Who uses them and what are your opinions of them?

I'm talking about something like the Nunatak Arc AT or something I MYOG, comes up to about breast level, worn with a parka you'd have a long anyways.

I like the idea of an 8-10 oz summer/late spring/early fall bag that makes use of gear I'm already bring along, as well as the potential to use it to give a 10-15 degree boost inside my 15-20 degree winter quilt,(agains combined with the upper body insulation I'm already carrying) giving me a two quilt system that cover cover me from 5F degrees up to whatever.

What jacket/parka do you wear to supplement it at what temps?

Any input is appreciated.

Every time I've tried to design a system based on a half-bag, I've decided that it would require quite a bit more parka than I needed to carry for other purposes, so I haven't ever pursued the idea beyond theoretical.

Every time I've tried to design a system based on a half-bag, I've decided that it would require quite a bit more parka than I needed to carry for other purposes, so I haven't ever pursued the idea beyond theoretical.

This is kind of what I'm trying to figure out. At 40-45 degrees, I think I'd be carrying my MB UL Down Inner Parka @8.5oz, so combined with the quilt, that's 16.5oz (would that be warm enough?) for the Arc AT+parka, whereas now I carry a Nunatak Arc Specialist at 16.5 oz + 8.5 oz for the quilt.

The problem is, at 45 degrees and up, I'd usually carry at most a 5oz vest or just my wind/rain shell, but those wouldn't be warm enough combined with the quilt to sleep in.

I'm might be trying to overspecialize here, which is what I'm trying to figure out.

I suppose in need to experiment at home, sleepin at night with my bedding just up to my chest and see how I handle 60 degree temps in lighter tops.

Tim Marshall has made me 2 lightweight 3/4 length Climashield XP quilts, the 5 ounce XP( layer) at 15.7 ounces( dimensions-62" long, 49 wide-top, 36" wide foot); and 2.5 ounce( 58", by 46", by 34" weighs 9.6 ounces..I sllep warm. In a TT Rainbow have slept w/5 ounce and BMW pullover and midweight johns/MH cap at 35-38; the same with 2.5 ounce XP at 43-45 low..

Really works for me - my summer "bag"

Also use it to supplement full length quilt in colder temps.

Mountain Laurel Designs MLD 2Thirds XP Quilt


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews?forum_thread_id=17465

Edited by gmatthews on 03/17/2010 11:56:17 MDT.