Sleeping Bag Question...

[SurferNerd]

Since my gear list critics were so awesome, I thought I'd drop another question. Several people mentioned my choice of 20* bag leaving March 1st next year is way too cold. Well, not only is the bag over $300, its 1lb 11oz. I'm here to ask if you know of either a light, cheaper alternative, or if just throwing in a sea to summit mummy liner would add enough to work, then once the temps warm up just send it home? Or even a light cheaper alternative, with a bag liner.

[Chance09]

i think this one is up to you man. I've spent nights in 0 degree weather in my 32 degree bag with just a micro fleece and long johns on and been fine. I'm starting march 7th and taking a 20 deg quilt so we'll. I like the idea of a quilt a bit more because i won't be switching it out later on in the hike when it gets to hot because i can just loosen it up around me or use it as a blanket.

Another tip for the cold nights is to wake up in the middle of the night and eat something. I have been told that this keeps your metabolism going strong all night by digesting the food and keeps you warmer. Someone else might be able to confirm or deny this, but i've found that it never feels as cold waking up in the mornign if i ate something in the middle of the night.

[taildragger]

As long as you can make your bag work for the lower temps, then go for it.

[The Solemates]

this winter, spend several nights outside in your sleeping bag with your hiking set-up in 10-15 degree weather, and see how you feel....then imagine doing that for several nights straight....thats the best advice.

[jesse]

Use liners, and thermal underwear, other clothes, etc. Whatever it takes to stay warm. In Dec/Jan when temps fall, check it out in a safe place like your back yard, or a State Park, where your car is nearby. You should know, first hand, what your capabilities are before you leave. I have found my balaclava is one of the most important pieces of winter sleeping clothes I have.

[Blissful]

My son used a Cats Meow 20 degree with a silk liner for a March 1st start and did fine. If you get chilly, that's what long undies and a hat are for.

[gravityman]

I wouldn't start with a 20 deg bag march 7th, but it's up to you.

Personally I like to be able to get in my bag and KNOW I'll be warm. It's the night after night problem for me. I can tough out just about anything (and have).

Sleeping pad is also SUPER important. A z-rest will freeze me, a prolite 3 is plenty for me.

If you flee to town whenever it looks like it is going to be too cold, then you'll probably be just fine with a 20 deg, but if you want to know you will be warm in the Smokey's in the single digits (like we had in 2001) then bring the warm bag.

Gravity

[SurferNerd]

Well as a lot of you stated, I'd love to take it out and test it. But the return policy and the handmade bags are impossible to return. So if I buy it, its mine... It's looking like good underwear, the bag, and a decent liner.

[Blissful]

I'll tell you the weather is so unpredictable in March / April. We had 70 degrees in the SMokies in March, 07. This year they got snow. If you are a fairly warm sleeper, you should be okay. If you know on the trail cold weather or a front is coming with cold and wind, try to get to a town or hostel. You will also stay warmer by tenting, by far, so plan for that. I also used hand warmers and put them at my body core to stay warm and that helped tremendously. On our trip, we had only one single digit night but we were in Franklin that night. The coldest it got for us was 18 in early April outside Erwin, but again, my son did okay.

And someone said to eat cayenne pepper or something too - ? ! ?

[simplespirit]

What kind of clothing are you taking? What about shelter? That'll help me answer your question a lot better. Also, what brand of bag are you looking at? Sounds like 800+ fill down by the weight and price.

I believe they say to sprinkle some cayenne powder in your socks before you hit the sack. Supposedly it increases circulation or something along those lines.

[George]

I like insulated pants/down jacket to boost a bags range then you can use it around camp for cold evenings and early mornings, send them home when it warms up and consider getting them back for a safety margin in the whites when your 20F bag will be worn and crushed to about 35F

[simplespirit]

I like insulated pants/down jacket to boost a bags range then you can use it around camp for cold evenings and early mornings, send them home when it warms up and consider getting them back for a safety margin in the whites when your 20F bag will be worn and crushed to about 35F

That's partly why I was asking about clothing. A down bag is not going to be worn and crushed to a higher temp rating though unless you're extremely careless.

[SurferNerd]

What kind of clothing are you taking? What about shelter? That'll help me answer your question a lot better. Also, what brand of bag are you looking at? Sounds like 800+ fill down by the weight and price.

I believe they say to sprinkle some cayenne powder in your socks before you hit the sack. Supposedly it increases circulation or something along those lines.

It's a Feathered Friends Hummingbird. I'll be taking 3 layers at first, full thermal underwear, a layer of wicking tshirt and columbia zipoff pants, and a third layer of rainsuit. Shelter for the winter section is my MSR Hubba, and considering a switch to HHammock in the warmer months. Hope this helps.

[Jim Adams]

I did a 13 month trip which involved an AT thru in 1990 with a 20* for the entire trip. At one point it was -6*F outside but because I was in a tent the bag was fine. You may have 1-3 nights where you get cold but I think that for the most part you will be fine.

geek

[simplespirit]

It's a Feathered Friends Hummingbird. I'll be taking 3 layers at first, full thermal underwear, a layer of wicking tshirt and columbia zipoff pants, and a third layer of rainsuit. Shelter for the winter section is my MSR Hubba, and considering a switch to HHammock in the warmer months. Hope this helps.

The tent should add 5-10 degrees of warmth when it's closed up. If you're a warm sleeper you might ok with just what you have. If you're a cold sleeper or just don't want to sleep cold at all consider taking an insulating jacket and insulating pants.

You can't really go off other's experiences such as someone else being warm at -6 in a 20 degree bag. For all you know they could burn calories like a raging wildfire or could've been wearing several layers of insulated clothing.

[NICKTHEGREEK]

Since my gear list critics were so awesome, I thought I'd drop another question. Several people mentioned my choice of 20* bag leaving March 1st next year is way too cold. Well, not only is the bag over $300, its 1lb 11oz. I'm here to ask if you know of either a light, cheaper alternative, or if just throwing in a sea to summit mummy liner would add enough to work, then once the temps warm up just send it home? Or even a light cheaper alternative, with a bag liner.

You can deal with it the mountaineers do, wear all your clothes to supplement the bag.

[buz]

I vote you would be fine, but with a couple of comments. Buy the bag if you are sure it fits you. How do you know this? My only way is to test sleep in the bag, or at minimal be in the bag. Can't see just buying one and be stuck with what shows up. What exactly is their policy?

Test sleeping in the bag at low temp is the best way, because then you can evaluate your pad as well, and your layering systems. If you live in cold climate, no problem. Maybe put off buying the bag until very late this year, when you can test sleep and return it quickly if it doesn't work out.

Or look at other bags, there are many good choices that you could deal with better return policys. REI, if you have a store near you, is great. They carry Marmot bags, which are very quality pieces. Test sleeping with REI product would be no problem. Just pay shipping back if you didn't get what you want. I would advocate practice sleeping at temp as the best choice, if practical. Practice camping for a weekend in the late fall, depending on where you live would be my evaluator.

Also, overall, I think any quality 20 degree bag with good well thought out layering system will get you thru very cold nights when needed.

[SurferNerd]

I vote you would be fine, but with a couple of comments. Buy the bag if you are sure it fits you. How do you know this? My only way is to test sleep in the bag, or at minimal be in the bag. Can't see just buying one and be stuck with what shows up. What exactly is their policy?

Test sleeping in the bag at low temp is the best way, because then you can evaluate your pad as well, and your layering systems. If you live in cold climate, no problem. Maybe put off buying the bag until very late this year, when you can test sleep and return it quickly if it doesn't work out.

Or look at other bags, there are many good choices that you could deal with better return policys. REI, if you have a store near you, is great. They carry Marmot bags, which are very quality pieces. Test sleeping with REI product would be no problem. Just pay shipping back if you didn't get what you want. I would advocate practice sleeping at temp as the best choice, if practical. Practice camping for a weekend in the late fall, depending on where you live would be my evaluator.

Also, overall, I think any quality 20 degree bag with good well thought out layering system will get you through very cold nights when needed.

Thanks for the opinion, Feathered Friends warranty is quite normal, 30 days return money back, minus shipping costs. So if I was to buy it and not like it, I'm out $30 bucks. But I'm pretty sure I'll like it. here's the specs:

Hummingbird (58/52/38)Loft: 5"
Fill weight: 13.4 oz
Average Weight: 1lb 11oz

I'll be tent camping for the winter months for sure, my MSR Hubba keeps me quite warm with its little circulation. I'm from Florida and normally a warmbodied person. This past winter I was out making a snowman in shorts and a tshirt, so cold weather really doesn't affect me.

An REI is about 10 minutes from here, Thank God I was blessed to live local to one. I was thinking of buying using ship to store, and that would let me try it out to keep it or not. They've been amazing, and if I ever worked in retail again, thats where I'd be. I think I'll just go with testing once it gets cold.

[mudhead]

Curious. Why did you opt for FF over Western Mountaineering?

[SurferNerd]

Curious. Why did you opt for FF over Western Mountaineering?

Well, I had never heard of them until 10 seconds ago. I did some hunting on their site. And here's my differences. The closest one in comparison is 1 oz heavier, $35 more expensive, and even though its made in the US, you can't buy directly from them, dealers only, which means buying local, paying taxes, and premium prices from their MSRP. And I can't find a word about a warranty anywhere on their site. But I did like the opinion. Thanks