Couples sleep system help!

[cmeier117]

My wife and I have been hiking a lot lately with the kiddos and she has really started to enjoy it. My goal by next summer is to leave the kids with my parents and take her on her first over night backpacking trip. She is very against doing anything that would make her have to poop in a hole or sleep in the middle of no where. So here we are.... I need suggestions on a sleep system for my wife and I, there is no weight requirements, although I would like to keep the sleeping pads to under 3lbs each. Just so I can have friends use them on scouting trips and what not. None of this gear will be used for hunting or anything serious at all. Just trying to make it as comfortable for her as I can. So I need two pads (want to couple them together and make more of a bed. this way I can use it for car camping too maybe.) I also need a couples sleeping bag or quilt. She is anti mummy sleeping bags and loves blankets so I was thinking of getting a Kifaru Doobie/Woobie or a couples sleeping bag. I don't need a tent as I already have a Hilleberg Anjan 3. I am guessing when it is all said and done I will be pushing 15 pounds for out sleep system (tent, bag, pad etc...) which is totally fine. I am also considering a Nemo Helio pressure shower for warm shower washing hair etc... The only requirement really is comfort and then cost. I want her to enjoy it enough to go a 2nd time. FYI she loves car camping and hiking she just doesn't like the whole being in the middle of no where without a bathroom. Any advice is great and any couples (Luke and Beca) that want to chime in would be great.

 

[luke moffat]

My wife and I have been hiking a lot lately with the kiddos and she has really started to enjoy it. My goal by next summer is to leave the kids with my parents and take her on her first over night backpacking trip. She is very against doing anything that would make her have to poop in a hole or sleep in the middle of no where. So here we are.... I need suggestions on a sleep system for my wife and I, there is no weight requirements, although I would like to keep the sleeping pads to under 3lbs each. Just so I can have friends use them on scouting trips and what not. None of this gear will be used for hunting or anything serious at all. Just trying to make it as comfortable for her as I can. So I need two pads (want to couple them together and make more of a bed. this way I can use it for car camping too maybe.) I also need a couples sleeping bag or quilt. She is anti mummy sleeping bags and loves blankets so I was thinking of getting a Kifaru Doobie/Woobie or a couples sleeping bag. I don't need a tent as I already have a Hilleberg Anjan 3. I am guessing when it is all said and done I will be pushing 15 pounds for out sleep system (tent, bag, pad etc...) which is totally fine. I am also considering a Nemo Helio pressure shower for warm shower washing hair etc... The only requirement really is comfort and then cost. I want her to enjoy it enough to go a 2nd time. FYI she loves car camping and hiking she just doesn't like the whole being in the middle of no where without a bathroom. Any advice is great and any couples (Luke and Beca) that want to chime in would be great.

If we weren't in the middle of moving and all our gear currently packed in a storage unit, I'd make a quick video of our setup. That said when you buy your pads make sure they are NOT mummy pads. Square pads is the key here. Since weight isn't a concern I believe REI outlet has standard (2012 version) Big Agnes air core pads for $66 apiece which would be about 3.1 pounds both pads together. Exped makes a handy little pad coupler we've been using for years and is a must to prevent the dreaded gap between the pads. For bags we splurged a bit. I talked about options with WM a few years ago when I was looking to make this setup and if coupling bags together hooded bags are not preferred obviously. So we ended up with the 25 degree 2 pound Alder bag for on top and a 40 degree 26 oz mitylite on the bottom. Both are squared bottoms so the Alder is square on top of us and the Mitylite is directly underneath us. This makes it to each person has a zipper on their side to vent and also enter/exit as needed. Makes it so we can still snuggle when we want and share body heat too Just be aware that like doubling the diameter of a pipe the volume increases 4 times! So there is more space to heat so bringing along a quilt on trips where its expected to be colder to fill in some of the dead air space is worth the 24 oz on to of that. However that said 6.5 pounds for both of you to have a comfy warm setup isn't too shabby and more than worth the weight having her along! We often just use 9 oz older style (cause they are square not mummy) neo air shorts and save nearly two pounds there as well and just put our packs under our feet.

Like I said a video would be much handier but we are moving so can't really do that right now, sides this move is really messing up my summer hiking.....LAME!!!

 

[Floorguy]

Two thermal rest pads, thermarest couple kit, zpacks twin quilt for 2 people.

Or 2 pads and a big Agnes double bag, she could leave her side unzipped

 

[cmeier117]

Thanks Luke. I was eyeing the Big agnes sleeping pads and coupler kit. I was considering getting a Big agnes double wide sleeping bag, I found a 15 degree for $ 160. It did weight 6 lbs but again these trips are more of a work out for me anyways. I just sold my last square pad so I would need to buy two. How much did that bag combo cost you? I may just get the 30 degree option from big agnes or Nemo makes a 30 degree bag that wraps around two 25 inch wide pads So nothing on the bottom. but it weighs like 2.5 lbs. I know they also make a microfiber sheet that wraps around 2 pads to hold them together and maybe that would feel more comfortable for her and then just have a woobie to fill in the gaps.

 

[cmeier117]

Two thermal rest pads, thermarest couple kit, zpacks twin quilt for 2 people.

Or 2 pads and a big Agnes double bag, she could leave her side unzipped

If money was no option I would be all over that Z packs quilt. I have a single for me and love it.

 

[Bloodworks]

I've tried the pads route but the Mrs. was happier when I toted in a queen size air matress. However, after a couple of days my natural bush cologne had her more concerned with having her own tent and sleep system separate from mine. Strangely chicks don't dig the Jeremiah Johnson motif outside of magazine ads and movies.

 

[luke moffat]

Thanks Luke. I was eyeing the Big agnes sleeping pads and coupler kit. I was considering getting a Big agnes double wide sleeping bag, I found a 15 degree for $ 160. It did weight 6 lbs but again these trips are more of a work out for me anyways. I just sold my last square pad so I would need to buy two. How much did that bag combo cost you? I may just get the 30 degree option from big agnes or Nemo makes a 30 degree bag that wraps around two 25 inch wide pads So nothing on the bottom. but it weighs like 2.5 lbs. I know they also make a microfiber sheet that wraps around 2 pads to hold them together and maybe that would feel more comfortable for her and then just have a woobie to fill in the gaps.

WM bags are never cheap!!! However you can find them cheaper if you shop around. That said I use the Alder 25 degree bag when going solo often so it doubles as my quality down bag for solo endeavors as well, not just to be used as only when we are going together. That helps keep costs down as well.

 

[larryschwartz]

To make it more like home, at least in the bathroom department, a portable toilet like this might go a long way to making her happy.
http://www.patriotsurplus.com/r560....triotSurplus&gclid=COvmutzroLgCFcyj4AodSzcA3Q

I would also suggest that you get her involved in selecting the sleeping system once you identify a few options that would work (two bags like Luke uses, a quilt over an insulated pad, etc.).