Ok after my last post when out on the web looking lighter sleeping bags found a few in my price range the slumber Glacier 20deg 2lbs 5oz the mountain hardware lamina 15deg at 3lbs 4oz and the campmor down 20deg at 2lbs 14oz. I saw a liner at campmor that petty cheap 7.99 would add 5deg to any bag. What do you guy think :-?

I would suggest you consider experimenting with the bag liners before you base your hike on one. Hikers report different experiences but for me the liner (silk - Cocoon model) did not live up to it's reported performance and on top of that it got all twisted inside my bag. The whole twisting thing was no doubt my doing since I toss and turn a lot. That said though ...at least for me it wasn't worth it. I sent mine home after 2 weeks on the trail.

'Slogger

i would stick to the MH or the Campmor. i don't know if quality has improved but i know several people including myself that did not have good results with longevity with the slumberjacks.

geek

i would stick to the MH or the Campmor. i don't know if quality has improved but i know several people including myself that did not have good results with longevity with the slumberjacks.


I bought my Slumberjack bag in Damascus in '90 (from Campmor) and I used it on the trail just a few months ago. It's 12 oz. heavier than my new MH "Phantom 45" but it's also a much more generous cut (a simple "rectangular" shape vs. mummy & hood.)

There was this one sad incident when it was still almost new. A seam came apart while it was in the washing machine, and it lost some of its down stuffing (and made a mess of my stepmother's washing machine.) Aside from that, it's been a decent summerweight bag.

I used a liner with my big agnes bag. Going on the theory that compressed isulation has no value, the bag has no fill on one side, so you must use a pad. It's lighter, and is warm enough. I had several comfortable nights in below its rating, and I think that was due to the liner.

Check out the REI Sub Kilo +20 bag. A number of people have carried it in the past and I will carry one in March.

Check out the REI Sub Kilo +20 bag. A number of people have carried it in the past and I will carry one in March.

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YUP ...it's a great bag for the money !! ...and REI typically has a sale on it or offers a coupon discount on one item over a certain dollar amount in the Spring.

Carried it on my 2003 thru and it's still going strong. Even washed it twice now.

'Slogger

I haven't used one myself but FWIW, I've consistantly heard good things about Campmor's down bags, in regards to quality, durability and temp rating accuracy. For a 20 degree down bag, you really can't beat the price. Plus, Campmor is great to do business with.

Instead of using a liner, just wear some cold weather at-camp clothing to bed. Decent insulating clothing should give you another 10-15 degrees, possibly more. And, your carrying that clothing anyway so you don't have additional weight invested in one-use gear (like the liner).

I can't comment too much on the bags as I got a Marmot down 20 degree on a good deal. The liner very well could add 5 degrees but thats not why most peole keep using them. I used the approach that I could wash the liner and keep the bag a little more fresh. During the hottest part of the summer, they can act as a bag alone. If you are getting it purely because it adds temp, then wear more clothing. If you are getting it purely because its only 7.99 them make shure there is no cotton in it or its a waste of 7.99.
TB

Ok after my last post when out on the web looking lighter sleeping bags found a few in my price range the slumber Glacier 20deg 2lbs 5oz the mountain hardware lamina 15deg at 3lbs 4oz and the campmor down 20deg at 2lbs 14oz. I saw a liner at campmor that petty cheap 7.99 would add 5deg to any bag. What do you guy think :-?




i know i LOVE my Campmor 20 degree DOWN bag.....SWEEEEEEEET!:D

Ive used the 7.99 liner from campmor and it is not worth it. It didnt seem to add any warmth and it was a pain to figure out which side was the top. The non woven nylon also tears easily and leaves and dirt stick to it with a vengeance.

partinj - Don't listen to me because I haven't hiked the AT, but for what it's worth, I'm leaving NB in March and after plenty of sugestions from these guys, I've decided to go with the Western Moutaineering Sycamore and a liner. It's a 25 degree semi-rectangular bag. It is a bit pricey, but a quality bag is something that I'm not willing to do without. But also, it unzips all the way down across the feet so if it ever gets too hot, you can easily ventilate yourself or even just use it as a comforter. My HOPES are to use it the entire hike. So even if it seems expensive, just remember that if it keeps you from having to buy an additional bag for summer weather, then you've made up the difference in money right there and got a high quality sleeping bag at the same time.
But listen to these guys. I'm just throwing in my 2 cents.
~ Socrates

I used a liner with my big agnes bag. Going on the theory that compressed isulation has no value, the bag has no fill on one side, so you must use a pad...

How does this work out if you are a side sleeper or roll during sleep? I like the concept but usually change positions several times during the night.

I used this system for the hike from Damascus to Maine... using a Back country blanket and the liner. Using the blanket as a blanket, it works remarkably well. It is just like sleeping at home.. the blanket drops down around the mattress and covers you up. I stayed plenty warm and comfortable.. On really cold nights I layered up and velcroed the blanket together to create a make shift bag and stuffed some clothes in the drawstring hole at the bottom...

How does this work out if you are a side sleeper or roll during sleep? I like the concept but usually change positions several times during the night.

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That's exactly why the liner thing didn't work for me ...plus the fact that never really did notice the reported difference in warmth using the silk type.

'Slogger

I bought a silk liner from REI, the cocoon, and hated it. I bought it to keep my Campmor bag clean. It wasn't worth it. it twisted up while I slept and was a pain to arrange in the bag each night. Couldn't leave it in the bag cause then it wouldn't fit in my stuff sac. It did come in handy a couple of times I needed a towel before I had a chance to send it home. Glad I bought it at REI cause they'll take anything back in whatever condition, no questions asked.

How does this work out if you are a side sleeper or roll during sleep? I like the concept but usually change positions several times during the night.

Big Agnes bags have an "integrated pad sleeve" on the bottom for you to slide a pad in (of course, they prefer that you slide one of their REM pads in....). They're also a little wider than most bags to give you room to roll around since the bag won't roll with you. Coldest I've ever been camping was one night when I'd planned for +10 deg weather. Was in a new BA Lost Ranger (15 deg bag) w/ a silk liner and it was about -5 degrees....brrr....boiling water in a nalgene stayed warm for about 4 hrs... Took the bag back and decided to go w/ a 0 deg bag as my winter bag (isn't REI's return policy great!).....