Northeners and Canucks, need sleeping bag help

Jamesh Bond said:
Wow, that's quite the slumberjack! Those bags are dirt cheap and seem to last forever.
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Its three bags (25F, 10F, -15F).

SJ manufactures bags routinely sold for 2x or 3x what a "Slumberjack" brings -- simply because of the label thay attach.

They once sent us bags with the label of a famous "elite" brand (Think of a face of a famous mountain in central Asia.) in error. We didn't know until the boxes were opened. They told us to sell them. It it was too much trouble to ship them back, and they were the same bags we had ordered -- just the difference in the label. (They also make bags sold as the house brand of a famous "foremost outfitter." Strangely, those are also pricier than the identical SJ branded bags.)

Between use, I store them in very large "contractor" trash bags, although they came with large cotton storage bags. I also soak-wash and hang-dry.
 
I don't have a lot of experience with really any type of bag except the Army 3 layer system. The bivy is excellent, however, it will retain more body moisture over time, decreasing the loft of the bag. So if your gonna be in a tent or cabin it is unneeded. Although, I slept in rain many times with it and a poncho over me and I stayed dry. The lowest I have been in one is -29, with all three layers together, wearing, my fleece extreme cold weather suit, and I was very comfortable. I aquired several systems and use them exclusively now. Although I am too cheap to buy anything else when I already have all the Army stuff. Although all three layers are fairly large when compressed. So if your backpacking, maybe something that compresses smaller would be better.

I have used the old Army bags we used to call 'Fart Sacks', they were warm, but I never used them under 30, and they were heavy and bulky as hell.

my .02
 
James Bond....you are correct that a good down bag will last a long time. I'm not sure what possessed me to type that.:confused: :confused:

As I stated, I am a down fan. If money is no object, look at a bag by Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Its three bags (25F, 10F, -15F).

SJ manufactures bags routinely sold for 2x or 3x what a "Slumberjack" brings -- simply because of the label thay attach.

I misread that for a single bag.

I also heard that about the label thing. Pretty messed up, but when you know what particualar "Aisian Face" bag you want, a person armed with that knowlegge could then find the SJ version and save some bucks. So it it kind of a blessing in the form of useful knowledge!
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I would second the cold weather Canadian military stuff. That's what I use, all year round, no tent, in the mountains.

I put it on a Prolite 4 pad, and I sleep pretty comfortably!

I also second the polypropylene long underwear - that stuff sure helps with the moisture.
 
Buy the best you can afford that will be suitable for the weather during your trip. That, or see if you can borrow one that will be appropriate for the same.

A long time ago, I went on a group camping trip to the beach in late fall. It didn't get below freezing, but I was bundled in a bag more suited for the tropics. Long story short, I woke up around 4am, shivering like crazy, and I couldn't get back to sleep until dawn when the sun finally came up and started to warm up my tent. Can you say miserable?

It could have been much worse. I was with a group of folks, and not far from shelter. If I was out in the boonies, and really cold weather blew in, it could have been a life and death matter.

Needless to say, after that experience, I made sure I got a better sleeping bag for future camp outs and hiking trips. There's nothing better to cap off a day outdoors than to be able to look forward to a nice, warm sleeping bag.

Well, there may be a few other things, but this isn't the right forum to discuss those... :D
 
Go to your local EMS type store and talk to people. I suggest a synthetic bag for its moisture performance.

Surplus bags are good but weigh a tonne.

GEt the best you can afford or rent one locally in Montana.

Skam
 
Those wiggy's bag prices are actually quite low compared to some other good brands, like mountain hard wear, marmot, western mountaineering, etc. Pricier than slumberjacks, though!
 
I have been using old, cheap bags all my life, including at well below zero.

I learned to put a blanket or two inside the bag, and I wear a ski mask.

Since the eighties I always take some handwarmers, if I know it is too cold for the bag, then I throw a handwarmer in before I go to bed. I also keep extras handy, so that I can open one if I get cold.

Inside a sleeping bag a handwarmer is very effective.

Since you are only going to use the bag a night or two, use these backups, with a borrowed, or a less expensive bag.
 
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