Sleeping bags

Max Volume

New member
I use a Kelty light year +20* bag atop a REI trekker sleeping pad. Mostly used in the sierra nevadas from may to november. It has served me well. Only wieghs 2.8lbs and packs down nice and small. :ylsmoke:
 

Wander

Expedition Leader
I went to the local outdoor shop to check out bags today. I saw some Western Mountaineering which looked really nice and that they are made in USA is really cool and then I saw a big green sale sign on the Marmot sawtooth 15- down to $159 so that pretty much did it for me. It's 600+ fill so not the best but still really good, weights under 3 lbs (2.4 I think) which wasn't a major factor but will come in handy for the occasional backpacking trip and has other nice features like a zippered pouch for your watch or batteries, etc differnt draw cords so you can tell which is which at night, draft tube along the zipper which I tried from inside the bag and was easy to pull and unzip. I put it on a sleeping pad, took off my boots and got in, it fit fine for a mummy bag, not too confining and it is warm, as I was getting very warm very quick but since it's rated to 15 it should.

Thanks for all the help and advice!:camping:
 

skysix

Adventurer
Kluane Mountaineering (Edmonton, Canada)

My vote goes to the older version of the Logan Double (a Mt. Logan outer rated to -30F ambient lined with the Logan Inner rated to 32F. Gives a multi season combination 800 loft goosedown bag good to -60F, and -70F ambient when you add a vapor barrier liner and a protective outer (another VBL outside the outer bag)

Bear in mind these are survival ratings - not necessarily comfort ones. I found that for my skinny self that setup was still good to -58F (slept long and comfortably). The dual VBL's are critical to keep moisture from the down from your surroundings (condensed breaths landing on the bag and soaking in/freezing - as well as snow etc) and from your insensible losses. If you omit the inner you can expect to lose about 5F of capability a night as the down gets wet.

Don't skimp on an adequate foam pad and distance above the ground/floor either! Try a 10cm thick air mattress (NOT inflated by mouth or it'll fill with moisture and freeze as well) with a 15mm Evazote pad on top.


2nd choice is a similar design from Blacks in the UK circa late 50's, "Icelandic Double" with maybe 10 degrees less ratings (to -45/50 ambient by itself). also high price and lightweight.


3rd choice would be a surplus Canadian military down bag (the whole set with an extra liner and 2 VBL's added as above). The cotton liner is used INSIDE the inner VBL and hung outside to freeze in the am (then you can beat it/shake off frozen condensation later) and you alternate them each night. Not a true mummy as it has a separate hood/shoulder cover that covers all but your mouth and nose and slips on with underarm loops to keep it secured to you as you move inside the bag.

Replacement cost billed the soldier who "loses" a complete set with air mattress and thermarest/inflating bag etc on excercise is near $1000 but fairly new ones can be built up piece by piece from surplus stores for under $600. MUCH heavier - brass zips with webbing bag protectors either side etc but very heavy duty/tough and ideal for vehicle based camping or as a survival bag in the car's winter kit. Have used them without any form of shelter other than a snow wall/wind break in the high arctic and been comfortable to -40 ambient (-75 with wind chill)
 

mwigant

Observer
I second the vote for Montbell super stretch. It stays next to you without feeling like it's clinging. That brings up another pro of down, it drapes much better and therefore is less drafty. But you really need at least two bags, one cheap synthetic beater and one quality down. I have a 1985 JC Penny Hollofill bag that is falling apart and we still use it constantly because I don't care if it falls on the floor and the kids jump on it or the cat starts clawing it and if it gets dirty I don't mind throwing it in the washer. It also works well underneath me in the jeep because it doesn't compress.
 

FettsWay

Adventurer
this thread has been very helpful, i am looking for a "big" cold weather (0 - 20) rectagular bag (6'2, 245 lbs) that packs small for a kayaking trip I hope to take. I do prefer down. I realize that for me size, I can't expect the bag to pack too small, but need to find what I can that. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 

dieselcruiserhead

16 Years on ExPo. Whoa!!
Back to the warm when wet, certain climates and weather down goes to crap quickly versus a synthetic. Humid areas, lots of rain, etc etc. So food for thought on that. I think those of us in fairly dry climates down wins almost always hands down...

I would say avoid Lafuma bags, Canadian made but cheap and rightly so. Big Agnes are pretty good but require investment in their sleep pad system as well, both of which are cheap.
 

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