Check out the SnugPak bags at Sheepleg.com. They have a couple of models with a built-in expansion baffle. I bought the Chrysalis bag for warmer weather.
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Sleeping Bag Help
- Thread starter The Warrior
- Start date
Ya know, maybe the best way to check if a sleeping bag is going to work for you is to actually go a store and crawl into one. Find out it's dimenions and if a good price buy it (or search online for the best price for the quality).
Sleeping bags are right up there with boots and packs in terms of 1) importance 2) fit 3) quality
I've personally done this and when i worked in a gear store i recommended it everytime someone was buying a bag. It's kinda strange at first, but like buying a mattress, ya gotta know it's right - or it's not.
It's not really just about the actual dimenions - some folks are OK with a "close" fit - some not. It's like clothing really - i tend toward looser fitting clothes/materials.
Sorry i didn't think to mention this earlier.
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I like the looser fitting myself. That's what I was saying in an earlier post. I think I'll just head into town to Scheels, Gander Mountain, etc, to go look for one.
Codger_64
Moderator
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This is why I took my first TNF Cats Meow bag back to the store and replaced it with the larger version when they came on sale. The first (regular) bag fit well enough when tried at home, but it's first use overnight in the tent felt like I was wrapped in ace bandages. And I am not really a big guy, 6'1, 185#. And I fought all night long with the length, either cramped toes or the hood pulling my head into my neck. I should mention that I am one who does not sleep flat on my back all night, but change positions all night long. This seems to make a difference as well.
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I was thinking about that as well. I usually tend to sleep on my left side, or my back. Mostly my left side. I was wondering if that would work out okay with a mummy bag. BTW, I've never owned a mummy bag before. The only sleeping bag I own now, is a Coleman 0° bag. Nice bag, but not for backpacking.
I'm primarily a side-sleeper (right side...) as well (and pretty much a non-mover), though i don't think that would matter if i felt constricted in the bag. The 'mummy' shape is great - if it works for you.
For folks that move around a bit, sleeping bags are a challenge in any event and a mummy bag even more so.
Happy shopping!
For folks that move around a bit, sleeping bags are a challenge in any event and a mummy bag even more so.
Happy shopping!
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FWIW, I'm 6'3", 42" jacket, and I find there's a huge difference in comfort between a 30" width at shoulders and say 34". At 30, for me, its difficult to move my arms around, and if you don't just conk out in a mummy postion right away, its a pain. A little larger and plenty of room. That's why its worth trying some out in stores, if only for size comparision.
Do you mean 60" and say 64" shoulder girth? "Girth" is usually how sleeping bag manufacturers measure shoulder/hip/foot-box areas of the bag...... but i could be completely missing your point as well!
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Yes, functionally. I find that a lot of bags don't exactly list girth, but "width", which may or may not be inside diameter or outside diameter. All the more reason to try it out.
Not all bag manufacturers mention this (they may not do it....), but a good, quality bag will be "differentially cut" - meaning the lining fabric and the shell fabric are *not* the same dimension. This seems obvious, but not all manufacturers do it to the same quality standard (can get expensive with more technical shell fabrics) and it compromises the insulation of the bag.
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Big Agnes has 2 models that are designed for big guys. Long, and extra wide. Great construction and compress down with a good compression sack. One model is synthetic and one is down. Both models have 15 and 35/40 temp ratings. The down is more expensive, compresses better and weighs less. They are large enough for a 6'4" 300lbs man to sleep very very comfortably. Trust me, I know.
Edited to add: They are not mummy cuts, but not true square cut either. There is extra room by the feet so big guys can move around a little. It is very comfortable.
Edited to add: They are not mummy cuts, but not true square cut either. There is extra room by the feet so big guys can move around a little. It is very comfortable.
Big Agnes do make very roomy bags. One thing to consider is a custom quilt or a full length zippered bag that unzips to allow it's use as a blanket. A few years ago, I bought an REI Radiant Down bag in extra large and extra wide. I'm 6' 185 and this bag is large enough for me to get my knees up to my chest, which allows plenty of room for my style of sleeping and also makes changing in your sleeping bag easy. I decided against the Big Agnes bags due to the lack of unsulation on the bottom of the bag. They make it so you fit your sleeping pad in the slot and it reduces the weight of the bag.
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I ended up getting a North Face "Bighorn" bag tonight. 20° bag. Local store had them $20 off. Got it home, and damn, I can fit in it. A little bigger (rolled up) and heavier than I wanted, but for the money, hard to complain. I need to get a nice compression sack for it.
Thanks everyone for your help, very much appreciated.
Thanks everyone for your help, very much appreciated.
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I was just looking at some military issued ones. They have them in OD, black, camo, etc, and are heavy duty. I think it was $30 shipped.
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This one looks heavy duty.
That's a really heavy-duty looking compression sack!!! For my use, i've found compression sacks to add a bit too much weight and can be spendy - though i understand why folks like to use them. I have a couple and have used 'em over the years, but they're on the cumbersome side for me so i found a faster, simpler way to accomplish the same thing.
This is for my expedition backpack which has a separate space for sleeping bags.
For the sack, I use a large, heavy-duty leaf bag and simply stuff my sleeping bag inside it (as it's already inside my sleeping bag compartment in my pack). Next, for compression, I use 2 nylon straps - 1 horizontal for around the center and 1 vertical for around the middle. They're "weaved" through the bottom of exposed pack-sheet material/stays. then clip the nylon straps and cinch 'em down....
Waterproof, strong, light and cheap.
Otherwise, for packs without a separate sleeping bag compartment i just toss the sleeping bag into a heavy-duty leaf bag and stuff it into the bottom of my pack and jamb everything on top of/around it.
This is for my expedition backpack which has a separate space for sleeping bags.
For the sack, I use a large, heavy-duty leaf bag and simply stuff my sleeping bag inside it (as it's already inside my sleeping bag compartment in my pack). Next, for compression, I use 2 nylon straps - 1 horizontal for around the center and 1 vertical for around the middle. They're "weaved" through the bottom of exposed pack-sheet material/stays. then clip the nylon straps and cinch 'em down....
Waterproof, strong, light and cheap.
Otherwise, for packs without a separate sleeping bag compartment i just toss the sleeping bag into a heavy-duty leaf bag and stuff it into the bottom of my pack and jamb everything on top of/around it.