Sleeping Bag ???

[gcamp54]

I also agree about down. My next bag will be down. The Valandre Bloody Mary is high on my list. I have plenty of synthetic bags to use if space is not any issue. All my down bags have been warmer, lighter, and pack smaller. My experience has been the same as many mountaineers; the vapor from your body heat condensation on the outside of the bag during very cold nights. Eventually it continues to build up until your bag is completely soaked. I don't have a problem unless it's very cold. I now use a vapor barrier liner, which you can make yourself, or buy from places like REI. No more wet bags. This keeps me from waking up in the middle of the night freezing because my bag is wet. I won't go out in sub 0 temps with any bag, and especially a down bag, without a vapor barrier liner.

Gordon
Niceville, FL

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I have a AF issue down bag. It is heavy and bulky and I have never use it in cold weather backpacking/hunting. I use a relatively cheap but well made poly filled bag with a rating of maybe 20*. I can sleep comfortably down to zero degree wether by wearing merino wool thermals, ski socks and cap.

It's true that the chances of a down bag getting saturated wet in cold weather is slim, but if it does happen.... and you are a long way from the truck... you are dead... unless you have a buddy with a dry bag. You could build a fire and stay by it if it's not raining, or you could put your headlamp on and start hiking out all night. Water can be fairly effectively squeezed out of poly fill bags and they will reatain most of their loft (dead air space) which is were they (and down) get their insulation value. It's not the wetness that kills the insulation value, it's the lack of loft. Water can be heated by body heat.

Although down has a lot of appealing qualities... for this reason... I will always take a poly filled bag into the backcountry with me. And I can reduce it's weight by wearing very comfortable med weight (lighter than cotton thermals) merino wool thermals which will also maintain their insulating qualities in wet conditions. Not a bad idea to have second pair of thermals along in backcountry, cold weather conditions.

Here's to warm nights and visons of Royal Bulls....

Mark

 

[One Hole]

Another vote for Western Mountaineering. They are expensive but high performance lightweight and hold up well. They offer a lot of sizes and shapes so you can get one that fits you well. Second best investment next to my hilleberg unna

 

[lucky sheds]

I've only ran with a Stone Glacier 15 deg and a Kuiu 30. Both are longer.
SG is the most comfortable but too hot in any weather above freezing…turns into a blanket.
Kuiu is nice and warm and super light. But the fabric is a little louder which bothers me at times.
Would recommend both, but know their strengths and weaknesses for how you'd use them. Adding a liner is always a simple option to increase thermal performance.

 

[OG10]

The original poster may have already purchased a sleeping bag considering this thread is 15 years old.

 

[lucky sheds]

Never too late to learn something new (old).

 

[akwchil]

I used a montbell for years and it was an amazing bag, the best part is that it moved with you so you never felt like you were stuck in a mummy bag. Worth a look for sure.

 

[seeemmiss]

Im a fan of the Western Mountaineering bags. Made in the USA and can get wider and longer for tall folks. Great bag.

 

[snookntarpon]

Montbel again. The movement is incredible due to that stitching they have.

 

[NFW]

I'm roughly the same build. I got a RAB 700 duck down bag last year and love it camping. It is a 16deg bag. Several nights saw it the 20's and I was still half unzipped trying not to sweat. I am a hot sleeper though.

My 2 cents on why I chose down, it's the most packable and light weight and warm straight up. If it does get wet as long as you have a half day hang it up over a line and it'll dry right out. The only reason mine got wet was due to the condensation on the tent overnight and being as tall as we are in a small tent, head or feet are going to touch.

Outside that put it in a dry compression bag and should never get wet.

 

[cohunt]

Problem is the "ratings" on bags ( I know this thread is old)

One company says "15 °" and some guy says he sleeps warm down to 0°

Another company says -15° and some guy says he got cold at 20°

Only way to really know is buy and try--- but lightweight good bags aren't cheap for sure

 

[Husqvarna Man]

Look at "Barneys Sports Chalet in Anchorage!
They sell the best stuff for hunting in Alaska.

 

[Wolf34]

I have a stine glacier Chilkot and a western mountaineering. Both are great bags. Both are very light a nd compress very small. Can't go wrong with either one. I saw a stone glacier on one of the backcountry FB pages for $420 this morning. Great deal.

 

[FEENIX]

The original poster may have already purchased a sleeping bag considering this thread is 15 years old.

I am a patient person, but not for 15 years of shopping.