Tom Brown extolls that the "Sacred Order" of survival is Shelter-Water-Fire-Food. "Shelter" includes clothes and other means that prevent heat and/or water loss (or gain) from the environment that the person's biology needs to expend energy and/or water to counteract. This is my training. This is the topic of this entry.
I'm renting what I expect to be a very fine tent from Arctic Treks. Jim and Carol have been at this a long time and I am leaving my first line of defense in their hands. (It likely will result in a purchase before I do this again!) I had to face double trouble with my current "primo" sleeping bag. First, it is on the bottom end of what was recommended in terms of comfort (15F with a 0F bag for "cold sleepers" like me suggested). Second, it uses down, vs. synthetic, insulation. This is a rafting trip, in a potentially very wet season. Down offers NO insulation when it is wet. REI's 20% off members coupon came just in time. I now have a 0F Mountain Hardware bag that is rated to 0F.
So, the top and sides of "me" are taken care of. What about the "earth side"? I have a 10+ year old self-inflating air mattress but it is 2.5 pounds and doesn't compress well. It'd be fine with me but will it fit into the weight and size limits of the trip? I've availed myself upon Jim and Carol, as well as Bill Thompson, to see what they think.
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