Half Bag: Sleeping Bag + Parka

[ChinMusic]

I just stumbled upon this item while looking for a new winter (0-10) bag.

I had never thought of using a "half bag" while wearing a robust parka for your upper half.

One could wear the parka around camp and then slip into the half bag for night.

I would think a similar, less robust, system would work for spring/summer as well.

Any thought?

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/other_bags/akula.htm

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/images/other_bags/product_pics/akula.jpg

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/images/other_bags/logos/akula.jpg
Back to Nunatak Sleeping Bags (http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/main_pages/product_sleep_systems.htm)


A compact waist high sleeping bag to be used with our Torre (http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/garments/torre.htm) mountain parka as a complete system for winter or high altitude bivouacs.
For more than half a century the climbers of the European Alps have embraced this concept for one or two night forays into the hills. Nunatak has given new life to idea of the Elephants Foot as the Euros call it, with the Akula.
High tech fabrics paired with fine down fill and Nunatak's supreme craftsmanship makes the Akula far superior to the crude chopped off sleeping bags of the old mountaineers.
This seemingly odd sleep system combining a short bag with a full strength down parka is so warm and versatile that it has become the Nunatak staff's preferred winter camping setup for use here in the North Cascades. It matches a 0 to 10 degree mummy bag in warmth, but wearing the parka full time makes all camp chores a less numbing experience.
We leave our arms in the sleeves and simply stick the hands inside the Akula or in the parka pockets.
For sitting or cramped bivvy no other system works better, save for the Raku (http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/other_bags/raku.htm), another Nunatak exclusive

[Marta]

For non-mountaineering use (meaning it's not cold enough to wear a down parka until one is done hiking for the day), I like the Raku mentioned above. It's expensive, but you don't need a down jacket.

[Tenderheart]

I thru hiked with a Cascade Designs Synergy 3/4 bag. It is Polarguard 3D and if I remember correctly, it weighs 15 ounces. My jacket was a Patagonia Fireball. My departure date was April 17, so I missed a lot of extreme weather. I have never seen another system like mine and it is no longer made. Too extreme, I guess. I can't ever remember being cold more than once or twice. A balaclava served as my hood and I wore socks on my hands. It was pretty cold on the northern end that year. What I really liked was the fact that it can be reversed every other night. No smelly bag.

litefoot 2000

[Grinder]

a guy named turk posted about a similar setup from "feathered friends" last winter. I think the posts were on Hammock forums.

He went out in the dead of winter in northern canada, pulling a sledge. nights about a "jillion below". He published a video that made me cold to just watch

Grinder
(florida boy)

[take-a-knee]

That setup is for summer alpine climbing on a summit attempt, IE, no rain, no blizzard and you'll still likely freeze your a$$ off, but, if you've been training with the likes of Mark Twight (300 cast trainer), you can summit and rest later, actually he just climbs all night and doesn't sleep.

It might work for a hammocker inside a Peapod. A quilt is a smarter UL option, IMO. Ray Jardine style over all clothing.

[Feral Bill]

Could be good inside a wideish mummy in really cold weather.

[shelterbuilder]

I first heard about this type of system 30+ years ago. I have been called an "equipment freak" by some of my friends, but I never felt inclined to spend the money to try out this system, although, given the right conditions, I'm sure that it would work.

[Tinker]

http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Specialty.html

May be a better deal.