I had (well, still have) a Thermarest, but it's really aged... used to, it would inflate itself well, but it got to where it wouldn't, and you had to blow into it... but then, moisture from inflating it breaks down the foam that passages inside there, so that over the years the internal foam's lost loft... it's just not as comfortable anymore. I've replaced it with a Ridge Rest; I felt like I was going backwards, going to a non-inflatable, but it's a lot lighter than the inflatables, and, you don't have to worry about puncturing or a spark melting a hole in it. My hiking buddy switched to a Z-Rest years ago, again, it's lighter, and it folds up into a smaller size than the inflatables do. It costs a bit more than the Ridgerest, though. Also, my old Thermarest, it was hard to stay on it, you just slid off... I had to wrap it with a layer of that spidery-looking rubber lace that you use to hold rugs in place... I think the Thermarest inflatables would be a little warmer if it was really cold out, but I'm not hitting Antarctica....
I've got several old TNF packs, and a TNF shell with a fleece jacket that can zip in. I had a zipper pull out of the fleece, and they repaired it for free. Not bad, considering that that fleece is 15 years old. When MH first came out, I really liked their gear. I still do, but it seems as though they followed TNF and have broadened their line into more ski/lifestyle type of gear instead of sticking with mountaineering, etc. (Of course, I'm the kind of fella who's still using a pair of Moss tents, so, it's not like I'm using whatever's the latest and greatest...)
For sleeping bags, I know who Gage was thinking of... back when I got fed up with sleeping in the rain under a bush with a poncho and liner and being miserable a cold M16 isn't much to cuddle w/), I picked up an overbag from Wiggy's... about the same size as the poncho liner, but much warmer, actually a light bag. You can then mate it to any of Wiggy's other bags; I've got their Ultra Light, but the Ultima Thule would be a lot warmer (too warm, IMHO, unless you're heading for Canada in the winter). W/ the two bags, you can put one inside the other, or pick one or the other, or, set it up for two, and have the light one under you and the heavy one on top, or vice versa, depending on your needs.
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http://www.wiggys.com/ )
And I agree, I stay warmer in a bag w/ the clothes off; usually put them down in the bottom of the bag, to keep them warm. Boots too, especially if it's really cold, keeps them from being so stiff the next morning. If it's not that cold, no, it's not worth doing that, but if you've got to break camp and hit the trail the next day, I'm just miserable if the boots are stiff and cold.
FWIW....
