A good sleeping bag

It will be for backpacking mostly. I may throw it in the bed of my truck now and then, but I will spend far more time on the ground. It will be used at hunting cabins with minimal heat and will see a lot of different temp variations. Like I said, Wisconsin can have anything at any time. We have had ice storms in May and 60's in January. Very difficult state. My sleeping pad will range anywhere from a lumpy mattress in the cabin, to pine boughs to whatever is suggested. :D

as far as the "loft" factor, do I need to worry about fill memory setting in and flattening like a permanent pancake?
 
This will absolutely cause utter chaos :eek:
Down is for idiots, unless you live in extremely dry conditions.
I'll leave it at that. FOR NOW ! :eek::p

Down freaks stay for free !
You'll have to figger out who I am .
I't'll cause " Sparks"
 
Toucan Oasis said:
This will absolutely cause utter chaos :eek:
Down is for idiots, unless you live in extremely dry conditions.
I'll leave it at that. FOR NOW ! :eek::p

Down freaks stay for free !
You'll have to figger out who I am .
I't'll cause " Sparks"
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Great contribution, Duggy. Well reasoned and helpful, especially for a Wiggys sockpuppet!
 
TwinBlade said:
...as far as the "loft" factor, do I need to worry about fill memory setting in and flattening like a permanent pancake?
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My experience with both down and synthetics has been that loft loss usually happens when bags are left compressed for storage over a period of time, not so much for transport compression.

With sleeping bags, both types of insulation have their fans. Just like with knives.

Folding knife - "You'll cut your fingers off!"
Fixed blade - "You'll put your eye out!"

To me, both types of bags are very useful. Both have good and bad points. If I had my way I'd own at least one of each. And store them in a large breathable bag.
 
Check this Marmot out. I have no first hand experience with it, but it seems like a good bag for the weight\ temp rating\ price. Marmot uses the standardized temp ratings and their stuff is considered high quality. I even have a 20% coupon code and it's free shipping, so you could get the long and still be right around your $100 mark:

http://www.backcountryedge.com/marmot-trestles-0.aspx

There's also a 15 degree version:

http://www.backcountryedge.com/marmot-trestles-15-08.aspx

Coupon code is WK2, good until 2/4 according to the e-mail I received.
 
dttomcat said:
I read somewhere recently that you should only wear a single thin layer of clothing inside a cold conditions sleeping bag. Something about allowing your body heat to get into the insulation. Good bags are rated in degrees fairenheit 10 20 etc. and can cost up to $700 or more. These are made to keep you alive in the coldest conditions i.e. sub-zero high up on Everest. I'm sure good bags can be had for much less. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the ratings system other than what I wrote but it doesn't sound like it's too complicated. Good luck. -DT
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False. ;)

I'm pretty sure a bag's temperature rating is done by assuming you are fully dressed. Which is why people say to get a bag that is rated 10-15 degrees colder than the weather you will use it in.

Regardless, the heat is going to escape through your clothing and into the insulation in your bag. Where else is it going to go?

If you are not confident about your ability to keep your sleeping bag dry in all weather conditions, then get synthetic. If you want something that can weigh as little as a pound and can pack down to as small as the size of a coffee tin, get down.

I also seem to recall that the loft on a down bag will last longer, and is more forgiving when left compressed for a period of time.
 
TwinBlade said:
I hear the down argument on getting wet and clumpy. We have a solid goose down comforter on our bed. After washing it, which gets done as little as possible, it takes a few weeks for it to get back into non clumpy order, even after shaking it and kneading it.
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Put the comforter in the dryer on no heat and take it out every 10 minutes or so and knead the down. If you do it right you won't have any clumps at all when it's dry and it will loft better. You should also use a soap made for down when you wash it....normal soaps may strip the oils from the down.

TwinBlade said:
Seems like I have it all backwards here. I have a synthetic for warmer weather, but wanted a down for colder. In actuality, especially with the weather we can get at ANY time in WI, I need to reverse my thought process here.
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No, you don't need to reverse the thought process. It's very hard to get down wet if if the temps are below freezing. If you live where there's a lot of moisture then a synthetic might be a better choice when the thermometer is above freezing.

I've used down for years, both above and below freezing. I've never had a bag get wet. Obviously there are places (a rainforest for example) where synthetic makes more sense than down but I think the whole "your down bag will get wet and you'll die" argument is very over-blown. Regardless of what others think I personally will continue to use down exclusively....it's far better IMO than synthetic.
 
Where I live it's wet and humid in summer and very dry in winter. Spring/summer bags need to be synthetic and winter bags are best with down. Where you live in the world really makes a big impact on what kind of bag to get.
I'm also a profuse sweater. Hiking, sitting, sleeping I sweat A LOT in warmer conditions. I personally find the synthetics are better for me. I have woken up in a wet down bag from my own sweat. I didn't have time to dry it out and that night when we made camp, it was still wet. With the synthetic bags, I still sweat, but the moisture is wicked away more rapidly.
 
One thing to watch our for, especially in inexpensive bags, is cold spots, where there may be insufficient integrity of insulation due, for example, to defective baffle design or construction. Also, as Pritch wrote, the sleeping pad is crucial. The compressed insulation in the part of the bag beneath your body has vastly reduced insulating effect. I avoid inflatable pads, such as Thermarest, in winter, because a leak can be bad news.
 
Ok, so what recommendation is a good sleeping pad. Now, when I qualify my price requirements, keep in mind, I buy the very best I can because I know it will last. However, being laid off for the past 7 months with a family and mortgage, I am going to have to ask for suggestions that will be able to withstand 20 or so packs before I retire it for a good one...cheap yet usable is the word here. :D
 
TwinBlade said:
I hear the down argument on getting wet and clumpy. We have a solid goose down comforter on our bed. After washing it, which gets done as little as possible, it takes a few weeks for it to get back into non clumpy order, even after shaking it and kneading it.
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try tossing a cupla tennis balls in the dryer
they do the kneading for you
 
Many companies make good bags. Your best bet is to go to the store and try a few out to see what you like.

That being said, I own two sleeping bags. Both were made by REI and I bought both at REI outlet online without ever seeing them or trying them on. I'm 6 ft tall and got the long size in both bags.

The first is a 35 degree synthetic ultralight bag, bought for $50. This gets used down to freezing, although at or below 35 degrees I need an extra layer or two in my bag to stay warm. It compresses down tiny and is extremely light.

The second is a 10 degree down bag, bought for $100. It gets used below freezing. Precipitation at that point is more likely to be snow, and if I am really worried about the bag getting wet, I can always add a bivy bag. I spent the last 2 nights in this bag. Supposedly it got down to 3 degrees F the night before last, and about 15 degrees F last night. I was plenty warm both nights in my base layer.

Just what has worked for me, YMMV.
 
I think the "prohibition" on wearing a bunch of clothing in a sleeping bag is based on the idea that you will compress the fill making it less effective. But this would only be true if your bag was a tight fit.

This is a good time of year (if you have the money) to buy sleeping bags. Manufacturers are discontinuing some of last year's models and dealers are discounting them.

Don't forget also to google "REI Discount Coupon Code", or Campmor or whatever. There are coupon codes online that can net 20, 30 even 50% discounts. Free shipping helps too and several merchants are doing that right now.
 
In the hundred dollar range go to the auction and search Eureka.
Good products for the money.
I'm a quilt/hammock guy these days.
 
Does anyone here have experience with the US military cold weather modular sleep system? I see them for around $100 on Ebay. Although they seem a bit heavy for backpacking, they look like something decent to keep with the survival supplies, or in the vehicle.

BB
 
Codger_64 said:
Don't forget also to google "REI Discount Coupon Code", or Campmor or whatever. There are coupon codes online that can net 20, 30 even 50% discounts. Free shipping helps too and several merchants are doing that right now.
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I had no idea about this. Thanks for the tip. :thumbup:
 
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