Compressible Sleeping Bag for Backpacking (Women's)

[jwolfuo]

Hello All,

I've been a member here for a few years now. In the past, I've asked for advice on what you believed to be excellent, budget-friendly backpacking items in the following categories: tent, sleeping bag, backpack, and sleeping pad. Using this community's advice, I purchased the following: MSR Elixir 3p (tent), Sea to Summit Trek TK I Long (sleeping bag), Nemo Tensor Insulated 25L (sleeping pad), and Osprey Aether 70L (backpack). These items have been absolutely incredible after a year's worth of use and if I had to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing.

My girlfriend is now getting in to backpacking. She is excited to share these adventures with me and I can't wait. So, on to another round of advice from this great community who has helped me out in the past by recommending the perfect products for my needs.

Mainly we are looking for a sleeping bag recommendation. Something compressible, budget-friendly, and warm - she does not like being cold! I have already purchased her the same (but in the regular size, rather than large) Nemo Tensor Insulated sleeping pad. She will also be cozy in the MSR Elixir 3p tent. I purchased her a nice Gregory 60L backpack in her size that we were able to purchase on clearance through REI. Basically, all that's left to purchase is the sleeping bag.

So, anyone have a solid recommendation that won't break the bank for a women's backpacking sleeping bag?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[REDONE]

Affordable/Compressible/Warm: Pick 2.

My wife's backpacking bag is a 20* Big Agnes mummy, but when it gets cold it turns into "my" Big Agnes and she takes my 0* Ecogear mummy (which is much heavier and bulkier, but I don't like being cold either). If you don't want to risk your lady getting cold, you'll probably have to skip affordable or compressible.

I'm not normally an advocate of tandem sleeping solutions while camping (it implies "team sports", which in reality presents it's own solutions that don't require special equipment). In your case it may be the right way to go though. You bare the burden of the sleep gear and she gets to enjoy the adventure more, meaning more adventures in the future.

Big Agnes has some 15* double bags (Dream Island and Cabin Creek) that compress down to about the same size as a single 15* bag. The forum won't let me link the pics for some reason, but google "Big Agnes" and hit the search result that goes to REI to see them. Both the two I listed compress to ~11 Liters.

 

[MikeHenderson]

You know, the REI brand down bags are good and relatively inexpensive for down bags.

Anything over 700 fill power should have good loft and compressibility.

My wife has a Western Mountaineering down sleeping bag and loves it. It's light and packs away to nothing.

-M

 

[jwolfuo]

Affordable/Compressible/Warm: Pick 2.

My wife's backpacking bag is a 20* Big Agnes mummy, but when it gets cold it turns into "my" Big Agnes and she takes my 0* Ecogear mummy (which is much heavier and bulkier, but I don't like being cold either). If you don't want to risk your lady getting cold, you'll probably have to skip affordable or compressible.

I'm not normally an advocate of tandem sleeping solutions while camping (it implies "team sports", which in reality presents it's own solutions that don't require special equipment). In your case it may be the right way to go though. You bare the burden of the sleep gear and she gets to enjoy the adventure more, meaning more adventures in the future.

Big Agnes has some 15* double bags (Dream Island and Cabin Creek) that compress down to about the same size as a single 15* bag. The forum won't let me link the pics for some reason, but google "Big Agnes" and hit the search result that goes to REI to see them. Both the two I listed compress to ~11 Liters.

If I had to pick two, I would pick affordable and compressible. I would get a fleece or some kind of liner to make it warmer for her if it came down to it. That should do the trick.

I would love to go with a tandem sleeping solution, but I already have invested $240 in my sleeping bag and in all honesty, I'm very fond of it. I'll check them out though and see if one would work, but I think I will continue looking for a single bag solution too if possible. 11L isn't bad at all for a 2person bag.

You know, the REI brand down bags are good and relatively inexpensive for down bags.

Anything over 700 fill power should have good loft and compressibility.

My wife has a Western Mountaineering down sleeping bag and loves it. It's light and packs away to nothing.

-M

Any chance for a link on one of these bags? I'm curious to see.

 

[RyanT]

Affordable/Compressible/Warm: Pick 2.

My wife's backpacking bag is a 20* Big Agnes mummy, but when it gets cold it turns into "my" Big Agnes and she takes my 0* Ecogear mummy (which is much heavier and bulkier, but I don't like being cold either). If you don't want to risk your lady getting cold, you'll probably have to skip affordable or compressible.

I'm not normally an advocate of tandem sleeping solutions while camping (it implies "team sports", which in reality presents it's own solutions that don't require special equipment). In your case it may be the right way to go though. You bare the burden of the sleep gear and she gets to enjoy the adventure more, meaning more adventures in the future.

Big Agnes has some 15* double bags (Dream Island and Cabin Creek) that compress down to about the same size as a single 15* bag. The forum won't let me link the pics for some reason, but google "Big Agnes" and hit the search result that goes to REI to see them. Both the two I listed compress to ~11 Liters.

Whatever increases the likelihood of future trips!

 

[PlacidWaters]

Kelty Cosmic Down 20, 2 lbs 13 oz, $160

https://www.rei.com/product/896031/...MIz8Wxz8Su2QIVVAeGCh32uwlSEAAYASAAEgI39fD_BwE

 

[kntr]

My wife and daughter both have Kelty Cosic Downs. Compresses very well and is cheap.

 

[IdaSHO]

I love our western mountaineering bags.

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/

Hand down the lightest, most compressible, and warmest bags weve ever run.

Far from what Id consider "cheap" though.

But worth it for us. We spend weeks at a time in the backcountry, so light and packable trumps cost most of the time.

We sure are not getting any younger, ever ounce helps!!

 

[jwolfuo]

My wife and daughter both have Kelty Cosic Downs. Compresses very well and is cheap.

It says it compresses down to 9.4L. Do you feel that this takes up too much space in their bags at all? My girlfriend uses a 60L bag.

I appreciate the recommendation. I am a bit worried about the compressed volume, but the 2lb 13oz weight should be totally fine. I will be carrying our tent and cooking stuff so that should free up some weight for her.

 

[PlacidWaters]

Here's why I think the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 will work fine:

(1) The packed size is 8 x 13, which is perfectly respectable.

(2) The mattress is miniscule, just 4 x 11, so there's lots of room left

(3) You're carrying the tent and stove, freeing up even more room in her pack

(4) A 60L backpack is already more than adequate. I use a 55L pack for 3 days of SOLO backpacking, and my gear is medium lightweight, not ultralight.

No worries!

Unless you're going for two weeks in the winter. You didn't mention where, when, and how long your trips will be.

By the way, in my opinion, women should try to keep their pack weight well under 35 lbs. Under 30 if possible and I think your friend can achieve that for summer trips up to 4 days.

 

[jwolfuo]

Here's why I think the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 will work fine:

(1) The packed size is 8 x 13, which is perfectly respectable.

(2) The mattress is miniscule, just 4 x 11, so there's lots of room left

(3) You're carrying the tent and stove, freeing up even more room in her pack

(4) A 60L backpack is already more than adequate. I use a 55L pack for 3 days of SOLO backpacking, and my gear is medium lightweight, not ultralight.

No worries!

Unless you're going for two weeks in the winter. You didn't mention where, when, and how long your trips will be.

By the way, in my opinion, women should try to keep their pack weight well under 35 lbs. Under 30 if possible and I think your friend can achieve that for summer trips up to 4 days.

Thank you! Yes, I think we're going to try and keep her pack around 25 - 30lbs. There is zero chance I will convince her to backpack with me in the winter, so no worries there. I think I will give the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 a shot and see how she likes it. Worst case scenario, we can add a liner or bring a down blanket that I have for her.

Plus, we are going to start really slow. I don't want to take her on a 3+ night backpacking trip our first time out or anything. Honestly, we will probably start with something super easy like 7.5 - 10miles in, with limited elevation gains, and camp for a night or two (at most). The goal here is she has fun so we get to go again

 

[outback97]

Thank you! Yes, I think we're going to try and keep her pack around 25 - 30lbs. There is zero chance I will convince her to backpack with me in the winter, so no worries there. I think I will give the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 a shot and see how she likes it. Worst case scenario, we can add a liner or bring a down blanket that I have for her.

Plus, we are going to start really slow. I don't want to take her on a 3+ night backpacking trip our first time out or anything. Honestly, we will probably start with something super easy like 7.5 - 10miles in, with limited elevation gains, and camp for a night or two (at most). The goal here is she has fun so we get to go again

I am in the market for a warmer bag for my wife, so this thread has been interesting to follow. I think the bag she has now has a rating of 20F but in my experience the ratings are not very accurate in terms of comfort. She gets cold easily so for her it's at best a 40F bag.

I have not found liners to be very effective, but one thing we have done which works fairly well is to use one of these inexpensive down blankets on top of her bag to improve the insulation a bit.

https://www.costco.com/Double-Black-Diamond-Packable-Down-Throw-2-pack.product.100314979.html

 

[jwolfuo]

I am in the market for a warmer bag for my wife, so this thread has been interesting to follow. I think the bag she has now has a rating of 20F but in my experience the ratings are not very accurate in terms of comfort. She gets cold easily so for her it's at best a 40F bag.

I have not found liners to be very effective, but one thing we have done which works fairly well is to use one of these inexpensive down blankets on top of her bag to improve the insulation a bit.

https://www.costco.com/Double-Black-Diamond-Packable-Down-Throw-2-pack.product.100314979.html

Hah! That's the exact same blanket I have. I bought it at Costco too!

 

[PlacidWaters]

I am in the market for a warmer bag for my wife, so this thread has been interesting to follow. I think the bag she has now has a rating of 20F but in my experience the ratings are not very accurate in terms of comfort. She gets cold easily so for her it's at best a 40F bag.

It's important to read the reviews carefully to get a sense of a bag's true temperature range. One bag I like a lot is the LL Bean semi-rectangular down 35, which I think is rated pretty accurately. For kayak camping I love the Bean 20 down rectangular, which also comes in a mummy. Bean does down bags quite well. You can usually find one marked down at an outlet.