Enigma APEX

I think it's because they were good value back then, but their price has crept up to Katabatic, Nunatak, etc. Still worth it if you them on sale though. I had one of their Karo baffle quilts that was severely underfilled and it would not keep the down in place. Replaced it with an Enigma and it ways also underfilled for the rating and sent it back to get down added. Eventually replaced the Enigma with a Nunatak Sulo and had zero probems with it. They are also the company Defense Mechanisms making tactical gear, and some people might not like that.

I would also recommend a quilt paired with a good sleeping pad, which would be different if you are hammock camping. I'm not familiar with hammock camping, but I think you would need an under quilt and an over quilt. The under quilt, like a sleeping pad, is also essential in keeping you warm. Having said that, for ground sleeping, I've had a 30F degree synthetic Enlightened Equipment quilt for a few years and often found it too cold. It's also very large and doesn't compress down very much for the warmth it provides. I've retired it to lending to friends and car camping. I just picked up a Neve Gear Waratah -8C which I pair with a Nemo Tensor All Season pad. I just snow camped in 30F / -1C with it. I do wear a full set of down PJ's (overshoes, pants, jacket) and I do sleep cold, having issues with cold feet in the past. With the -8C and full set of down I was plenty warm and had no issues. I could have probably gone down to the advertised -8C and been okay, slightly out of comfort. For summer I'll use the Neve Gear Waratah UL paired with a Nemo Tensor Elite pad that drops around 500 grams (haven't weighed it yet). If I recall both the -8C and UL quilt were within specifications for weights but will double check later.

There are lots of good YouTube videos about “budget backpacking set ups,” like from Justin Outdoors. I would look at a different freestanding tent. There are budget options around the price of the tent you have here from semi-reputable brands like Naturehike. REI halfdome might be another good budget option especially on sale. Tents are tough because it’s hard to know what you’ll want out of an expensive, end game type tent. I think it’s very reasonable to get a cheap tent for your first time. Just make sure it’s reputable enough that it won’t be a total waste of money. And make sure you know what you’re getting between freestanding vs trekking pole tents. Naturehike also seems to make decent budget sleeping pad options (don’t trust their R Values though, get a warm one). The rei helix is a warm and high quality pad. Very comfortable too. Sometimes they go on sale for about $120. I have it and have zero regrets. Pillows can be had for quite cheap too. I would get one with a pad strap like the Enlightened Equipment Cloud 9 for $25. Not sure on budget sleeping bag options but if you can stretch to a synthetic Enlightened Equipment quilt for $230-$240 I think that would make a lot of sense. Even if you eventually upgrade to down, the synthetic quilt will still be useful if you’re going somewhere super wet. I would just skip the compass. Most people will just use navigation apps like onX on your phone (which you can probably just get a free trial for). Can’t go wrong with that sawyer filter, but you might want to consider the one with the larger 2L bag. It has a big opening on one side that makes getting water very easy. Good option especially if you’re not too worried about weight. A platypus QuickDraw with a cnoc 2L is a good option too. If you can handle the bad taste, iodine tablets could be a great way to save money here. Not sure on those gas canisters. I’d just get one from rei cause you know it can be trusted. It also won’t be too much more expensive and you can buy just one to save money. The brs 3000t and a toaks 750 ml pot is a great budget cook set for about the same price. Much lighter, also tried and true. If you’re going with friends you might be able to just use their stove too. Offer to carry their gas. Costco is a great option for bear spray. I believe it’s cheaper and I would trust it more. Costco trekking poles are also very popular and cheap. Don’t forget about food storage if you’re going into bear country. REI rents out bear canisters. Bear canisters are also important to keep critters away. Honestly, just skip the multitool altogether. If you must, get the smallest Swiss Army knife for not that much more. Skip the towel altogether too. If you must, a buff/neck tube will serve the same purpose (plus many more!) for about the same price. Skip the first aid kit too. Make your own with leukotape for blisters and some bandaids. You won’t need much more. Skip the wipes. Just use toilet paper to save money (please pack it out in a dog poop bag, especially if the area you’re going to requires it). A backcountry bidet would be about the same price and almost certainly lighter. Having a dialed in sleep system is the most important part, both for comfort and safety. Save money by just not buying the other stuff. Your first time should be relatively tame anyways so stay away from buying stuff just in case. You’ll learn what you need with experience and you’ll be able to make smart investments in higher quality stuff. Have fun out there!

Quilt would be great with a dog. Mine is Apex 167 (light at under 600g, but fairly bulky) which I wouldn't trust to near-freezing, but you can bundle up with clothes under a quilt far easier than with a bag. They are also seriously easy to make if you find a place to buy the materials.

I've tried a few different layering systems. My favorite is a 20+° liner with a 30° quilt (more like 40°comfort) when the temps are below 30°. This gives me a range of 50°-20°. I've layered quilts before, it was lighter and smaller but I prefer the liner because it's easier to setup and I had trouble keeping both quilts on me since I toss and turn. For under 20°, I switch to a 17° bag (comfort 24°) with a 30° quilt over the top. I used this combo in Colorado and it kept me warm down to -10°, that's when my pad started to be the the issue. My quilt is an enlightened equipment apex, it's the wide model so I have no issue fitting it over my sleeping bag. I'd recommend it, they have a 10% discount code so it's around $210 for the 30° wide.

ADK ULer here, The ADk is a wild and magical place for North east standards. 1. Since you're new to overnighting just go the budget route and definitely get a double wall tent for the Adirondacks. If you find you like it and start pushing bigger miles then you can upgrade down the road. 2. For your sleeping bag concerns I have both down and synthetic. It really only matters what time of the year you're using them. If its more in the summer I'd go synthetic (40F EE apex quilt) as the Daks is a really wet place and condensation can easily build up. But in the more shoulder season (late september early october) I bring my down 20F quilt as it can easily get into the 30s at night and I'd rather be warm then cold. If you're going with a double wall tent then there are less concerns with your down bag as it'll get less condensation on it. 3. Buy both and sleep on them in your house. Figure out what you like better then return the other. This is what I'd do if I started out all over again. 7. The adirondacks can be a tough area and it sounds like you have done a decent amount of day hiking in the park. Just remember that the "Adirondack Mile" is a really thing. Just because you know you can do a specific hiking speed somewhere else doesn't mean it'll hold up in the adirondacks. The place is rugged, can be steep and is muddy as all help. With a overnight pack this can also slow you down even more. So know your capability, have a solid plan to get to a camp site (definitely make a more reasonable plan on your first trip) and enjoy the experience. I think more information on what your overnight . weekend trips int he adirondacks will will help many of us to provide suggestions. As there are many easy trails in the adirondacks that aren't boulder scrambling or mud trudges. Many of the trips I do are 2 nights with a good amount of those trips set up at a base camp so I can bag a ton of peaks. A great place to start your shake down overnight could be the pharaoh lake wilderness. Its a beautiful lake with a lot of amazing campsites along it. Plus you could day hike up to the top of pharaoh mountain for some excellent views.

Some stuff that works for my family in southern Appalachia (USA): - granite gear Virgo backpack: 1 pound; $100; and like 50 liters - tarps and net tents for each set of 2 people. Though my daughters still prefer the “enclosed feeling” of our old tarptent. - synthetic quilts. I know EE is getting it really rough right now with their support of right wing politics, but my daughters really like their apex quilts from them and really liked being able to pick their colors. - we use a combination of neoair and xtherm pads with inflatable pillows and everyone seems to be happy - no cook charcuterie has been a real hit for overnights. Cheese; meats (for my one daughter); nuts; bread; fruit. Everyone eats their fill and more. - platypus containers with aqua mira. No messing with filters is great - the single packets of Gatorade are a real crowd pleaser for an injection of sugar and electrolytes - making hot cocoa directly in 16oz Nalgene bottles that my daughters carry has worked out well