Travel

    I’ve just received Rab Summit 500 sleeping bag that I’ve bought for review. This is a minimalistic, high quality bag hand packed with down in England. It is rated at 15*F and -10*C
    As you can see here in the PDF file here Summit Alpine line is last “ultralight, all use” product line before serious expedition grade bags made for some extreme temperatures.

First the specs:
Material:[shell] Pertex Endurance; [lining] Pertex Microlight (polyurethane)
Insulation:(top) EU750-fill down (US 850+), (bottom) EU560-fill down (US 750+)
Shape: mummy
Draft Collar :yes
Stuff Size:12 x 6 in
Stuff Sack: yes, compression
Storage Sack: yes
Bag Length:82 in
Degree:15 F
European Norm Comfort Rating:-10C 15F
Weight:2 lb 1 oz
Recommended Use: mountaineering, backpacking, camping
Manufacturer Warranty: lifetime
Price: $235

    The outer shell is one of the best on the market – Pertex Endurance! It allows for water vapors to exit the bag, yet it repels water from the surface. This material ensures that if you have condensation in your tent or if you have slight drizzle while sleeping without a shelter – you will remain dry. This doesn’t mean that the bag will not get wet in a serious rain, but it will repel some water instead of absorbing it.

    The inner and outer shells are also very light – contributing to a pretty light bag all around. The 2lb total weight comes in big part from the down fill instead of the synthetic. Down is lighter and warmer per unit of weight. In this case the bag is filled with 750 fill on top and 560 fill on the bottom. However, these are European ratings which are more conservative to those used in the United States. In US these are equal to 850+ and 750+ fill rating respectively. This kind of high quality down is expensive and is only used in top of the line products by such companies are Marmot, North Face, Western Mounteneering, GoLite, Sea To Summit, MontBell, Exped, Valandre, etc.

How would you like to have a free place to stay when you travel? It doesn't mater if you travel within your own country, some place just across the border or all the way around the world, too. So here is the deal - there is a website and community called "CouchSurfing" and community members all like to travel.

Most of them also offer their couches (literally) for other members of the community if they would like to visit and stay over for a few days. This is an absolutely brilliant idea! You do have to have a fully filled out profile with a lot of information about yourself, having someone vouch for you also helps a lot. The easiest way to get someone to vouch for you is to also offer a couch at your own place. That way when someone stops by (either for coffee or to stay for a day) they can write a reference that will let other users know that you are not some unfriendly creep, but a nice person who is fun. Those who stay at your place are also likely to offer you to stay at their home town when you travel.