png
Reference :Rain Pants from AliExpress- 14 dollars - gear used by triple crown hiker
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Pack:
Current Packs:
Kelty pk50 (35L + 15L) - weighs 3 pounds 2 ounces
REI Flash 30L - weighs 480 grams
Ribz Front Pack
backpack.jpg
Reference :Most DIY packs follow this same basic pattern from DIYGearSupply
UL50.jpg
Reference :UL50 - 1 pound 6 ounces @ 80 dollars from MyTrailCo
joeypack.jpg
Reference :Joey Pack - 11.8 ounces @ 230 dollars from PalantePacks
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Is there any other MYOG that you would suggest for a Thru Hike of either the AT or the PCT?
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