Sleeping bag suggestions.

N

NO F-Bdy Bs

Joined
May 3, 2007
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Finally getting some time outdoors this weekend.
Figured id go ahead and spring for a new sleeping bag. Whats out there now?
Something that is good for temps down to 35deg, give or take. Dont need anything thats top of the line, just something thats reliable, and durable, and perhaps incoperate it into my Bug in bag.. Perferably something I can pick up at the local Dicks, or Bass Pro.
 
Check out the Snug Pak "Jungle" sleeping bag. Very light wt., 3lb. and has built in mosquito net. Try Brigade Quartermasters but have seen them cheaper if you surf around. BQ is asking $80 or so.
 
elmojo said:
Check out the Snug Pak "Jungle" sleeping bag. Very light wt., 3lb. and has built in mosquito net. Try Brigade Quartermasters but have seen them cheaper if you surf around. BQ is asking $80 or so.
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I had one of those. Nice bag, but I think it is only rated for 50F or something close. I wouldn't use it other than in the summer. I ditched mine for a Slumberjack Meridian that is lined with merino wool. The Snugpak has silver or something in it, and is very comfortable, so it is still a nice bag, it just didn't do it for rme.

If you want to go to Dick's, take a look at the Marmot bags that they have. They are light, warm, and very nice. They are down (might have a synthetic or two), so they are a bit more than the other crap bags that Dick's sells, but the Marmots are much nicer and go on sale pretty regularly for under $100.
 
the snugpak merlin 3 has never let me down
rated to 32f/0c
I carry a flece liner to which gets me to about 0f with my clothes off
and its still smaller and lighter than a normal bag
they have them cheap at cheaperthandirt
 
Another vote for Marmot, I've got two Marmot winter down bags, one I have had for 17 years and it's still going strong. If you should spend your money on one thing, it's a good sleeping bag! When I was buying my first Marmot bag, it was a toss-up between Marmot and Feathered Friends, another very high quality product made in USA. I haven't hear much about them lately but I see they still have a website.

My "summer" bag is a synthetic Moonstone, I just tried their website and it's down, and then found an article stating that they are out of business. I believe I paid less than $100 for it and I've been very impressed with it in the 10 years or so I've had it. Very high quality and warm, much warmer than rated (I've slept in it comfortably at 0C, although it's only rated for about 10C). Maybe some shops out there would still be carrying old stock
 
Yeah, Moonstone went bye-bye. Last year, I think. It is a shame, since they made quality stuff and decent prices.

Feathered Friends is still around, but you don't hear much about them since their target market is pretty hardcore and already knows about them. Their bags can get very pricey very quickly. We had a used one a while back that we sold that originally retailed for ~$650. Was accurately rated to -20F or something ridiculous.
 
The North Face Cat's Meow is what I have and has been favoured for many years now by hikers. There are many newer designs but this has years of field time.
 
SirJames said:
The North Face Cat's Meow is what I have and has been favoured for many years now by hikers. There are many newer designs but this has years of field time.
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You can catch them o sale and they are a good buy. About "medium" on the weight and well made.

You really have to watch ratings on sleeping bags. The European outfits have a better system with some actual testing done to determine the rating. I would fudge about 10 degrees on most mass-market bags. It varies a lot with the sleeper too. When I'm comfortable, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is freezing her butt off-- and that's a lot :D

Joking aside, you might be able to rent one to try out or buy from an outfit that will exchange it. I live in the wet corner of the map, so I prefer synthetic fill over down for everything but the height of summer. Another trick is to have a "shoulder season" bag and a super light summer bag that acts as a liner for the other bag in winter. I have a Moonstone Delta Cirrus that is rated 32F and a MontBell #7 that is more like 45F and down, but weighs just a pound.

What you put under you makes one heckuva difference. Good ground insulation really helps. The RidgeRest pads aren't bad and even the ol' blue foam ones are far better than nothing at all and cheap. Then the dollar rocket goes off and you get into all kids of self-inflating rigs. It's all a question of R value/weight/cost. For my uberlight stuff, I use an Insulmat closed cell 3/4 length that is 10 ounces and I sleep well on it. I put my pack under my lower legs and feet. You can double up a couple pads in winter too. Bottom line, if you bag seems cold, it may be the ground is suckin' the heat out of you.
 
This weekend, we will be inside our hunting cabin. Its enclosed, but drafty, and no heat of any kind. There is an old wood burning stove that we usually keep stoked up, but 35-45deg in there is the norm.
There are beds, but ill be just laying the bag on top of them.

Also, whats the advantage/difference between a regular rectangular design Vs a Mummy setup?

Also, the brands I have locally are
Kelty
Coleman
Slumberjack
Marmot
The north face

Out of those brands, who to avoid.
Keeping in mind that im not a hard core camper. If I do go camping, we are always in a tent, if not the bed of a truck.
 
NO F-Bdy Bs said:
Also, whats the advantage/difference between a regular rectangular design Vs a Mummy setup?

Also, the brands I have locally are
Kelty
Coleman
Slumberjack
Marmot
The north face

Out of those brands, who to avoid.
Keeping in mind that im not a hard core camper. If I do go camping, we are always in a tent, if not the bed of a truck.
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Rectangular design will give you more room to roll around and move, but has more dead air that your body has to heat and keep warm. I would stick with the mummy design in cold weather for sure.

All of those brands will make varying levels of bags, but I don't think Coleman makes any REALLY nice ones like the rest do. Kelty and Slumberjack are middling. Marmot and TNF are great brands and can get real pricey real fast. For car camping, I would just get one that is nice and comfy with an accurate low temp rating and not worry about weight. That should save you quite a bit.
 
I dont think weight will be an issue for me for my situations.

I had a few minutes before I went into work tonight, and ran by the local Dicks for a bit.
They had 3 bags that "looked" like they would suffice for my needs.
All were the Slumberjack brand, they were:
The Ultimate
Odyssey
Super Guide.

They all had pretty much the same features, rated between 15 and 35deg.
Price for all 3 was under $89.
 
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