Compact non-mummy sleeping bags?

N

NeedItCheaper

Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
366
Me and my GF are getting into hiking and camping and we currently use a Teton *Grizzle Double(0-F). The thing is huge, and weighs 15 pounds.

My search is dual, find something much lighter, and make sure they are square so that we can lay them out and put one on top and one and bottom. This way we can put one in each of our packs. Now before anyone suggests just packing half of our Teton Grizzly in each others bags, we tried......... The thing is just massive all around. We simply put it in my truck and take it out at out camp site. But I want to go off road, and walk a few miles to a secluded spot, and for that I need something more travel ready.




Edit:*
 
Last edited:
LG&M said:
What temp rating are you looking for?
Click to expand...


High 30's to low 40's is what it is outside. We use a basic Coleman tent, with a sleeping pad(yoga pad) under each of us to protect from the ground sucking heat from us, and we also put a heat reflecting camping tarp under us for water and extra heat. This is all with a 0-f sleeping bag. The bag is too hot.


I'm actually thinking 20 would be just fine. The two main issues are size and weight.


Our current is 17x26= 5898 cubic inches(Check your math, I'm right), with 15 pound weight. The TIMBERJACK 20 is 10x15, using two is 2356 cubic inches. This is less than half the size. And now instead of 5898 cu. in. in one bag, we can put 1178 in each. Also overall weight goes from 15 pounds to 8.

Could be good.


And those Big Agnes ones are just too expensive =(
 
Instead of doing sleeping bags, why not sheets and blankets? you could still use the foam, or get a couple thermarests and velcro them together.
 
Quilt is another option. A down quilt is lightweight and will pack small. Finding one at the right price might take some looking though.
 
JacksRBetter Shenandoah down quilt. Two lengths, two fill powers, two colors. Weight around 20oz. Packing the size of a small melon. Two other models with more loft for lower temps. Bisex velcro, ties, and draw strings add versatility. I use one on my bed and take it backpacking and cycle camping.
 
I'm gonna have to look into this quilt business a little more, might go that route.

For now I just found these Sleeper Lite Square Foot by SnugPack, can get two for under 130$.
 
NeedItCheaper said:
We use a basic Coleman tent, with a sleeping pad(yoga pad) under each of us to protect from the ground sucking heat from us, and we also put a heat reflecting camping tarp under us for water and extra heat. This is all with a 0-f sleeping bag. The bag is too hot.
Click to expand...

Already got you covered =)
 
I love my big Agnes sleeping bags, I have 2 of them. 1 for regular camping which goes to I believe 30 degrees, then I have one for mountaineering which is a negative number and I also use a thermarest liner with it sometimes when it's real cold. I'm a pretty big guy and a lot of sleeping bags don't fit me very good so when I was looking at them I actually was trying them out in the store LOL quite the sight. Both big Agnes bags are real big but roll up to fit in my sleeping bag compartment on my pack. I'm not sure how big you are but I'd imagine a regular guy under 200 lbs and a small girl could fit in it together. I know when I was in highschool before I got into weight training I'd would have jumped in there with my girlfriend and been happy as a clam LOL. Anyways I got off topic a bit, I'd check out the big Agnes or go to REI, EMS or any decent outdoor gear store and try out a few, they usually have every model they have hanging up all opened up so you can get a good look, I'm sure they'll tell you which will zip together and you can see them when they are rolled up also.
 
I understand your concern about wanting only square bags because you want to use one on top of the other for sleeping together.

However let me suggest you go with two mummy bags with full size zipper... one left hand zipper and another right hand zipper. This will allow you to mate them and will be comfortable to use on their own. And also, when mated, you will have the Hood in the right position, otherwise you may end up with one Hood over your face... XD XD. No big deal as long as you are not in truly cold temps.

Also quality mummy down bags are the warmest you are going to find considering pack weight and volumen. Granted you need to make 100% sure that it is going to work so if you can check this in a store, much better.

I have done it with two different bags (Big Pack and Mountain Equipment Marathon 300) with no problema. This two bags are from different makers but, luckily, they both use the same YKK zipper. Works great. The Mountain Equipment Marathon 300 is good up to 0ºC, total weight 800gr and packs like a waterbottle.

The only small downside I see of this setup is that the zippers end up in the middle, between the two of you. So if any of you want to get up at night to go out and have a leak or whatever... the other one may feel some cold drafts. Other than that, it is the best you can do.

Good luck!

Mikel
 
jeronimo said:
https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/ProductFinder/Bag/filters/119

Big Agnes
Click to expand...


You know, now that I look around....... I think I have my head in the clouds with pricing. Some of those prices are fairly good. Thanks for the link. Haven't found a smaller double with that low of temperature rating yet. Thanks:cool:



ThriftyJoe said:
I don't know anything about yoga, but briefly glancing at some yoga mats on Amazon, it looks like some are 1/4" thick. 1/2" thick is about the thinnest I've seen in backpacking pads. Also it looks like most are 72" long and usually wider than a foam pad meant for backpacking.

If you've already tried them for car camping and they're comfortable for you and not too heavy to carry, you've got a good solution. :thumbup: Might be worth putting it on a scale to see if it's worth a few bucks to get something lighter. For comparison, my super cheap closed cell torso length foam pad is 1/2" thick by 20" wide and weighs 6.5 oz.

This is what I use for car camping, by the way (approximately): http://www.wayfair.com/Elite-Produc...36500-EL2188&gclid=CJfXkryLsLcCFUqZ4AodJFMAUQ Don't know why more folks don't use them. Weight is a non-issue for car camping, as long as it folds up and you can fit it in your vehicle.
Click to expand...


It's 0.5 inch thick, but yeah I'm not satisfied. I want a very bouncy mat instead of a memory foam style one. I'm looking at ALPS Mountaineering Foam Camping Mat, it's 0.65 inch thick and (25" x 77"). And not car camping, we are using the designated campgrounds as training, cutting down on weight and learning what we need to survive before we decided to rough it. The goal is to be able to backpack for a couple days out in the middle of the forest. But that might be next summer type deal.
 
NeedItCheaper said:
I want a very bouncy mat instead of a memory foam style one.
Click to expand...

Thermarest NeoAir + Thermarest Ridge Rest on top (if it gets very cold) or bottom (if you are sleeping in the ground without a tarp and don't want to risk puncturing it). Period.

For lightweight backpaking it doesn't get much more comfortable than that. For car campipng or hauling arround a big heavy pack for short distances you can get much fancier with down filled sleeping pads and so on, but for me it is just too heavy. And I have a bad back and I have tried quite a few different pads. Heavy rubberized fabrick beach style inflatable only (too cold in Winter), closed cell pad from several manufacturers (not too much cushioning at all even in thick, read INCH THICK, versions), and self-inflatable pads in their deluxe versions (too heavy, cold, not reliable and hard to deflate when needed, not comfortable either).

That said I now haul arround a small rubberized fabrick inflatable and put my RidgeRest on top. Heavy combination but Works for me. When I feel like spending a bit more of money, I will get a NeoAir or equivalent pad to replace my current inflatable.

Mikel
 
Western Mountaineering make a bunch. In fact, you could buy one of their rectangular bags and get their coupler then you only need to buy one bag. As long as you have some good pads underneath you, you'll be plenty warm. Big Agnes makes a double pad which might be nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top