Doublemat Evazote

We have been camping as a couple for 25 years now and we started in individual bags and mats but now we use an Exped double mat and a Nemo double sleeping bag. We also are in a big ol tent that allows us to stand up in it which is important to us as we get older and don’t want to dry hump the ground to pull our pants up. 😁 I also insist we bring a down comforter for the cold nights because if I’m cold, I can’t sleep.

1. Pack -- no strong opinion. I mostly bikepack. Piece of advice would be to focus on the volume, which critically depends on the amount of gear and food/water you want to carry. Above 35L probably framed, below 25L UL fabric. I'd think that a decent framed backpack would do. I had mild headaches looking at the prices of higher end backpacks.... entry level, at first, would almost certainly be a better option. 2. Pad -- it looks as if a fair proportion of seasoned backpackers use ccf pads, the more extreme version being evazote. Looks dorky BUT no fear of a puncture, AND much less expensive. For the record, I have an XTherm, a Decathlon (much much less expensive and similar comfort) a Z-fold and an evazote. I plan a 6-week trip this spring, with the evazote because it weighs next to nothing, unrolls/rolls in an instant. (inflating an xTherm isn't fun. Deflating takes more time) 3. Bag: 950 Fill down, false back (look at what Timmermade does), aggressively rated (i.e. no need for a rating at the record low ever registered in the area you want to visit). Will weight nothing, pack the size of a large grapefruit. If it gets cold, wear all of your clothes and you'll survive 4. Backpaking nowadays is usually with trekking pole(s). I'd suggest a dyneema trekking pole tent. Reasonably durable (expect 100+ nights before it starts delaminating). Weighs nothing. In the Appalachians you essentially always stake your tent. (although national parks are getting more focused on huge camper vans and force you to pitch your tent on what looks like concrete). 5. I'd absolutely look for a used inReach. DO NOT rely solely on your phone. Battery/weather. 6. Get a tiny stove (BRS-3000) and an aluminium (better thermals) pot. Personally I can fit a 100g canister + stove always screwed on, inside a SnowPeaks 750ml and an insulated TomShoo 600ml (or is it 650) titanium mug. Cheaper than JetBoil, more flexible. Weighs very little. For water, several filter systems exist. Read about chemicals you can/should add to your water. More importantly -- don't over think about/spend on gear

Having done about 600 miles with torso length GG Thinlight, I can honestly say it’s not for everyone/most. I now use 10mm Evazote cut to torso length and it’s really comfortable. If you want something thinner, I’d go with the Yamatomichi 5mm.

Exped double mat and a double Kelty sleeping bag. We take actual pillows off our bed, too! It's almost perfect; I just need to figure out a way to keep the pillows from sliding off the back of the pad (yes, they're inside of the hood on the sleeping bag).

I've bought an exoed evazote and cut down to a much shorter and exact shape to put under the mat that covers 3/4 of my body. It weights the around 2.5-3 oz. It has great r value and it's thicker , so very useful around camp https://www.exped.com/en/products/sleeping-mats/doublemat-evazote

I'm just saying all the ccf pads are essentially the same. Yes the decathlon one is better value than the thermarest or Exped or nemo.

I have a double size Exped, and it is just too big for us to pack up for car camping. I went with sleeping pads so I could actually fit it in my car. I love the idea of cots, but I don’t know how people put them inside cars!