Sleeping bag

caine

caine

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Ok after this horrible overniter this weekend. I am in the market for two new sleeping bags, but I am not sure if I should go down or syth ? Any help
 
nothing beats top quality down for warmth to weight ratio. however if you fall in the lake or in anyway get down wet, you better build a big big fire. the better synthetics are slightly heavier but dry quicker & provide some amount of warmth when wet. one point about down , with care it will last a full lifetime. some synthetics degrade over time , whether this is from ozone decay or other factors i do'nt know.
dennis
 
I went down and never looked back. When I carry it (compressed), it's in a dry sack. Other things like having a pack cover can also help keep water away from the bag. I also have a down outdoor jacket I carry the same way. When hiking, I stay warm, but at rest in camp, it's a different story. That jacket is ever so warm.
 
Down or synthetics...it all depends on your budget, how light you want the bag/ how heavy a bag youre willing to carry, where and how you camp, which season and what the temp is like in your part of the world.

Ive got 2 Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 synthetic bags. I went synthetic, first and foremost, because of the price and because of their ability to handle moisture. In my part of the world (scandinavia) its pretty wet 8 months of the year. I wanted a bag where i didnt have to worry about it getting wet (which has happened a couple of times now).

The Lamina 20 dosent weigh much more than a down bag too.

Most modern down bags are treated with some sort of DWR treatment, so theyll repel morning condensation, etc.

One thing to consider, is if you have a tendency to sweat alot in your sleep. If so, id recommend a synthetic for multiday hikes, especially if you cant air it out every morning like you should.

Synthetics degrade over time, caused by the compression of the fibers when you stuff it and out of the stuffsack. That being said, its not like youll have to replace it every other year. Theyll last many many years before youll feel a difference in temp comfort.
 
I camp in a hammock most of the time these days.

I wen't with a Big Agnes Lost Ranger bag. It is down and takes a sleeping pad in a pocket on the bottom side of the bag.

When camping I carry the sleeping bag in a Dry sack. Even if I did fall in a lake, it still wouldn't get wet. Dry bags are commonly available in a great variety of sizes these days, and at pretty agreeable prices so it has become pretty easy to keep critical gear dry.
 
wildmike said:
I camp in a hammock most of the time these days.

I wen't with a Big Agnes Lost Ranger bag. It is down and takes a sleeping pad in a pocket on the bottom side of the bag.

When camping I carry the sleeping bag in a Dry sack. Even if I did fall in a lake, it still wouldn't get wet. Dry bags are commonly available in a great variety of sizes these days, and at pretty agreeable prices so it has become pretty easy to keep critical gear dry.
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+1 on the Big Anges and Dry bag! I used to always get cold while camping even in the Summers. this bag has been a dream! Must get the air mattress that fits in the pocket, which will add to the cost of your set up.
 
The Zlite pad works in it as well, as will any 20" wide pad.

Since I hammock camp I have to use an insulating pad that doesn't compress under me in the winter.
 
I have been looking for a new bag, and I think I found it. I'm going with the Snugpak, Sleeper xtreme (god, I hate having to type that word). Its got a good rating, and will be my cold weather setup. I have a bag now that good to like, 30 degrees (2 season), but I need a little more for the 10 degree nights and below.

With my wool blanket and my Snug, I think I'm good for a while, I may have to beef up when I go to tackle Everest (my ass, LOL). Naw, for me, I should have it covered, now I got to buy everything X4, Me, Lady, Shy, and SiSi. Kids are expensive.

Moose
 
PropThePolecat said:
. . .One thing to consider, is if you have a tendency to sweat alot in your sleep. If so, id recommend a synthetic for multiday hikes, especially if you cant air it out every morning like you should.

Synthetics degrade over time, caused by the compression of the fibers when you stuff it and out of the stuffsack. That being said, its not like youll have to replace it every other year. Theyll last many many years before youll feel a difference in temp comfort.
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You WILL perspire some. The warm moist air migrates outwards until it reaches Dew Point and becomes liquid water. (Like breathing on a cold window pane in Winter.) Much below freezing, this is likely to happen inside the sleeping bag. If the insulation is down, it will absorb the water and lose loft. In a dry climate, you may be able to air out the bag given time to do so. Elsewhere = ?

The primary cause of loss of loft in man-made insulation is cold forming caused by keeping it compressed. (Fold over a nylon spatula and let it return to shape. Fold it over and place an anvil on it for two months. It won't spring back.) Storing the sleeping bag in an uncompressed condition greatly increases its useful life.

The "compression bags" sold to deduce your bag to the smallest size possible are hard on bags - even down -- and the bag weighs the same.

Dry cleaning is hazardous to deadly for sleeping bags, as are top-loading washing machines.
 
caine said:
Ok after this horrible overniter this weekend. I am in the market for two new sleeping bags, but I am not sure if I should go down or syth ? Any help
Click to expand...

a down bag has several advantages over syn (and a few disadvantages)- a down bag (if cared for properly) will last a very (very) long time (not so for syn), for a given temp rating it's going to be lighter and pack smaller

it's going to cost more and if it does get wet (lots of ways of preventing this), it won't function nearly as well as syn (wet syn is no treat either, but will still provide a little loft and dry quicker)

even folks that routinely backpack in the Pacific NW (pretty wet clime :)) will tend to choose down over syn for the advantages- again you need to take precautions w/ your down bag- the easiest is to insure it stays dry in your pack, something as cheap & easy a trash compactor bag will do the trick (and also keep clothing dry as well); if you tarp tent a bivy is probably warranted

there are some good syn bags on the market, but for the advantages I think down makes the most sense in most situations
 
Wiggys bags are the best in the world . The bags are a system, Jerry is the owner and usually answers the phone when you call, just google wiggys sleeping bags they're 30 percent off right now all kinds of elite groups use them, and they're made in the USA in Colorado
 
If you plan on getting wet at all - go synthetic.

The gold standard for me is the NorthFace Cat's Meow. It isn't the lightest - but not heavy. It gets a Backpacker Gold award. Inexpensive and ready to rock out of the box.

TF
 
Marmot Pinnacle 15 degree bag. Never looked back. Down gives me the warmth I need and compresses down small enough to go with me anywhere, and +1 on those of you who use the dry bags. With proper precautions, down shouldn't be a concern when it comes to keeping it dry.
 
I agree the Cat's Meow has been the standard reference bag for some time, I think because so many of them are out there. It hits that sweet spot between price and performance. But, these days I'm less technical and more comfort driven. Room to move is something I like, although weight and packed size are still important to me. I think I'd like to try a down next time if the covers are sufficiently water resistant. Of course stuffing it in a bivy addresses some of those issues.
 
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