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dcrlax12 
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: Feb. 2009
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:00 am |
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I have looked through several of the posts about sleeping bags and many of them have been helpful. However, I have some more specific criteria that I am looking for in my new sleeping bag that I wanted to see what was recommended. I sleep cold, meaning even in temps above 20 degrees (rating of my current North Face Cat's Meow bag) tat I am usually cold. I have added hand warmers in my bag and also keep some of my clothes in the bag and it helps. But I believe that I want to get a 0 degree bag to not have to do all of that. Others that I backpack with swear by their 0 bags, so I thought I would look into it. So here are the criteria that I am looking to meet.
-0 degree bag
-More rectangle shape than mummy (i usually sleep with 1 knee bent)
-Lightweight (as much as possible)
-Down, not synthetic
-As water proof as possible.
I wouldn't say money is no object, however, I am willing to pay for a top quality sleeping bag, knowing that comfort means so much to get a good nights sleep on the trail, and that it's going to last me a long time (better investment)
So if you all have any good suggestions, I certainly appreciate the guidance.
Oh and I did check some of the other threads and will be looking into some of the bags listed on those.
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| Post Number: 2
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GottaGamble
Group: Members
Posts: 1275
Joined: Sep. 2009
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:07 am |
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check out Montbell super stretch bags...very roomy and not restricting at all...you can bend both knees if you wanted to..
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www.mybackpacking.blog.com
"A government big enough to give you everything
you want is strong enough to take everything you have."
Gerald Ford
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| Post Number: 4
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10800
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:21 am |
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Top of the line bags would include Western Mountaineering , Feathered Friends , and Marmot .
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 5
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AlmostThere
I must not be there yet, I keep hiking...
Group: Members
Posts: 4890
Joined: Apr. 2008
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:22 am |
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I would get a Western Mountaineering bag rated to the temps you'll actually encounter. Never heard anything but raves about how they are conservatively rated.
I'd also look at how you are hydrating and eating, and whether you are putting on dry clothes before climbing in at night. Being dry and being properly hydrated are two key parts of staying warm at night.
Mummy bags will be closer fitting so there will be less space inside for your body to heat.
I also find that I am warmer at night if I have been hiking most of the day - walking around to get the blood going before getting in the bag helps too.
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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| Post Number: 6
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eggs
That's sofa King assume
Group: Members
Posts: 4236
Joined: Nov. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:32 am |
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(dcrlax12 @ Oct. 09 2012, 10:11 am)
QUOTE
(GottaGamble @ Oct. 09 2012, 10:07 am)
QUOTE check out Montbell super stretch bags...very roomy and not restricting at all...you can bend both knees if you wanted to.. I was actually just looking at the website as you replied. Do you have any experience with these bags? Also, I checked out your blog, and I just did the hike at Harrimans State Park earlier this year. We did the southern side closer to the NJ state line. Nice Hike!
I have an older Montbell super stretch winter bag and like it. I sold MB summer bag which was also a super stretch and got a quilt and now am seriously thinking I'll sell my winter bag and get a winter quilt.
The MB bag is nice and roomy and warm. But a quilt is all that and lighter.
If I knew what I know now I would have bought the quilt in the first place.
I'm looking at this one
I have the Arc Specialist already
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Eggs
Home of the egg
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| Post Number: 7
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TigerFan
Group: Members
Posts: 2008
Joined: May 2010
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 10:36 am |
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If you're a cold sleeper, don't just focus on the bag, consider your pad as well. Note that it's your pad, more than your bag, that's providing the insulation from the cold ground.
I have a Feathered Friends women's bag and the hip to shoulder proportion is bigger than a men's bag and I'm able to bend one leg without going to a wide bag. Wider bags are going to be less efficient.
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Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
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| Post Number: 8
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GottaGamble
Group: Members
Posts: 1275
Joined: Sep. 2009
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 11:09 am |
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I use the Montbell super stretch #1 I believe. It's rated for 15 degrees. I do love that bag and I used it one night in Harriman when the temps dipped to single digits and I was so warm I didn't know how cold it was untill I saw an empty glass bottle of vodka that shattered from being so cold. Now though, I have been using my Golite 1 season quilt and I fell so in love with it for its light weight and no zipper that I just purchased a Golite 3 season quilt...rated for 20 degrees. I will be using that from now on and I will test it in my yard throughout the winter to see how low I can get it. I figure I can use my Smartwool mid or heavyweights, and my down sweater and get below the 20 degree rating. Plus I am a hot sleeper. But, if you are set on a sleeping bag..check out the Montbell. Great bag. Thanks for checking out the blog. Yes, Harriman is fun and nice and so close, for me at least...living on Long Island.
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www.mybackpacking.blog.com
"A government big enough to give you everything
you want is strong enough to take everything you have."
Gerald Ford
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| Post Number: 9
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toesnorth
Group: Members
Posts: 2500
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 11:10 am |
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(dcrlax12 @ Oct. 09 2012, 10:11 am)
QUOTE
(GottaGamble @ Oct. 09 2012, 10:07 am)
QUOTE check out Montbell super stretch bags...very roomy and not restricting at all...you can bend both knees if you wanted to.. I was actually just looking at the website as you replied. Do you have any experience with these bags?
I gave my Western Mountaineering bag to my hiking partner and now use a Mont-bell UL SS 0 bag (a few years old). I like the way it cuddles me without restricting my movements. I'm not heating gaps.
Below zero we often add a quilt.
We use exped downmat 9 pads.
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"Failure is never as frightening as regret."
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| Post Number: 10
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paula53
Group: Members
Posts: 666
Joined: Feb. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 09 2012, 2:48 pm |
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I also use an older Mont-bell, a UL SS 0 degree short. They no longer make the bag for a short person. No dead air to heat due to its unique stretch bag baffles. Very comfortable to sleep in. The newer bags are EN rated.
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| Post Number: 11
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dcrlax12
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: Feb. 2009
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Posted on: Oct. 10 2012, 9:20 am |
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Thanks to all for the great responses. It seems the consensus would be to lean towards the Montbell and I think that's what I am going to do. Now I have to see how good of a deal I can find..
Thanks all!!
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| Post Number: 12
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10514
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Oct. 10 2012, 11:42 am |
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Be cautious in regards to non-EN Rated SS bags. I've often heard complaints that they were not rated realistically. If you got one, I would add a bit more warmth rating than what is stated. That would be for non-EN rated bags.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 13
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FamilyGuy
Group: Members
Posts: 5087
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Oct. 10 2012, 12:47 pm |
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I had too MB SS bags and both were returned to MB. Severely underfilled baffles.
Feathered Friends for me now.
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"This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."
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| Post Number: 14
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paula53
Group: Members
Posts: 666
Joined: Feb. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 10 2012, 5:42 pm |
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Thats true. They had that problem about 3-4 years ago. I believe it was the 15 degree or 20 degree bag that had the baffles underfilled. They have changed the bags since then, and dropped the 20 degree bag from production.
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| Post Number: 15
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scroat
Group: Guests
Posts: 168
Joined: Oct. 2012
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Posted on: Oct. 10 2012, 5:47 pm |
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I'm glad to hear Montbell stepped up and made the bags right. They're too good a company to get lazy on quality control.
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