by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I updated my sleeping system for summer 2020.
- Therm-a-Rest Corus 0C Down Quilt CAD $260 (US $186)
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite WV Sleeping Pad – Unisex CAD $254 (US $181.50)
Hubba NX 2020 tent CAD $479 (US $342) - Nemo Switchback Foam Sleeping Pad – Unisex CAD $49.95 (US $35.70)
I bought everything from Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada, trying to support companies other than Amazon during COVID-19.
I’ve spent hundreds of nights in Hubba and Hubba NX tents. Never a complaint aside from pole failures.
Happily, the latest edition has new composite poles. They look stronger. Especially the hubs.
NX weight is listed at 1.29 kg (about 2.84 lbs).
My pillow is a partially inflated Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite (small) wrapped in a shirt — which I love.
In fact the XLite is the sleeping pad I normally use so it is also my back-up in case the somewhat fragile UberLite gets punctured.
When I want to carry the extra weight (415 gm) and bulk, I’m bringing along the orange Nemo foam pad to protect the UberLite from the ground. And to keep my tent a little cleaner.
For bikepacking I’m also using the Nemo folded as a flat platform across my rear panniers. Happy to have it.
The Therm-a-Rest Corus is my first quilt.
Read the cleverhiker review.
I actually am happy with sleeping bags, never feeling claustrophobic in the past. On my recent 6 day bikepacking trip I carried both the Corus as well as a down bag. Both were fine for me. In fact, after the test I used both — not for warmth, but for coziness.
I’ll carry the Corus for hikes and bikepacking where weight and volume is an important factor.
Here I am setting up my previous system earlier in the spring.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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