Did I get a good deal?

[OBXWaMi]

Today I purchased a REI sleeping bag from a neighbor. It is down and she said she thought it was a 0 degree bag. It is just over 7 ft long and weighs 4lb 10oz. (I weighed and measured it myself) It doesn't have a hood like a mummy bag, but it's mummy shaped. It has drawstrings and snaps at the top --someone explain those to me please--and it zips all the way on one side and has a short zipper on the other. Very clean, no rips or holes. I paid her $40.

--Michelle

[Kerosene]

Sounds like a very old down bag in a size Long. My guess is that it is a mixture of down and feathers, and while it might work down to 0 degrees you will be heating a lot of excess space in the bag and will need to figure out how to keep heat from exiting at the top. If you don't let your breath escape you will eventually wet-out and de-loft the bag.
The drawstrings are likely used to keep the bag rolled up, as this monster would take a huge stuffsack. Alternatively, perhaps the snaps and drawstrings are used together to create some sort of hood?
I'd probably reserve this bag for car camping. If you're comfortable with what you got for $40 then it's the right price!

[mountain squid]

Well, the price is nice . . . but for a long distance hike . . . I don't think it a very good deal.

almost 5 pounds - very heavy
7 ft long - are you that tall? seems like a lot of extra space that'll need heating
unsure of temp rating - only one way to find out I reckon (do that in back yard, in case you find out it isn't a 0F)
no hood - I can't really even picture a cold weather bag without a hood?!?
drawstrings and snaps?!? - I reckon that is to help keep the cold out, but snaps make me think cold air will get in
2 zippers - certainly a convenience, but helps to add to the weight and not really necessary

Here is a Western Mountaineering comparable (which will likely cost 10x as much . . . however . . . ).

It is probably great for car camping or occasional overnighters . . .

See you on the trail,
mt squid

how to hike

[Hosaphone]

I wouldn't take it backpacking with me, but I don't think I could pass it up for $40! Always good to have extra gear around.

[ChinMusic]

Sounds like a great car/base camping bag for the price. WAY too heavy IMO for backpacking. I bet that thing packs fairly large too.

[DapperD]

Today I purchased a REI sleeping bag from a neighbor. It is down and she said she thought it was a 0 degree bag. It is just over 7 ft long and weighs 4lb 10oz. (I weighed and measured it myself) It doesn't have a hood like a mummy bag, but it's mummy shaped. It has drawstrings and snaps at the top --someone explain those to me please--and it zips all the way on one side and has a short zipper on the other. Very clean, no rips or holes. I paid her $40.

--Michelle

Don't sound bad for $40. It would best be used for car camping as other's have said though, not if you were to long distance hike.