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To: ransomnote
I think you may be making this too complicated. BTW, I just spent 3 weeks primitive camping in the Smokies on the TN/NC border. First, do some internet shopping at Cabellas and REI just to scope out what is available in gear in various styles, qualities and price ranges. If you source elsewhere, that's fine but you'll be a more knowledgeable buyer for the effort. Expeditionportal.com could have some useful info for you on lots of your outdoor questions.

I have no familiarity with the blanket you specifically questioned but if you can't find any info on it, well that is telling in itself. It's a real bummer to head out in the bush with a crappy piece of gear. Regarding a blanket, I would just get a standard wool or wool blend blanket. I'm sure that there are some modern constructions around that are a bit better in one way or another but I am too lazy to search them out and simply suggest a conventional wool or wool blend blanket.

Since you will be using your truck bed or a tent, here are some comments on that. Truck beds are supremely uncomfortable unless you pad the heck out of the floor. At a minimum use a cheap Walmart sleeping bag on the floor with a Thermarest type pad to tame down the hard steel and ribs. The cap needs to have screened windows but these are likely going have to be fully closed in heavier rain so it will be clammy at times. Put some weather strip around the tailgate to keep out road dust. For the tent, shy way from big box store tents as they have durability problems plus will not stand up at all to severe weather. For example, during my recent Smokies trip, there was radical weather one night and I think there was a microburst or small tornado. Extreme wind and rain, knocked down trees and such. My 12 year old North Face didn't even budge in the wind and a Walmart grade tent would have been collapsed on me.

My ideal tent and sleeping gear load out is this assuming camping in primitive areas. A quality 3 season tent by a company such as North Face, Marmot, etc. Note that Cabellas and REI house brands are good gear and cost less. An aside, if you're doing more than a quick overnight, fully stake out the tent with all foot and guy lines as the tent will be much more weather resistant and better ventilated. Get a tent that is one size larger than your people load so there is plenty of interior room. If speed of tent setup and take down is a priority, there are some flop open, self erecting tents that are 30 second setup and take down plus there are rooftop foldout and popup tents. My sleeping gear consists of a synthetic insulation -20F bag, a cheap warm weather Walmart grade bag and a Thermarest. With the pad on the floor, one bag underneath me and the top bag for sleeping cover, I am good to go for anything from summer hot weather to subzero. Don't forget an LED headlamp that you can clip inside the tent

22 posted on 07/13/2014 11:50:21 AM PDT by Hootowl99
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To: Hootowl99

Thank you for the good ideas.


23 posted on 07/13/2014 1:21:29 PM PDT by ransomnote
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