sleeping bag temperature?

[littledragon]

If you are considering a liner, think about a silk one. it will add about 15 degrees of warmth and is very lightweight. I have made good use of mine in the late fall and early spring.

[seabrookhiker]

I took a 30 degree bag and a liner that claimed to add more than it really did for a mid-March start in 2010 and I froze my tuckus off. But I survived.

Were I to do it again, I would start with a 15 degree bag and switch to something less insulating later on, like Pearisburg. I wouldn't switch to fleece, because most fleece weighs more than a down quilt. IMO any bag that will keep you warm enough at either end of the hike is way too warm to live with in the middle.

[Trailbender]

If you are considering a liner, think about a silk one. it will add about 15 degrees of warmth and is very lightweight. I have made good use of mine in the late fall and early spring.

Better to just have a thermal layer, it serves the same function, and you use it for warmth as well. I'd rather put the 10-12 oz of a sleeping bag liner into some thermasilks and polypros.

[darkage]

Better to just have a thermal layer, it serves the same function, and you use it for warmth as well. I'd rather put the 10-12 oz of a sleeping bag liner into some thermasilks and polypros.

I agree with that one!

[-Ghost-]

For a March 3rd started I used a 0 degree bag until Pearisburg VA and then switched to my 40 degree bag after. Some say the 0 degree was overkill but there were definitely some nights when I was glad that I had it. 40 degree bag was perfect the rest of the way. Got chilly a few nights but not enough to be an issue.

[ScottP]

carry a 30 degree bag/blanket.
add down jacket once it starts getting cold.
No need to buy 2 sleeping bags. They're expensive and the LAST thing you want to try saving money on.

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/arc...inist_dual.htm

You could even buy one blanket for the two of you to use


If you're worried about accuracy of ratings buy sleeping bags that are sold in Europe. The ratings are regulated.

[form]

nothing beats just trying to sleep in a bag even on your porch,most hikers have a slew of stuff they tried

[MommaDuck]

I'm starting NOBO the beginning of March and plan on using my 20* bag the entire hike. I also have a silk liner and other insulated clothing to wear in addition for colder nights. Likewise, during the warmer nights, I plan on using my bag as a quilt or use the liner as my bag. We'll see how that works out. So far so good.

[ScottP]

^^
you'll roast in the summer

[Just Plain Bill]

Whatever works for you, do that. If you find it doesn't work for you any longer, stop doing it. Know that what's working for you the first 2 weeks, isn't likely to be working for you the first two weeks of July. Don't be pigheaded. If you make a mistake, and you will, change up.

This is another good reason not to sink too much money into gear. When sleeping your comfort is most important, whether that's needing to be warm or cool. But the only way to figure this out in the context of a long distance hike is to ... hike a long distance. Unless you've already done a long distance hike, it's not possible to know what's going to work for you. Take what seems like good advice, but know that it's mostly (educated) guesswork.

Don't spend buckets of money because you'll feel worse if you make a mistake and have to change up a little.

And have fun!

[MommaDuck]

Also have a 50* bag that I could use during the warmer months. Just trying to eliminate the need to ship gear.

[ScottP]

have it boxed and ready once you pass Mt. Rogers and into mid-may.

[caffeine]

It's very helpful to me. And Matty's post. Makes me think of having my lighter pack shipped to me mid hike from PA when the weather changes. Thanks, I'm not a novice, but not a sage or wise woman or shaman....yet.

[caffeine]

selling your heckle would make them into shekles. Ba dum bum.

[Tom Murphy]

you can read every post on whiteblaze, it doesnt match what you will learn over a couple of days on the trail.

+1

speaking truth to the power, amen brother

[ScottP]

you can read every post on whiteblaze, it doesnt match what you will learn over a couple of days on the trail.

Depends on who you listen to. Advice from folks such as Baltimore Jack, Nean, Lone Wolf, Fiddlehead, Sly, etc. is worth it's weight in gold. Advice from folks who have done two weekends trips and are thinking about planning a thru-hike is not really useful. Unfortunately only about 0.5% of the advice is good, and there's little to no way to tell who is who if you're not already dialed into the long distance hiking community. My advice? I like to think that it's worth its weight in paper clips.

[Tim51]

i started March 4th and hiked the entire trail with a 20 degree WM bag, 1.5 lbs. When it was hot i just left it wide open and kind of slept on it not in it. When it was cold i slept in long johns, socks, shirt, etc. This worked fine for me... you dont need to carry a bag liner.

[nehiker]

i started March 4th and hiked the entire trail with a 20 degree WM bag, 1.5 lbs. When it was hot i just left it wide open and kind of slept on it not in it. When it was cold i slept in long johns, socks, shirt, etc. This worked fine for me... you dont need to carry a bag liner.

In such a case, a 30 or perhaps even 40-degree bag might do for an April 15 start? and without a liner?