What does UL packing look like for masters? 03 How to use sleep bags and sleeping pads

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mountaineering Introduction , Mont-Bell , Video , Enlightened Equipment , Enlightened Equipment

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

What kind of sleeping bags do ultralight masters who have mastered lightness and efficiency use, and how do they use them?

The third installment of the "Outdoor Gearzine Trailhead Presents Yusuke Arai Packing Lesson 2016" video series is themed around "Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads." Arai introduces his current recommended sleeping bags and mats, and shares practical tips on how to use them in various situations. Let's get started!

These are opinions based solely on personal experience, so please do not take each conclusion at face value, but rather enjoy them through the filter of your own wise judgment and open mind

What is Outdoor Gearzine Trailhead?
Outdoor Gearzine was held in November 2016 at a gallery near Yoyogi Park for two weeks under the theme of "Starting autumn mountain climbing with Outdoor Gearzine . There is an exhibition of recommended autumn mountain tools, a corner for purchasing tools, a store for valuable outdoor gear, a flea market for used mountain tools after the test, and a talk event with mountain photographer Arai Yusuke, and various projects are being held that can be enjoyed by people who want to climb the mountains or have recently started climbing the mountains. This event has been a huge hit with readers of this site and mountain enthusiasts who have come here casually. For more detailed plans, please see this past announcement page .

Profile of Arai Yusuke

Mountain photographer. Head of SHARA PROJECT. Since his father's acquaintance was a traitor, he grew up in a deep, intimate nature from a young age. He has a deep knowledge of a wide range of fields, from traditional trekking to UL hiking, skiing, MTB, hunting and survival techniques, and outdoor gear, and is also well-versed in knives. Every year in autumn and winter, it is a bush crafter that clings to hunt, and then dismantles and cooks in the mountains.

List of serialized articles "What is Master's UL Packing like?"

table of contents

table of contents
Packing tips for ultralight hiking: How to use a sleeping bag and pad
Video transcription
Video explanation

Packing tips for ultralight hiking: How to use a sleeping bag and pad (video)
Video audio transcription
Video explanation

Packing tips for ultralight hiking: How to use a sleeping bag and pad

As usual, the characters in the video are Arai on the left and me (Hisatomi) on the right.

Video transcription

What sleeping bag does Arai use for spring and autumn hikes?

Arai Yusuke : This is a sleeping bag. It's tiny. Any way you look at it, it's a strange size (compared to the winter sleeping bag behind it). But this isn't (strictly speaking) a sleeping bag. It a Down Multi-Blanket . It's clearly listed in Montbell's catalogues and website, but nobody seems to be interested in it. This is usually in the form of a blanket. It has snap buttons on both ends. You might be wondering, "Why an envelope-shaped sleeping bag for the mountains?" But (when you fasten the buttons) it becomes a cylindrical shape with an open back.

Hisatomi : It's familiar to people in the ultralight world, but the head section is omitted and the lower body section can be tightened if necessary.

Arai Yusuke : You might be wondering why there's no need for a back part, but since the loft (on the back) is collapsed while you're sleeping, the heat retention in that area is reduced. So, unlike a mummy-style sleeping bag, there's no need to stuff the back with down, and it's easier to use if the back is open and only the mat is inside. What's more, the mat and sleeping bag move as one, so your body won't shift around on the mat.

First, press the two ends together like this to form a sleeping bag. If it's cold, tighten the toe part. This should be enough for summer. If you wear a down jacket underneath, it's the same as being in a thick sleeping bag

Another way to use it is: does anyone here camp in a tent? Yes, there are a few. Those who have camped in tents a lot will understand, but there are times when you feel like, "I need to pee, but I don't want to go out because it's cold." When you're wondering what to do, you hold it in until the last possible moment, and then when you finally get out of the sleeping bag, you end up feeling cold. But with this sleeping bag, the toes are open, so you can walk like this (with your feet out) lol

Hisatomi : It's like a tight skirt, haha.

Arai Yusuke : That's right. You can go outside with the sleeping bag on. Men can turn the open back side to the front and relieve themselves. It's incredibly lazy, but I'm not recommending it for that reason.

For example, you don't have any down pants right now, right? In that case, a wrap skirt is useful even for men. If you fold it in half like this and fasten it, you can wrap it around your waist, making it a wrap skirt. Then, if you feel like tightening it, you can tighten it (around your ankles) like this. It's really convenient to have something like this that can be used as a substitute for down pants

Of course, when it's too hot in the summer and you don't want to get into your sleeping bag, it can be folded into a blanket and used as a blanket

Hisatomi : Because it is a flat piece of cloth, it can be used in a variety of ways.

Arai Yusuke : Yes, and also in an emergency when bivouac, there will probably be times when you have to get into your sleeping bag with your shoes on, and you can just put this on over your head. I think it can be used in a variety of ways if used gently.

Hisatomi : By the way, are there different thicknesses of this?

Arai Yusuke : No, I don't have this. I only have #5. It's only for summer.

Hisatomi : That's right. I think the #5 number can only last about three seasons.

Arai Yusuke : Is there anyone who uses a hammock? No, there aren't any. There are camping hammocks like Hennessy hammocks, but they're not mesh hammocks. You can't take mesh hammocks with you on the mountain, though. If you wrap this around yourself from the outside, you can use it as a hammock sleeping bag. When you sleep in a hammock, the loft in this area (from your back to your waist) usually gets crushed. So you wrap it around the outside of the hammock. It has hooks and buttons on both ends, so if you use these to fasten it, you can use it as a hammock sleeping bag.

Down Multi Blanket #5

mont bell

21,060 yen

359g

Also, when people who have never used a sleeping bag buy one for the first time, many of them fold it up neatly and diligently before putting it away, but all down products will fit if you crumple them up like this, so please never fold your sleeping bag

Hisatomi : On the other hand, if you try to fold it, it just keeps expanding.

Arai Yusuke : The contents just keep coming out. The contents of the roll go in and out in a sludgy way.

Hisatomi : It often happens that after you've managed to wrap it up and put it in, the top part sticks out from the entrance.

Arai Yusuke : In the end, you just end up squeezing it in. So, even though it has so many different uses, it's only this size (showing the bag in its stowed state).

Hisatomi : By the way, what season is this equipment we're talking about?

Arai Yusuke : From spring to early autumn. In early autumn, maybe low mountains?

So, you have a stuff bag now, right? I'm thinking of limiting stuff bags to sleeping bags. (Taking out the bag for the down jacket) This isn't a stuff bag, it's a packable down jacket. The reason why a packable one is good is that if you put it on and put the stuff bag in your rucksack, it's hard to find it when you want to put it away. Well, I guess I'm just lazy

Hisatomi : By the way, this jacket has that feature (storing in a pocket).

Arai Yusuke : That's right. You can't really force it into your pocket. This is water-repellent down, so it's very easy to use. The brand is LLBean. LLBean is originally an alpine manufacturer in the US, so they also carry products for alpine use.

Do I need a sleeping bag cover?

Hisatomi : Will you be bringing something like a sleeping bag cover?

Arai Yusuke : You don't need to bring a sleeping bag cover. As long as you're confident that it won't get wet.

Hisatomi : With a shelter, you cover yourself on top, but the bottom is just a mat. A sleeping bag is quilted, right? Is that really okay?

Arai Yusuke : The fundamental concept behind a shelter is that it has a bathtub, which is why your sleeping bag gets wet. This is because condensation drips down and pools on the floor. By sealing it up tightly to prevent even rain splashing in, or by taking advantage of the slope and pitching your tent on higher ground, you can keep the inside of your tent dry. For example, at the campsite in Karasawa, there are lots of rocks lying around. You can use those rocks to block the open space underneath from the inside like this. This way, rain doesn't splash back, and all the water (from the shelter) flows down the rocks, so I've never gotten wet in Karasawa without using a sleeping bag cover. However, during the snowy season, I always use the lightest sleeping bag cover available.

What do you pay attention to when choosing a sleeping mat, and what do you recommend?

Arai Yusuke : If you're going to use it on flat ground or in low mountains, I recommend this inflatable type. Also, if you're going to be using it on snowy mountains or where the ground can be leveled. They say that closed-cell types are at a disadvantage because they can't be collapsed, but in reality, the only difference is that the "bulk" increases when folded, and the weight doesn't change that much. It's probably only about 20 grams at most. Think carefully about which one is best for you when making your choice.

If you only need the upper body, this inflatable (air-injected) mat cannot be torn (half of it will be wasted). Closed cell can be torn at the seams, so if you buy one, you can use half the size twice. I bought a 180cm mat and cut it in half. That way, I can roll it up and put it in my pack, and use the rest of my clothes to cover my lower body. Some people even cut off the shoulder section. This makes it lighter and easier to fit into a frameless backpack

As I said before, it's best not to go to mountain campsites with an inflatable tent. You'll end up sliding around, so I do. It's on a slope, and if you turn over a few times on it, you'll end up under the mat before you know it. I thought it would be warm, but now I can't stand on it. The slope is too steep. It was a really lonely experience. Also, I tried one the other day that had down filling. It was terrible. You won't be able to use the closed cell tent

However, there's a way to make more effective use of closed cells: "Astrofoil." This material is used for insulation in spacecraft, but is now also used for insulation in homes. If you place it under the mat, it creates a layer of air, made from high-purity aluminum sandwiched between packing bubble wrap. This repels the geothermal heat from below and also repels your own heat upwards, making it incredibly warm. Place Astrofoil under the inflatable mattress and place hot packs evenly spaced on top. This will keep you incredibly warm. It's great for winter camping for the first time, or if your boyfriend can handle the cold but your girlfriend can't

Hisatomi : Where can I buy it?

Arai Yusuke : Astrofoil? It's only sold at a limited number of places. I'm not sure if it's okay to say something so obscene, but it's only available at SHARA Project and Hikers Depot.

Video explanation

About quilted sleeping bags

The first half of the article introduced quilted sleeping bags, which have previously been featured in Outdoor Gearzine, but also showed us various in-depth ways to use them. I started using one seriously last year, and although mummy-style sleeping bags, which can cover your entire body including your face, are highly airtight, they are less versatile than quilted sleeping bags other than for "sleeping without letting heat escape as much as possible."

According to Arai, in addition to simply wrapping yourself in it and sleeping in it, it can be used in a variety of ways, such as as a blanket on hot days, as down pants or a wrap skirt, as a sleeping bag for hammocks, or for emergency bivouacs.However, the quilted version is overwhelmingly more convenient for activities that require lightweight and multi-functional use, such as ultralights

However, compared to mummy-style sleeping bags, there are fewer manufacturers making them, so your options are limited. Our editorial team found the best model, the American-made ENLIGHTENED EQUIPMENT . While it's a bit of a challenge to purchase directly from the manufacturer's website (in English), it's the ultimate quilted sleeping bag, with the ability to customize almost every aspect, including fabric, material, heat retention, size, and color (see the introduction page for more details ).

Based on our editorial research, models relatively readily available in Japan include the Micro and Ember series from SEA TO SUMMIT , the TOP QUILT from Hikers Depot, the Nix synthetic quilt from LOCUS GEAR , the Sky High Mountain Works Sky HighDown Quilt 120 , and the Cumulus QUILT 350. Despite all my research, I hadn't realized until now that even Montbell, a Japanese manufacturer, also makes these products. While many models are difficult to test in stores and sell out quickly due to limited stock, it's a blessing to have a manufacturer like Montbell with a large inventory and nationwide network. I'd like to see more variations in warmth, but even so, Montbell's continued expansion into this niche lineup is still impressive. I plan to try one out sometime this year.

Down Multi Blanket #5

mont bell

21,060 yen

359g

Tips for choosing a sleeping pad

Closed-cell (closed-cell) sleeping pads are certainly no match for inflatable sleeping pads in terms of storage size, cushioning, and heat retention. However, apart from that, they are very attractive for their ease of use and, above all, their low price. As Arai mentioned, just because an inflatable pad is more expensive doesn't mean it's better in all cases, so it's important to decide your priorities when choosing a pad. We've explained this in more detail on this page , so if you're interested, please take a look.

Astrofoil Recommendation

In that case, you can make do with ease of packing and comfort, but heat retention is directly related to life, so you want to do something about it. That's where Arai recommended Astrofoil

This new material, which was developed through research into spacesuits and aircraft and is now used as a heat shield for homes, consists of an air bubble sandwiched between high-purity aluminum. The aluminum on both sides reflects radiant heat from both inside and outside, while the air layer in the air bubble reduces heat conduction, making it possible to block heat more effectively ( reference site ).

After some research, I found that it is 4mm thick, which is much thinner than a roll-type mat, but a folding silver mat , and it doesn't seem to be that compact, so it depends on how much heat retention it provides in terms of size (weight) versus effectiveness. Also, as Arai said, since it is a commercial material for construction, it is not generally sold in retail stores, and it seems to be very difficult to obtain.

That's all for now. Please look forward to the next one!