Page 66 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2019

the good life | the great outdoors

the lid goes away. Finally, most, if not all, of the frame and pad-
ding get the axe. By this point, if you’re carrying much more
than fifteen pounds you’re going to pretty miserable.

Sleep System: I use the term sleep system in place
of sleeping bag and pad because the two should be thought of as a
combined system rather than individual parts. The sleeping pad makes
for a more comfortable night’s sleep in two important ways. It pro-
vides padding from the ground but more importantly, it also provides
insulation. The dead air space created by the loft in your sleeping bag
provides lots of warmth but when you lay on it, you temporarily crush
all the loft and corresponding insulation. That’s where the sleeping pad
comes in to save the night’s sleep. Think of it this way—the pad insu-
lates from the bottom and the sleeping bag insulates from the top.

Sleeping bags come in all shapes and sizes. The tighter the fit, the
more efficient the bag will be but most of us aren’t used to sleeping
like mummies. Thankfully, manufacturers like Big Agnes and Nemo
Equipment have now started making high performance, lightweight
bags shaped in ways that are far more comfortable to sleep in.
SHOWN ABOVE: Sleeping bag
Shelter: Freestanding tents are the most popular but also the with built-in sleeve to keep the
heaviest option. That said, they are much lighter than they were even pad in place
10 years ago. My first backpacking tent was seven pounds. My current
one is less than three pounds. What makes a tent freestanding is the
ability to pitch it without having to stake it out in order to keep the
tent upright. Tarps and other non-freestanding shelters can be great
lighter weight options, but keep in mind that staking is a must and
setup will go much more smoothly if you aren’t trying to do it by
yourself. Similarly, hammocks can be a great option but again there
are limitations. You need to find trees the right distance apart or carry
extra rope, which may offset the weight saved by ditching the tent.

The big takeaway: As thru-hikers say “HYOH”
(Hike your own hike). There are a ton of options out there!
Some are better constructed than others. Some are more
durable. Some are lighter. Some are more comfortable.
Everyone has different priorities and budgets. Go talk to
one the experts at your locally-owned outdoor specialty
shops to help sort out what are the best options for you!

Freestanding tents do not require
ropes or stakes to keep them upright.

BRYANT HELGELAND is the owner/operator of Mountain
Provisions, on the Plaza in Ashland. Active in several
outdoor sports (Telemark skiing, XC Skiing, Road and
Mountain biking, Hiking, Backpacking, Kayaking), he has
been a seminar speaker on many of those activities. He
attended a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)
semester trip to Chile shortly after college. During high
school, he was a counselor at YMCA outdoor camps.
Contact him at bryant@ashlandmountainprovisions.com or
the store’s Facebook page.
64 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2019