sleeping bag temperature?

[88BlueGT]

^ +1 thats definitely something to keep in mind. Many bags are overrated. The Marmot Helium however, as I have heard from many people, is about 5-7* UNDERrated. I have taken mine down to about 25* with complete comfort.

[erinjoy777]

^^ Like posted above, there are options, you can use a use a 30* bag w/ a liner. You could always layer up if its THAT cold out. Also, w/ a 30* bag you may be OK in the summer sleeping on top of it with a light liner to wrap yourself in, or sleeping inside of it with the bag unzipped.

As well, don't forget you can buy used gear! It's always a cheaper route. Plus, theres tons of gear junkies here who are willing to let go of our 'old', perfectly good gear for great prices.

[/QUOTE]I only have one real bag
It's a 40 degree down bag. When it's cold I add a fleece zipper bag that cost 10 bucks at wal-mart. It weighs less than a pound and I use it for a head rest in warm weather. The combination of the 2 works well for me on a cold night.[/QUOTE]


I really like both of these suggestions. I have a couple of quilts but I don't think they would be warm enough. I have absolutely no gear at this time, so I'm trying to make the best choices possible. I know that we need to go on a hike this summer to try out gear, but I'm afraid that I'll buy gear, take it on the "test" hike, won't like it, and won't be able to take it back! So I kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place. :-/

[Tagless]

My wife and I began our AT thru on March 3 (2009) and competed our hike on September 23.

We did well with 15 degree Montbell bags beginning and ending. During the summer we used 40 degree Montbell bags and were happy with those.

[4shot]

I know that we need to go on a hike this summer to try out gear, but I'm afraid that I'll buy gear, take it on the "test" hike, won't like it, and won't be able to take it back! So I kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place. :-/[/QUOTE]

find and visit a good outfitter or REI. Make sure that they have someone on staff who has done some significant number of AT miles (assuming that is your goal). If they don't, leave and go to another (some of the so-called "outfitters" have very inexperienced sales people). talk to them about your concerns, they should fit you and give you the best chance at getting gear that you really like.Rei has a 100% satisfaction guarantee meaning that you can return stuff if you are not happy with it for any reason. Maybe your local outfitter will as well. make sure you ask.Note that the best gear can be found used here, on ebay, etc. but it will not be deeply discounted if it's in good shape. If you buy used and don't like it you're stuck with it or forced to resell.

Also, the search feature is on this site is a wonderful resource so if you are spending sleepless nights agonizing over the MSR vs. Sierra Designs tent, chances are you can find what others have said on this very topic.

One other comment, summer is a fine time to test out most of your gear except for a sleeping bag (and of course the winter clothing), you may want to consider cold weather hikes this winter as well.good luck!

[jeffmeh]

I only have one real bag
It's a 40 degree down bag. When it's cold I add a fleece zipper bag that cost 10 bucks at wal-mart. It weighs less than a pound and I use it for a head rest in warm weather. The combination of the 2 works well for me on a cold night.[/QUOTE]


I really like both of these suggestions. I have a couple of quilts but I don't think they would be warm enough. I have absolutely no gear at this time, so I'm trying to make the best choices possible. I know that we need to go on a hike this summer to try out gear, but I'm afraid that I'll buy gear, take it on the "test" hike, won't like it, and won't be able to take it back! So I kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place. :-/[/QUOTE]

By top-quilt, I mean a down or synthetic top-quilt made for backpacking. Think of a sleeping bag with no back. The "ground" side of a regular sleeping bag is useless for insulation, as your body compresses it. One example of a top quilt is http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/topquilt.php, but there are plenty of others.

[erinjoy777]

Oh! Haha see, I told you I was a novice! Thanks for the link.

[buz]

One bag will not be optimal, but certainly can work, especially since you are doing it X2 people. My .02 is that you can always cool off with a bag, but if it is too cold for your bag, you are going to be cold and uncomfortable. Cold at night sucks.

If I were doing it, and only wanted one bag, I would go for a 20 degree 800 fp bag, full zip, from one of the top makers. This can be opened up quilt style for warm temps, and isn't too heavy to carry all trip.

More important, if you want one bag, is fit for each one of you. Get to a good outfitter and get in some bags, note the exact dimensions, or models, then find the exact dimensions for that particular bag. That will make internet shopping much easier, if you don't buy that particular bag. If you buy a high end bag, you want it to fit just right.

The other choice I would think for two bags, is lower end 650 fp down bag for beginning and end, and some low cost synthetic warm weather bag for the middle. Depends if you want to swap out, cost, etc.

Good luck.

[88BlueGT]

I know how you feel about not wanting to buy gear and than have to replace it. The very first trip I went on I went out and spent HUNDREEEEEEDS of dollars. By the time I got back, and one week to dwell, I swapped out almost everything I purchased except for the ruck (that lasted another 4-5 uses, still not a bad pack though). So yea, certainly do your homework so you don't end up doing THAT ^^.

There are some pretty fail proof choices when it comes to packs, bags & tents. Even though everyone is different and has different preferences, if you choose something that 90% of the people like, and noone has problems or complains about, chances are, you will like it too. And if you don't, than its most likely more of a preference issue than a durability or function issue.

[mateozzz]

A 20 degree bag will probably be a 40 degree bag after you have slept in it for 3 months...unless you wash it while in town.

[fredmugs]

Sorry mweinstone! Things get lost in translation sometimes.

If you can translate him you're one step ahead of the rest of us.

[Old Hiker]

...........safe only has to deliver you with a beating heart to the sunrise.......................follow any rules at all but the beating heart deliverd to the sunrise rule.

But the Aztecs followed the "beating heart to the sunrise" rule as well, but it didn't work out so well for SOME of them.




Keep an eye out on SteepandCheap.com - got a 0* bag that was less than 3 pounds for about $80 and seems to be well made and warm. I was worried about it, but it got me down to about 30* here in FL and I was very comfortable in shorts. I've seen 20* bags for less than $60 as well, but you have to catch them at the right time.

I have a Wally-World fleece blanket I use with a military poncho liner down to about 45-50* +/-, wearing a pair of shorts and a DRY t-shirt.

SteepandCheap.com is a good place for cheap Alps tents, both solo and duo.

[Logtown]

Go with 15 or 20 degree rating starting mid March in GA.

[tolkien]

Water takes the temperature of the air around it, so try to keep them dry. A 3-season bag, kept dry with a good tent and pad, would be fine at 30F. A 4-season, with appropriately heavier tent and pad, would be OK at 0F, assuming youre not in Alaska or somewhere like that. A 25$ Dick Sporting Goods synthetic bag, depending on your starting time/spot, would be fine.
Also, when somebody starts to mock you, you'll know it.

[LIhikers]

[/QUOTE].........I'm afraid that I'll buy gear, take it on the "test" hike, won't like it, and won't be able to take it back! So I kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place. :-/[/QUOTE]

Find an outfitter that rents gear and start going out on overnighters in all kinds of weather. That's one way to find out what you like, and what you don't.

[ciphoto]

Lots of good suggestions here. I'm just getting back into camping, and doing some hiking... upgrading and getting modern stuff

My past experience though was that is easier to cool off with a bag that is warm, than to warm up when your cold.... I've always been a warm sleeping and do not like putting on extra clothes etc... to sleep. A liner can add 5 to 10 degrees of comfort to a bag. Old rule of thumb use to be have a bag rated at least 10* colder than you expect the temps to be to stay comfortable...

Also I think I read some where recently (been doing a lot of reading) that major manufacturers have or are going to a standardized rating system.

[bfayer]

The two things that will make the biggest difference in your hike are your sleeping bag/pad and your footwear.

Getting a good nights sleep can make or break you. There is nothing worse than shivering in your tent for hours waiting for the sun to come up, so you can start hiking just to stay warm. It kills your spirit the next day.

You can get a good warm bag for not much money, or you can get a good light warm bag for a lot more. This is one area that going cheap can really hurt. Also your sleeping pad choice is just as important. Even a great bag will not keep you warm if you pad is not up to the task for the temp. An uninsulated air pad or 1/4 inch CCF is asking to be cold.

I always carry a bag that is rated about 10 degrees lower than the weather I expect. Sometimes I am cold, sometimes It's overkill, but I am rarely miserable. Even in Florida in the winter I carried a 15 degree bag. But everyone is different. Only you will know what works for you.

I was talking to a hiker not too long ago that was bragging about his pack weight (ultralight) and how he only paid like $50 for his sleeping bag. Then he told me that he had to hike a couple of long days to get to a hotel to spend the night because it was so cold out

Hiking is work. It can be fun too, but not if you cut corners with a sleeping bag in cold weather.

[tolkien]

Some basics that may or may not have been said:
The Down VS Synthetic argument is all over this site. (go synthetic)
A 3-season bag would be fine at ~30.
A winter bag should be at least 10, and probably lower.
The bag doesn't make warmth, it keeps it in. You still need to generate the heat.
A good pad is just as important.
Get a mummy bag if you sleep on your back/stomach. If you sleep on your sides, try to find a rectangle bag.

[Skid.]

You can always mail stuff home, so I would suggest starting with a warm bag, then switching out for a lighter one. However, resist the urge to get rid of your warm bag too early, the mountains can be cold in May. Also, don't go to a 'space blanket' type, which will simply hold too much moisture, and make you wet, and frozen.

[Lando11]

I've been using a 35 degree ems synthetic bag and a sea to summit liner on all of my current thru hike, and the combo has been great. WHatever bag you decide on, buy a liner as well. They help keep your bag cleaner and gives you a more versitile setup

[booney_1]

1. Choice of pad is very important for sleeping warm...spend some serious time checking them out.

2. Tips on long term camping with respect to sleeping...
a.) Use a liner-keeps bag drier and cleaner (sorry bag will still stink)
b.) In the morning-when you get out open and spread out your bag to dry. If it's sunny hang it up. (you brought a clothes line right??)
c.) Air out your bag at night when you get to camp.

You'd be surprised at how much moisture a bag can absorb at night. Not only will a bag be heavier, but also cooler.

3.) sleeping tips- Change your clothes before bed. Don't wear your base layer to bed. It' will have absorbed a lot of moisture during the day. When starting your thru, you are really winter camping. So you need fleece top/bottom.
On cold nights you can wear these in your sleeping bag (as long as you did not hike in them.) I grew up in upstate NY and often camped with the boy scouts in sub-zero weather. I had some sears insulated underwear (think quilted-top and bottom) that really extended the range of my sleeping bag. At the very least, I'd bring a fleece hoodie. (of course you have a knit cap to also sleep in)

4.) There will be a point somewhere North of Damascus where you want to switch bags out. Check out Campmor, or even Dick Sports. They make some pretty cheap. light synthetic bags.

My best advice for a thru hike next year is for you to do some late fall trips (or even sleep in your backyard) when it's cold. You'll find your own personal comfort level. I know REI rents bags. Even among experienced people there is a wide range of opinion regarding sleeping comfortably, and what temp bag is required. I think everybody would agree that it's not the place to cut ounces in the begining. Nothing will fatigue and demoralize you more than being cold at night.

One more tip!!!....It helps alot to bring a grocery bag or big zip lock to put your hiking shoes/boots in. Either put them in the bottom of the bag, or outside the bag, but tucked underneath one side. My personal pet peeve about cold weather camping is putting your warm feet into solid frozen hiking boots!! It's hard enough to leave the warm bag in the morning.....