Bed roll

[Cwsharer]

What’s everyone packing for a bed roll? I use the western hunter version of the butler bag and it’s awesome but I often wonder if I could shed about 20 pounds by switching to a down bag but you can’t just throw a down bag on the dirt and be good to go like a canvas bedroll . Is there a good in between ? What do you guys think?

 

[Robster]

down bag in a canvas bedroll like this might save a lot of weight.

Zippered Canvas Cavalry Bedroll Sleeping Bag Cover

Zippered Cavalry Bedroll / Sleeping Bag Cover

www.outfitterssupply.com

 

[Pilsner]

$209 for a canvas stuff sack?! Sweet Jesus.
I just watched a guy on YT make one from a Harbour Freight canvas tarp and some beeswax/linseed oil/paraffin waterproofing and a YKK zipper.

 

[bisblue]

Take this with a grain of salt. I was a backpacker, then had llamas and now I have mules. My mule mentor told me not to buy anything made of canvas and just keep the gear I have.

I have a big thermarest pad that weighs 8 pounds. Not sure it's made anymore, but it is a long wide pad, with a thin piece of memory foam, zipped in a nylon sleeve with a thin fleece top.
Then I have a Zen Bivy sleeping quilt. It's a "sheet" that fits over the pad and has a piece on the top that covers your head, then the quilt, is like a sleeping bag but flatter. It clips into the sheet, so you can toss and turn to your hearts content. If it's gonna be real cold, I grab another small sleeping bag and toss it on top.

Then I just use a manti as a cover if the weather looks good or pack a 2 man backpack tent if I'm out clearing trail or doing something with just me and might get weather. Then I can pack all of that, food and a saw kit with one riding animal and one pack animal for a couple days. Total weight of the tent, pad and quilt is probably 20 pounds or less.

They don't make the bedroll anymore but something big looks like this.
https://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-mondoking-3d-sleeping-pad-taea06p

https://zenbivy.com/pages/which-bed-is-right-for-you

 

[The_BuckingSpot]

Take this with a grain of salt. I was a backpacker, then had llamas and now I have mules. My mule mentor told me not to buy anything made of canvas and just keep the gear I have.

I have a big thermarest pad that weighs 8 pounds. Not sure it's made anymore, but it is a long wide pad, with a thin piece of memory foam, zipped in a nylon sleeve with a thin fleece top.
Then I have a Zen Bivy sleeping quilt. It's a "sheet" that fits over the pad and has a piece on the top that covers your head, then the quilt, is like a sleeping bag but flatter. It clips into the sheet, so you can toss and turn to your hearts content. If it's gonna be real cold, I grab another small sleeping bag and toss it on top.

Then I just use a manti as a cover if the weather looks good or pack a 2 man backpack tent if I'm out clearing trail or doing something with just me and might get weather. Then I can pack all of that, food and a saw kit with one riding animal and one pack animal for a couple days. Total weight of the tent, pad and quilt is probably 20 pounds or less.

They don't make the bedroll anymore but something big looks like this.
https://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-mondoking-3d-sleeping-pad-taea06p

https://zenbivy.com/pages/which-bed-is-right-for-you

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But but but the tradition?!

In all seriousness it’s hard to find info for those of us that won’t be using an entire mule train and this info is actually helpful.