Sleeping Bags

[Colin]

Have a nice coleman 0* bag which is great for car camping but a little large for hiking. Any suggestions, looking in the 0-35* range, also <$150.

Danke

[Yota]

I have a Kelty 15* bag that I got several years ago. It's super warm. Too warm most of the time, in fact.

Are you hiking or backpacking? Are you wanting an emergency bag or are you planning overnights? If day hiking is the thing then I'd consider an emergency bivvy sack. I have one that rolls up to about the size of a Qdoba burrito (okay a little bigger) that is all shiny to conserve heat. I take that on hikes for emergency use only.

For backpacking I'd check out REI for sure and maybe read reviews on backpacker sites. But the best reviews, in my opinion, are the user reviews on REI's site from lots of people who are out there using these products daily. I put a lot of weight on those opinions when there are more than one and they follow a general trend.

I don't do backpacking right now but I've always been interested in full-size bivvy sacks for that. They have some disadvantages sometimes but manufacturers have mitigated most of them in various ways. It's a nice thought to have your bag and shelter all in one thing and have it be that light and that easy to whip out when needed. :shrug:

[Steve]

I have a Kelty 15* bag that I got several years ago. It's super warm. Too warm most of the time, in fact.

Wife has one. Nice bag, but usually a tad too warm and it doesn't stuff nearly as small as my REI 20* bag that I've used for long mountain backpacking trips for ~10 years now.

[Yota]

Yeah mine is not backpack-worthy. Way too bulky IMHO.

[Ooompa Loompa]

I just got this (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=katahdin-climashield-sleeping-bag&categoryId=48801&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500148&cat4=1097&shop_method=pp&feat=500148-tn&np=Y) a few weeks ago, and have already used it once on an overnight backpacking trip. I really like it so far. It is light (just under 3 lbs), it compresses pretty small, and the price was fairly reasonable.

[bsaunder]

My wife and I really like our Sierra designs flex series bag - both 15* rated weigh right ~3lbs. I'm probably going to get a big agnes 40* bag as well, looking at the water repellent down version that is ~1lb for using in summer.

The pad you use is going to make a big difference in the temp of the bag as well. An open air pad without insulation will make you feel colder (can be nice on summer nights) while a closed cell foam pad will keep you warmer. Or you can go ultra warm and comfy and use both, which is what I do most of the time - z-rest closed cell foam pad and a insulated air pad; VERY comfortable, and still very light weight.

[jdogg4]

Campmore has killer prices I thought. I've picked up some of those slumber jack bags and love them. pretty light weight and I have a compression bag that smashes it down really small for back packing.

[Whitey]

I'm using a Big Agnes goose down bag similar to this one, IIRC, it's 15* or 20*, (the bag doesn't say on it). It's a little tight in the shoulders and I'm seriously thinking of buying one of the insulated inserts to make it wider. I like it cause it packs tight/small and is light, just over 2#.

These bags now are wider, 70in girth at the shoulder, so, they may be just right. A really, really nice feature with this bag is that the right pad will fit in an outer sleeve, so you don't ever roll off the pad. (Pad I use, Prolite 4, is shown below, click pics).

Really cold winter camping, I use a bag liner inside and a goose down comforter on the ground and pad in the sleeve with a blanket on top. Now, I see they have outer bags to enhance the comfort level. :thumbsup:

http://www.bigagnes.com/resources/bags/lostranger.png (http://www.bigagnes.com/str_bags.php?bid=12)


http://www.thermarest.com/productImages/Fast%20and%20Light/fl_prolite4_regular_l.jpg (http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=41&cID=1)

[AMMOtj]

Only bag I'll ever recommend is the Wiggy's Brand. Made in Grand Junction and the best quality you will ever find. Get one with the FTRSS system and you'll get 3 sleeping bags for the price of 1. And they have a lifetime warranty on the loft.

[Gunner]

I have a 0* Slumberjack mummy bag. Great bag, very comfortable, light. Keeps me pretty warm. Don't waste money and space on a pad, just cut some low lying pine boughs off trees and throw them under the tent, it will insulate you from the ground, keep the tent off the ground so it stays dry, and its good for the trees if you do it right. Also, if you all find your feet getting cold at night, boil some water before you head to bed and put it in a Nalgene or similar bottle and put it at the bottom of your bag. It will keep you very warm and comfortable all night.

[rubbersidedown]

X(whatever) on Slumberjack. My buddy has moved all over the world and carries a, I believe German made, bag that is about the size of a loaf of bread when stuffed. I will have to e-mail him and find out the brand, very nice bag!!

[Yota]

Only bag I'll ever recommend is the Wiggy's Brand. Made in Grand Junction and the best quality you will ever find. Get one with the FTRSS system and you'll get 3 sleeping bags for the price of 1. And they have a lifetime warranty on the loft.

I was just thinking I'd like to get a layering system. One bag with one temp rating doesn't make a lot of sense. We layer everything else why not bags?

Wiggy's (http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=6) seems to have a layer system. Who else does this? And I know there are bag liners but I'm thinking of like a +45 that is super light and thin that has an overbag that drops the combo's rating to, say, +25 and another overbag can drop it to +15 or 0, depending. Each piece should have a standalone rating too.

It's really no different than what we already do with clothing.

That'd be the stuff dude. And it would be more $$ fo sho'.

[mtn WJ]

I have a 0* Slumberjack mummy bag. Great bag, very comfortable, light. Keeps me pretty warm. Don't waste money and space on a pad, just cut some low lying pine boughs off trees and throw them under the tent, it will insulate you from the ground, keep the tent off the ground so it stays dry, and its good for the trees if you do it right. Also, if you all find your feet getting cold at night, boil some water before you head to bed and put it in a Nalgene or similar bottle and put it at the bottom of your bag. It will keep you very warm and comfortable all night.


We use Coleman bags for general camping and in the pop up trailer. However we bought a couple Slumber Jack mummy bags for back packing and scouts and the are the best bang for the buck. Pretty good deals on them at Sportsmans Warehouse.

[AMMOtj]

I was just thinking I'd like to get a layering system. One bag with one temp rating doesn't make a lot of sense. We layer everything else why not bags?

Wiggy's (http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=6) seems to have a layer system. Who else does this? And I know there are bag liners but I'm thinking of like a +45 that is super light and thin that has an overbag that drops the combo's rating to, say, +25 and another overbag can drop it to +15 or 0, depending. Each piece should have a standalone rating too.

It's really no different than what we already do with clothing.

That'd be the stuff dude. And it would be more $$ fo sho'.

I would definitely check out Wiggy's stuff over anyone else. I have the Ultra Light with the FTRSS system. Most summer nights I'll just take the 35 degree bag and I'm toasty as all get out. He gave me almost a 50% military discount which was amazing, and Mr. Wigatow himself even called me back and thanked me for my service! He's a huge supporter of the troops and is always fighting to get his bags to the frontlines. Make sure and read the testimonials if they are still on his website (the bush pilot who crashed with his son in AK and submerged their sleeping bag, but still managed to stay warm, even with the soaked bag is particularily good!)

I really can't say enough good things about his products, the company and what they believe in!!

[MonkeyBomb]

I have an old kelty that is great. I use a compression sack to get it small enough to backpack. Compression sacks make everthing better.

[Whitey]

I was just thinking I'd like to get a layering system. One bag with one temp rating doesn't make a lot of sense. We layer everything else why not bags? Wiggy's (http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=6) seems to have a layer system. Who else does this?

(........ shown ...... click pics). ....... I see they have outer bags ...... http://www.bigagnes.com/resources/bags/lostranger.png (http://www.bigagnes.com/str_bags.php?bid=12)




While I've never used Wiggy's and they do look good, maybe down the road. These layer (http://www.bigagnes.com/overbags.php), made in Steam Boat Springs and are good bags.

[CYAN5DE]

the army makes some pretty good 3-layer systems, but 4 years of your life is a pretty steep pricetag....