Help me pick a sleeping bag please

Joben

Joben

Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
1,755
Hi guys.

I live in CT, which as a fairly wide ranging climate, easily up to the 90's in summer, but the nights are pretty chilly for much of the year.
So I'm thinking I need a bag that's good to around freezing temp.
But I don't really know anything.
Can you guys help me out?

Is this a good bag?
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___68544
 
The one your looking at looks like a reasonable choice for 3 season use. I personally prefer the down sleeping bags (have a couple of Marmot and Western Mountaineering bags) for camping and backpacking, but they are expensive.

Other places to lok for a synthetic would be REI or our MEC

I was just camping in high country in Southern B.C. where the days were getting up to 90 degrees F and the nights going down to 40 degrees and certainly agree with your choice to get a a warmer bag.
 
Hi Joben,

When shopping for a sleeping bag, I would suggest looking for one rated about 10°-20° lower than the lowest temp you think you'll be sleeping in. That way, the chances that you'll be comfortable will be increased. I've spent nights in bags that weren't adequate for the conditions experienced, and it wasn't fun.

The Slumberjack bag you linked appears to be a decent bag for the price, and it will certainly get you started for 3-season camping. It looks like it isn't too heavy, and the compression stuff sack looks like it allows the bag to be packed quite small (7.5" x 12"), so the bag would also work if you choose to do backpacking.



My first sleeping bag was a 0° The North face Snowshoe. I decided to get a 0° bag beacuase a) It would be my only bag for a while, and I wanted to be sure I was warm whenever and wherever I camped, and b) I found it at a The North Face outlet at a great price. I didn't intend to winter camp with it, but 3 years after I bought it, I found myself camping in Michigan and Wisconsin in January, in temps ranging down to about 10°. I was glad I had the 0° bag on those occasions!

In 1997, my girlfriend at the time (wife now) and I bought matching The North Face Cat's Meow 20° bags. This has been my go-to bag ever since. Because the wifey isn't into winter camping, I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the 0° bag in the last 12 years. However, now I have a neighbor that loves to camp and backpack, and he has been pushing for a winter outing. The Snowshoe will get used again.
 
More sleeping bag stuff...


Down is great because it has a high warmth-to-weight ratio, but it won't work well when it is wet. I had a 35° down bag once, but it got wet, and the down clumped together. I was never able to get the down completely 'unclumped', so I never used it in the field again. It has since been relagated to a basement comforter post.

Because of my down downer, I prefer synthetic fills. If I did a lot of winter camping, I'd invest in a down bag specifically for those outings. The chances of soaking a down bag in the winter are low.


Also, you can extend the comfort range of a sleeping bag if you need to. You can add a thin inner liner bag, or you can add something outside the bag. I haven't used an innder bag, but I have used bivvy bags, space blankets, and a poncho liner to extend the comfort range of a particular bag in a few situations.
 
What's your budget, and what kind of weight are you looking for? Also, what type of shelter, real tent/tarp/bivy/hammock? The reason I ask, is because the current US Mil sleep system is great, though heavy if you're carrying all the components. You can pick them up for around $150 on shebay. The sleep system includes a Goretex bivy, winter bag, summer bag, and compression stuff sack.

Unless you put together a "system", I don't think you'll be happy with a winter bag, trying to use it in the summer, or the other way around.

There are things you can do to make a summer bag more winterable. You can add a bivy, a silk or microfleece liner, and a good sleeping pad. It has been my experience that a comfortable temperature range is around 10 degrees warmer than what the bag is rated at. For instance, a 30 degree bag, would be more comfortable in 40 degree weather. Also, what you wear inside the bag is important. I prefer to strip down to my under clothes inside the bag, down to about 30 degrees. That's about as low as I've been. Others can chime in who have crossed the 0 degree threshold.
 
Another happy North Face Cat's Meow user here. Got it this summer, and have used it a fair amount already. It kept me warm in the mountains this summer when our water bottles were half-freezing by morning. It packs down fairly small and isn't terribly heavy. I'd love to get a down -10F or so bag for winter camping, but that will probably come later.
 
North Face bags are tits and lifetime warranteed. I will suggest as a high performance, lightweight, low cost alternative the Slumberjack Sonara 30. Fits in a compression bag 9 inches wide by 10 long, and it comes with the compression sack. Awesome for fitting into or lashing onto a pack. Extremely light and breathable for those warm and sticky summer nights yet definitely comfortable well into the lower temperatures. They cost around 35-40 dollars.
 
wulfshrunting said:
What's your budget, and what kind of weight are you looking for? Also, what type of shelter, real tent/tarp/bivy/hammock?
Click to expand...

I'm leaning towards hammock.

I don't like sleeping on the ground much, but i haven't tried it with a foam pad yet...need to pick up a cheap one and give that a shot.
 
joben here's the easiest way to get in a hammock with a sleeping bag, lol.... open the sleeping bag fully down to the feet and flip it open, over the hammock, get in the hammock, close it, zip yourself in. Tada! Hammocks are real nice though, the combination of a nice sleeping bag and a hammock is great. If it rains, a hammock, a sleeping bag and a tarp. I personally do not mind sleeping on the ground at all as long as the critters aren't poisonous and the ground isn't wet. Tarps are nice, if you can fit a 5x9 tarp in your bag you can fold it up underneath you and offers sufficient padding. If it rains you can use it for cover as well. Foam pads get real bulky though.
 
Joben said:
I'm leaning towards hammock.

I don't like sleeping on the ground much, but i haven't tried it with a foam pad yet...need to pick up a cheap one and give that a shot.
Click to expand...

Off topic, but if you don't like sleeping on the ground, a simple foam pad isn't going to help much. if you don't like sleeping on the ground but want to give it a go, save up for a decent self-inflating sleeping pad. I slept on a Ridge Rest pad for years before I received a basic Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad as a birthday gift. That pad changed camping for me forever. Seriously, it made that much of a difference.

For hammock camping, I use a Z-rest pad; mainly for the insulation factor. The wind blows right through my Travel Hammock Ultralight. A basic foam pad will work well in a hammock setup. A self-inflating pad would most likely work in a hammock, too, but I haven't tried that yet.




Joben, I ssent you a message.
 
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Ramm9 said:
I've gotten good use out of Wiggy's bags.
Click to expand...

+ 2 for Wiggys bags. I have the superlite, and I've used it to -10c. no worries. Got the bottom soaked once , and it was still warm , and bone dry a day later :D
 
Try to be realistic about when you'll be using it. For my first bag, I bought a -15 rated low-priced synthetic model. It was WAY heavy, too bulky, and too hot to sleep in.

The next time, I smartened up and bought a 35 degree bag from REI that is light as a feather and takes up little space when packed/compressed. I used it for a long time before I decided I needed another bag a bit warmer. I then bought a fairly lightweight 10 degree bag. Between the 10 and 35 degree rated bags, 99.9% of my camping is covered.

Another item I picked up is a fleece bag liner. I often use it alone for summer camping, and it can be used in combination with the other bags to increase their ratings.

Make sure the bag fits you. Depending on your size, you may need a longer than standard bag, or one with additional girth. My 10 degree bag is a Sierra Designs "Paul Bunyon" model that is extra long and wide. It's very comfy!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Well, I am where you are, more or less. My go-to sleeping bag is a 25 degree down mummy from EMS - I think the model name was "Puffin" or something. I've had it for about seven or eight years and it has never proved inadequate. It is overkill for the summer usually, but when it is too hot I just lie on top. I also have a 45 degree semi-mummy (tapered rectangle) synthetic fill bag from Woods Canada, which I use if it is really hot and muggy. Both bags stuff down to the size of a large breadloaf.

Much of my camping is while motorcycle camping, so I generally take the down one due to the wider range of temps and conditions I'm likely to encounter doing that.

Also, don't cheap out on the ground pad! I learned this the hard way. Get yourself a self-inflating Thermarest or similar. It insulates you from the cold and is cushy enough to keep you off the ground. I don't know where you are in CT but the Dick's in Waterford across from the Crystal Mall has some Thermarest replicas on closeout.
 
wulfshrunting said:
What's your budget, and what kind of weight are you looking for? Also, what type of shelter, real tent/tarp/bivy/hammock? The reason I ask, is because the current US Mil sleep system is great, though heavy if you're carrying all the components. You can pick them up for around $150 on shebay. The sleep system includes a Goretex bivy, winter bag, summer bag, and compression stuff sack.

Unless you put together a "system", I don't think you'll be happy with a winter bag, trying to use it in the summer, or the other way around.
Click to expand...

I paid about $150 for my 4 pc Mil Sleep System off EBay. Bought it in pieces. All BRAND NEW with tags. 9lbs total. Heavy but season adaptable (only carry the pieces that you need) and the bivy is Gortex. Beats having 3 separate sleeping bags.
 
checkout the Campmor goose down bags - one of the best bag for the buck bags. 0 and 20 degree options.
 
I know I have not posted in this Forum before, but if you are looking for a good price/quality ratio you could check out Alps Mountaineering sleeping bags. I have their Desert Pine model and it works great. A little on the heave side for backpacking, but it does it's job.

reioutlet.com has the Alps Mountaineering Clearwater on sale right now. Pretty good deal I think.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/782984
 
Joben said:
Hi guys.

I live in CT, which as a fairly wide ranging climate, easily up to the 90's in summer, but the nights are pretty chilly for much of the year.
So I'm thinking I need a bag that's good to around freezing temp.
But I don't really know anything.
Can you guys help me out?

Is this a good bag?
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___68544
Click to expand...

I recently bought this exact slumberjack bag, but haven't really had a chance to get out with it yet. I did sleep out in the back yard with it (down to mid 40's) and was toasty warm in a t-shirt, pants, & wool socks. It's on the heavy side for a thru hike, but I think it'll work for me pretty well.
 
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