View Full Version : sleeping bag rating??
I've got an old North Face sleeping bag that is in excellent shape, but I have no idea what it's temperature rating is. :confused: I'm hoping one of you might recognize the model and have an answer. The label says its a "fullite reg, 78" x 30", with a net weight goose down filling = 2 lbs 3 oz. Are any of you familiar with this bag? (Yes, I could try it out, but its still pretty warm here in Texas.)
2.3 lbs. of goose down should be good for somewhere in the range of 10 or 20F, if it's been well maintained. It's most likely not a very high grade of down. But that's wicked heavy for a thru-hiking bag.
One way to tell is to roll it out and eyeball the thickness of the bag when it's fully lofted. A 10-20 degree bag will have maybe 5 inches total loft (counting the bottom and top layers.)
A bag filled with 2 lbs. of 800-grade (fancy) down -- if such a thing exists -- would probably loft to 8 inches or more and be good to -20F. (And cost a small fortune.)
Wow! That's really helpful info, Rafe. Thanks!
I hope someone else chimes in. The North Face bag you describe sounds similar to my very first down bag, which I bought for $65 back in 1972. It's still quite usable. I wouldn't consider it for a long distance hike (way too heavy) but I have used it on overnights in the winter in the White Mountains.