What's the best sleeping bag? ? ?

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pastorsoup

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Feb 18, 2005
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I thought I'd toss this question out there. I'm looking to purchase a new bag. I want an extremely light bag that is highly compressible. A 4 season bag capable of this would be very nice. Any suggestions.
 
Pastorsoup doesn't mention cost or what, in his estimation, constitutes a four season bag.
For lightness, compressibility and reasonable cost, some folks sacrifice ulimate warmth, which might disqualify the following bag.

I know that bicycle tourers, who have an obsession with weight, use the following bag.

North Face Blue Kazoo sleeping bag
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=12500226&productId=30682152

Some of them use it in this combination:

# North Face Lunarlight tent
# North Face Lunarlight footprint
# North Face Blue Kazoo sleeping bag
# Design Salt silk sleeping bag liner
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/rev...Silk Mummy liner/Owner report by Mara Factor/
# ThermaRest sleeping pad

I think a person could go down to a zero degree temperature bag that weighs 3.5 pounds, and easily spend over $250.
Getting those last few ounces off costs an inordinate amount of money.

L.L. Bean's has some surprisingly good deals on their Mt. Washington down bags and the Microlight tent.
Expedition stuff costs a lot of money and carries a weight penalty.
A three season not-so-serious bag (with liner and thermarest) and tent will serve a healthy, well-fed person in very cold weather.

Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing what some of our more serious backpackers have to offer in this thread.
 
As a backpacker, its a difficult question to answer, a bit like 'whats the best jacket' or 'whats the best folding knife'

Where you live, where you will be camping, what sort of camping it will be, etc. all come into the picture; a four season lightweight bag for someone doing recreational tent camping in Mississippi is very different from a four season lightweight bag for someone who considers a jaunt in Denali National Park, Alaska, a fun way to spend the Christmas holidays.

This is probably the answer you least wanted to hear, but I actually have more than one bag, which I use depending on the situation. While you can use a -40° bag pretty much all year round, you aren't going to be comfortable with it, and its just masochistic if you're in New Mexico in August. My cold weather bag is the North Face Darkstar Long (-40) which admittedly is heavyish at nearly 6lbs, but which I would happily take nearly anywhere on this earth knowing I wouldn't freeze to death. I also have a lightweight +40 bag that weighs under 2lbs, and if I were going on a trip where the temperature was going to be in the 0-30º range and I was going to be long distance backpacking or biking, I'd look into getting a third bag.

Argh, another collecting disease I didn't realize I had until I visited this site....
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys. Sorry if I posted this on the wrong thread, sometimes I get carried away and forget where I'm at! :D Have any of you guys had any experience with the Snugpak bags? The Merlin seems to be something I might be interested in. I'm in the midwest so I experience a wide range of weather, so it's difficult to just have one bag for all seasons. I guess if I had a bag that was warm enough (being able to add a liner in the heart of winter) yet not going to make me sweat to death in the summer would be great. Love to hear from someone that has this bag.

Soup
 
I like what I've heard about Wiggy's bags too. At: http://www.militarymorons.com/ there is a nice comparison between the Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin, and the Wiggy's Desert. If you want to check it out, click the link and then click the Outdoor Gear link listed under the Epuipment section. It's also worth noting that these Wiggy's are made in the USA! :) I try to buy American as much as I possibly can. If any of you guys out there know a great place with a great price on one of these Wiggy's Desert bags, let me know!

Soup
 
I learned a lot about sleeping bags from this thread.
Thanks, pastorsoup, for posting the question here.
 
I Have Used My Wiggy,s With The Over Bag For The Last 4 Years. Guiding In Alaska.last Season Spring & Fall I Spent 121 Days In The Bush. These Bags Are The Best With A Life Time Warranty.they Dry Quickley When Wet, Even With Your On Body Heat. I Can't Say Enuogh About How Pleased I Am.
 
Hello.
You should check into "Stephenson's Warmlite" equipment. Made in the USA by a very small company. The products are quite expensive, but are of the highest quality. The bags have a built in mattress, and multiple layers so you can configure them to suit your needs. These folks make some really nice tents too.
If money is no object, and you don't mind seeing pictures of naked people, you can look up the website for more information.
How you like me now? :eek:
 
Another vote for www.wiggys.com I have the Antarctic FTRSS and a Super light. They keep you warm as advertised and when they are dirty you can just wash them without ruining the fill (unlike a lot of other bags).
 
For extreme cold, down and dryloft and I go with Feathered Friends out of seattle, although Valandre is just as good. Lots of quality makers like North face and Marmot. Where wetness and warmer temperatures are involved, i like Primaloft and a good pertex or dryloft. My favourite is Integral Designs out of Calgary, although MEC and places like REI custom order and sell very good versions too and better prices.

Anyway, in Canada there is a venerable tradition of using multiple bags: a layering system that makes perfect sense, like layering clothing.
 
My vote is for western mountaineering bags.

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/

I own the Badger SMF. This bag has the shoulder-room for me to sleep on my stomach with my hands under my head and my elbows out to the side. It is light, 2.5 lbs. The Micro Fiber material is very water resistent. It packs very small. Western Mountaineering bag are expensive though. You pay for the down and light weight. Some generalities to consider:

Down - warm, light, packs small, looses its insulating properties when its wet. Many companies try solving the wet problem with water resistent/proof fabrics. Down is usually more expensive.

Synthetic - you need more fill to insulate as well as down so- heavier, doesn't pack as small, cheaper, better insulation when wet. Technology is getting synthetic fill closer and closer to down, but it is not quite there. If weight and compressability are not factors, go synthetic.

Some bag fabrics are noisy or uncomfortable when you lie on them, so take them for a "test drive" before you buy.

On the "test drive", make sure the fit is right. The closer the fit, the less material (fabric and fill) will be needed to make the bag. This translates into less weight and sometimes lower cost. But remember, if you are not comfortable in the bag, you will not sleep. If you don't sleep, you don't need a bag at all.
 
I followed cgar8ne1's link to Western Mountaineering.
They make a 20F bag that weighs 1lb 10oz.
Amazing.
 
Wiggy's. There are lighter bags out there for backpacking and such, but Wiggy's bags are awesome. As earlier posts have noted, they are washable, keep you warm even when wet, and dry with body heat. I would add that the zippers are BEEFY, and that you can get left and right-zippered models that zip together. They also make sleeping pads that you can get as a matched set that zips together. Nice stuff.

Also, I called the company once and Jerry Wigutow himself answered the phone. That's a company I want to do business with!
 
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