Seeking Sleeping Bag Suggestions

[Sleeping Dog]

Another chance for all of you to promote your favorite piece of gear.

Here is what I'm looking for, a down or miracle fiber sleeping bag rated for about 35 degrees, rectangular or semi rectangular in shape. Now here is the difficult part, ideally I want it to pack small, 4"x8" in a compression sack would be perfect.

Oh and like most everything else, price is a consideration.

Suggestions?

Thanks
Jim

 

[Dave]

I don't know if they offer anything that would meet your requirements, but I have two Big Agnes sleeping bags and love them.

 

[adrenaline503]

I don't think that youll find a rectangular bag that gets that small.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Snugpak Jungle bag packs about the size of a coconut. I have one on ordered but the color I wanted is on back order. It was one of the smallest, lightest, and reasonably priced bags I have found. I have read nothing but great reviews.

 

[paulj]

To get the greatest compression for a given temperature rating you need to go with a quality down bag. But these don't come cheap.

One brand that has semi-rectangular bags in the 30deg range is Western Mountaineering

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm

Down to 35, you could also use a down quilt. A typical backpacking quilt is like a sleeping bag that you leave unzipped. You put your feet in the toe box, and drape it over you, depending on the sleeping pad for warmth under you. A quilt like this is not as confining as a mummy bag, but is just as compact. In fact you can use a mummy bag this way by leaving it unzipped.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/cocoon_pro_90_quilt.html

 

[SunMan]

I bought one of these for my girlfriend recently, it compresses pretty darn small, but not to 4"x8".

http://www.backcountry.com/store/MH...l?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=MHW0662&mv_pc=r126

 

[DaveInDenver]

I don't know if they offer anything that would meet your requirements, but I have two Big Agnes sleeping bags and love them.

A couple of things come to mind here.

First, it's important to note that Big Agnes bags are supposed to have a sleeping pad under them and so they are designed with minimal insulation on the bottom. The bottom side insulation gets crushed anyway, so normally this is not a problem until you roll over... I'm a toss-in-my-sleep sleeper, so I rarely stay on my back, so Big Agnes bags don't work for me.

In general, a 8x4 stuffed size is going to be tough or expensive to meet. A 30 degree 650 down bag, like say a Big Agnes Fish Hawk stuffs to 8"x6" and that's got the afore mentioned minimal bottom side insulation. But that's not bad and will be reasonably priced (about $170 or so, without a sleeping pad).

If you step up to a better down, an 800 or 850+, like say the Marmot Hydrogen, that will stuff down to the approximate size of a Nalgene bottle, which is about 8.5" x 3". But this level of bag will be at least at the $300 level for a 30 degree bag and often slightly higher. Also to get there the material is very light and I would have my doubts that the bag would last very long. Just my feeling.

 

[spressomon]

To get the greatest compression for a given temperature rating you need to go with a quality down bag. But these don't come cheap.

One brand that has semi-rectangular bags in the 30deg range is Western Mountaineering

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm

Down to 35, you could also use a down quilt. A typical backpacking quilt is like a sleeping bag that you leave unzipped. You put your feet in the toe box, and drape it over you, depending on the sleeping pad for warmth under you. A quilt like this is not as confining as a mummy bag, but is just as compact. In fact you can use a mummy bag this way by leaving it unzipped.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/cocoon_pro_90_quilt.html

Ditto on Western Mountaineering. Not cheap...but IMO the best value and best quality in an american made high end bag that'll serve you for many, many years!

 

[norshor]

I have been scoping this on out:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1245&prod=2607&cat=1297&viewAll=False
I'm not in the industry anymore, so I don't actually have the bag available to play with. I have always used Granite Gear compression sacks, and am quite partial to the Airline Series. I can fit my 40 degree, older, 600 fill rectangular bag in the small, and have it compressed the the point that the buckles are maxed. For that matter, I can get my 880 fill 0 degree bag mummy in that same small Airline.
http://www.granitegear.com/products/packing_systems/air_line/air_compressor/index.html

 

[go4aryd]

Another extremely high quality, not-low-cost, US manufacturer of down filled bags, and quilts... including rectangular bags.

http://www.featheredfriends.com/

I custom ordered a 800-fill humingbird bag many years ago and it has seen heavy use - is still in superb condition (then again - I am obsessive with keeping the bag clean). I have used it anywhere from 17-50 degrees F. I told myself I was insane when I ordered it, but has been one of the best pieces of gear I've ever owned.

Have also seen Western Mountaineering - they are well made. I didn't like the way the fabric felt against my skin. Picky, I know, but little things sem to bother me more over time as I use the gear.

 

[paulj]

I would have mentioned Feathered Friends if I remembered the name. I knew there was a top end down bag maker with a store near the flagship REI store, but Western was the only name that came to mind. It's been sometime since shopped in that area.

 

[hoser]

I love my 35 degree Moonstone Zone 1 800+ fill down bag with only a half zip. It compresses to 4"x8" but it is a mummy bag and not semi-rectangular.

If you are open to a mummy bag, check out this 40 degree Go-Lite bag that is comparable to mine and about $200.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/bagdetail.cfm/GO5028

 

[RHINO]

though its not down filled, eureka has a new line of sacks. i bought a 40* cheyenne, rectangle, compresses to about 5x9 and cost $70

 

[LilKJ]

Another bid for Big Agnes. They are on par with Western Mountaineering and other high-end brands and are made in Steamboat Springs, CO. The Big Agnes Horse Thief is a 35 degree bag that I have used for some time. It is a love/hate kind of deal but worth looking at. The bag has no insulation between you and the ground but has an integral sleeve for your sleeping pad to go into. It is also pretty cheap (<$200) for a half-zip 800 fill down bag. Certainly worth looking at.