Sleeping bags

I've heard nothing but good things about Wiggy's also. I have a Cabela's 3-D bag and have used it in some pretty cold temp's in Washington state and never been cold in it. But it is too big and heavy for backpacking.
 
Rasmus80 said:
If weight and packing size is your main concern, go with one with down filling.

Those are MUCH lighter and smaller when packed up than those with synthetic fiber filling.

The comfort is also greater!

There are two "down"sides:rolleyes: though:

They are usually a deal more expensive than synthetic ones.

And:
A down sleeping bag will not tolerate water. So you risc getting wet, a down sleepingbag may be a bad choice.
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Polyester "cold forms" into a less lofty state the longer it is kept compressed. (Think about a nylon pancake flipper bent over and weighted down with an anvil for months.) Many milsup bags have been stored compressed for months and are not nearly a lofty as when new - or as the original specs provide.

In temps below freezing, and unless the occupant is dead, a down bag will lose loft (thickness = insulation value) due to perspiration (a 24/7 phenomenon) condensing into liquid water inside the bag. The rate of loss depends on individual variations in perspiring and on how much colder it is.

You can dry the bag is the sunny, dry air (or a clothes dryer) to restore loft - if you have such. Otherwise, the bag is "colder" each night.
 
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I bought the Wiggy's XLWB Center Zip Military bag this year and really like it. It doesn't compress super small, but it's waaaay more compact than my big XXL rectangular flannel camp bag. The center zip works great in my Hennessy Survivor Hammock.
 
I'm pretty broad through the shoulders, so there's only a few mummy bags out there I can zip shut. A few years back I bought a Sierra designs mummy on clearance @ REI that's as big as a Big Agnes gear for around $70. It's rated for 40 degrees, but I don't get cold. I hammock camp with it. I don't camp much when it's down to the 30's, but it's never let me get cold hangin' in the wind. It weighs about 13 oz. & mashes down to the size of a 32 oz. Nalgene for a pretty compact transport. Goin' from a tent & a military down bag to the Clark hammock & the SD mummy bag, I dropped a S**t ton of weight off my pack REAL quick!
 
Best bet would be to find a knowledgeable person at an outfitter that sells sleeping bags in your area. A lot depends on where you're going to use it, if you'll be packing it, ground insulation.
 
I noticed on Ebay that there are quite a few NEW Goose Down bags coming from Kong Hong and they are reasonably priced.

I believe that the Snugpak bags are made in South Korea and they are quite good quality.

I am wondering how many of the super high priced Down bags being sold in the U.S. actually have China as their country of origin?
 
If they fit your budget, Western Mountaineering bags are the way to go. Lightweight but sturdy, compress smaller then you would expect, honest temperature ratings, and if it matters to you- made in USA. I have a couple that I've been using for more then twenty years, no problems, no tears or any zipper problems. If I had need for another sleeping bag, I would get another WM bag.
I've never heard of a case of buyers remorse with WM bags.
By the way, the best bag in the world would be uncomfortable without a sleeping pad. The manufacturers temperature ratings on bags are based on the added wind protection and insulation of a tent and ground pad.
 
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The one other good things about Wiggy's is that their Lifetime Guarantee is very BUSSE-Like. You can read it on this page...
http://wiggys.com/about.cfm?

I always took a Goose Down bag whenever I camped but, now it mostly just sits at home...hanging UNCOMPRESSED in a 3rd floor closet.

If any of you have ever "properly" hand washed a Goose Down sleeping bag. It is a true P.I.T.A. if you want to do it at home. You need the special soap and you wash it in the bathtub and you keep rinsing it and rinsing it and rinsing it and then you squeeze as much water out as possible and then get it into the dryer for about 8 hours and air fluff tumble dry it with tennis balls in there to re fluff the down and unclump it....and remember that you cannot keep it highly compressed when you are not using it. In my experience also if you get it professionally "dry cleaned" as some do then Down retains a solvent or chemical type smell when condensation begins to build up in the bag.
And the "part down" and "part feathers" bags are not as effective as 100% Goose Down. And finally IF you get your Down bag wet when you are out and about you basically are screwed until it drys out completely. You are going to be sitting in front of a fire all night long - warm in front and freezing in back because you are NOT sleeping in a damp Down bag.

Just my personal opinion that the only real advantages of Goose Down would be the super light weight and the fact that it compresses into a very compact package.
But, I do not think it's actually any warmer than a Wiggy's.
Don't get me wrong those are GREAT advantages if you are all day hiking long distances or mountaineering and want to go LIGHT and easy.
But, if you are just hiking a couple of miles like into a campsite I would not bother with the added expense of a Down bag.
 
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Not a fan of Wiggys. Heeeeeeavy and bulky. Wiggys spends lots of time Trolling the backpacking sites arguing about their bags to the unknowing. But most know better. Same for mil spec gear. Can you say.."lowest bidder"..?

Western Mountaineering. Period. Bring your check book tho. But theres nothing better for the same weight and bulk. Period. I have the Highlite(16oz total with stuff sack. stuffs to a nerf ball size. good to about 20* if used right) and Ultralite(early version. 1lb 8oz total w stuff sack. packs to the size of a football. good to about 5* if used right).

All weights are REAL weight. Per my scale.

Honorable mention is Marmot and Feathered Friends.
 
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I think I'm actualy going to go with an ECWSS because I came across a new one for $120.

Anyone know if these came in straight up OD??
 
Great choice and that is a hell of a good price. Just make sure it is USGI made by Tennier Industries. There are some fake knock-offs out there believe it or not. Morons will copy anything these days to make a buck. You got the ACU one right? They don't make them in anything but ACU that I know of and the older version called MSS is with a woodland bivy and black and green bags. Basically the same thing just different colors. The new ACU ones have improved stuff/compression sacks.
 
I just found out from someone who has both the older version MSS and the newer ECWSS that the bivy bags are interchangeable so if you don't like the ACU you can get a woodland bivy from the MSS and use it. Personally I hate the ACU (ICU) pattern and think whoever approved it for the military should be tried for treason.
 
jball1125 said:
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I think I'm actualy going to go with an ECWSS because I came across a new one for $120.

Anyone know if these came in straight up OD??
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Dang Bro, I'm jealous!!! Great find.
 
Take the Wiggy's guarantee at face value. I have a Flexible Temperature Range sleep system I got awhile back that the zipper on the outer bag broke. I call Wiggy's and talked with him directly and he told me to wash the bag and send it back along with 35 dollars for the zipper replacement. I said that I understood it was covered under warrenty and he said yes.....for 35 dollars. I do not find their bags to hold their loft very well after washing. My inner bag has thin spots in the insulation now as I believe it has shifted. I supposed I could send it in but for how much more...$$$.

dave
 
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My Nephew Scorched his Wiggy's and we just sent them a PIC and they sent him a new bag. The sales rep told him that he did not even have to ship his damaged bag back but, he did have to pay shipping costs for the replacement.
That is our first hand experience with Wiggy's which I thought was very decent of them because it was an issue that was no fault of their own.
 
jball1125 said:
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I think I'm actualy going to go with an ECWSS because I came across a new one for $120.

Anyone know if these came in straight up OD??
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That seems like a good deal. Be sure to let us know what you think after your trip.

Garth
 
Garth Reckner said:
That seems like a good deal. Be sure to let us know what you think after your trip.

Garth
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Will do! Ill take pics since Ill more than likely bring some knives. Not too many since we have to kayak out to an island but Ill have some Bussekin on me no doubt.
 
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