View Full Version : Sleeping bag opinions
Thenixon
04-10-2012, 13:42
Sorry if this is too frequent a topic for your tastes, the searches weren't really turning up what I want.
Just a bit of background first: I'm probably what you'd call a hot sleeper. I did most of the AT with a silk liner and a microfleece blanket. I used a North Face Kilo 30F bag for the spring (April 18 start) and fall (got it again after Massachusetts). It was sufficient for the most part, but I couldn't stand it zipped up - too tight around the chest, arms couldn't move, etc. I don't know if I'd really like any mummy, but this bag was way too skinny from the waist up. Temperature-wise it was only uncomfortable for bits of the Smokies and Maine when temps got down into the 20's, and that was with a down jacket added into the mix.
I'm now looking at a summertime hike on the PCT, and I'd like a lighter bag that is also warmer. Not asking much, I know. At 2lb6oz the Kilo is a bit heavier than it needs to be for the warmth. I see it as a 40 degree bag, really - especially since I can't zip it up or even consider cinching the hood. Right now I'm thinking about the Marmot Hydrogen (30F) and the Montbell UL super Spiral #3, but these would both be big investments and there aren't outfitters that carry them nearby so I can't even test them out. How roomy is the Hydrogen? Does the Montbell stretch fabric make it more comfortable or more claustrophobic? Would I be better off looking at a semi-rectangular bag or even a quilt, since I can't seem to get the hang of the a mummy? Or was that just due to my North Face bag's narrow cut?
ChinMusic
04-10-2012, 13:48
Does the Montbell stretch fabric make it more comfortable or more claustrophobic?
Yes. Heck yes. I am similar to you in regards to sleeping warm and usually not zipping up the bag. The Montbell bags are def the way to go for folks like us. I find having a bag that zips all the way to the feet gives me the option of treating the bag as a quilt. If it gets real cold and I HAVE to zip it up I do not get that claustrophobic feeling I get in other bags.
Thenixon
04-10-2012, 13:55
Interesting. Person I hiked with carried a montbell 15 degree the whole way. It always looked super comfy...
I should also note that a nearby outfitter *does* carry Western Mountaineering bags, so if anyone has suggestions in that regard I could actually get in one and try it. That's a plus.
chip2012
04-10-2012, 15:45
I went from a lafuma warm n lite (40) which is a great bag but is a little tight to a WM megalite (30) which has a lot more room. The WM was a great investment.
skinewmexico
04-10-2012, 16:17
Sleeping bag manufacturers publish dimensions, so it should be easy to narrow it down to what fits. I bought a WM Megalite because it seemed like most of their other bags were too skinny. Haven't used it for a few years though, since I discovered quilts.
consider a quilt
I think a 30 is probably right for a warm sleeper on the PCT. Maybe a 40 if you're also carrying a few warm clothing things.
Also, poke your head into quilts if you're not a big fan of sleeping bags.
Buffalo Skipper
04-10-2012, 17:14
I just picked up a Hammock Gear 40° Burrow. I ordered it with 1 oz of overstuff (down). I have not weighed it yet as it arrived this morning and is on the kitchen table at home (outta here in 20 minutes), but I expect it to be in the 16-17 oz range. With the overstuff, should be good to about 35°. I bought it for me, but my son will be taking it to Philmont Scout Ranch this summer. He is trying to keep his entire gear load under 20 lbs. This will help.
A well made top quilt is a marvelous thing (I also own an overstuffed 3 Season Burrow good to 15° at 23.4 oz).
ChinMusic
04-10-2012, 17:19
consider a quilt
I think a 30 is probably right for a warm sleeper on the PCT. Maybe a 40 if you're also carrying a few warm clothing things.
I sleep warm and took a 40° bag on part of the JMT in July '10 and about froze my ass off. But, I didn't have any down with me either. I just had a wind shirt and rain jacket. I had two 27° morning get my attention. I had to get up before dawn and get moving. I was just shivering, and I was dry.
I agree with your post. I also agree with looking into quilts for the OP.
chip2012
04-10-2012, 18:44
What kind of quilts would yall recommend? Sites?
Thenixon
04-10-2012, 18:55
What kind of quilts would yall recommend? Sites?
^I second that notion. So far I've stumbled across Hammock Gear (http://www.hammockgear.com/cart/index.php)from Buffalo Skipper's post, Golite (http://www.golite.com/UltraLite-800-Fill-3-Season-Quilt-Long-P46822.aspx), Nunatak (http://www.nunatakusa.com/index.html), and this DIY page (http://thru-hiker.com/projects/down_quilt.php) (instructions leave a bit to be desired). Personal testimonials are welcome!
Odd Man Out
04-10-2012, 19:23
^I second that notion. So far I've stumbled across Hammock Gear (http://www.hammockgear.com/cart/index.php)from Buffalo Skipper's post, Golite (http://www.golite.com/UltraLite-800-Fill-3-Season-Quilt-Long-P46822.aspx), Nunatak (http://www.nunatakusa.com/index.html), and this DIY page (http://thru-hiker.com/projects/down_quilt.php) (instructions leave a bit to be desired). Personal testimonials are welcome!
Jacks R Better gets a lot of attention 'round these parts. I'm still shopping quilts too, so others can chime in on relative merits of various brands.
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/Rectangular%20Quilts.htm
I have a nunatak. Great quilt. Very, Very expensive these days. And you probably need to buy it overstuffed.
Golite's are silly cheap right now
Thermarest makes some too
and Zpacks makes em now too.
For low price I'd get the golite, high price I'd get the zpacks.
Another option: http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/topquilt.php
skinewmexico
04-10-2012, 23:03
Katabiatic makes quilts, and Enlightened.
I have a wm alpine light long. im 6'2" and 240 lb and im comfy in it. i have also worn my down coat in it on some really cold nights so it has a pretty generous cut for a light weight mummy bag. 440 bucks but with every penny
hunter121
04-15-2012, 03:51
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
http://www.primeaffiliate.com/track/images/20.creation.jpg
http://www.canadablackberry.com/imgs/images/2.tod.gif
Odd Man Out
04-15-2012, 10:36
I found this site (The Ten Pound Backpack) the other day. It has tables with data about dozens of backs. You can sort the table by any column you want to narrow your search. I'm not sure how up to date the data is, but it seems to have most of the most discussed brands. Also data pages for tents, packs, etc...
http://www.tenpoundbackpack.com/gear-lists/lightweight-sleeping-bags/
dornstar
04-15-2012, 17:53
I have similar issues as a hot sleeper that doesn't like being confined by a mummy bag, so I went with the Big Agnes Gun Creek 30° semi-rectangular. It's very roomy and light for a non-mummy at 2lbs 13oz plus it has the sleeping pad slot which I love.
I feel some what qualified to answer this thread. 1st reason is that I have a large upper body ( competitive swimmer) a lean 5'8" @ 190. I also NEVER zip up my bag unless i am real cold. That usually doesn't happen, I consider my self a warmish sleeper. I lead trips and have slept in many different bags. kelty, north face, REI, lafuma, mountain hardware, Marmot and others. All bags have advantages and disadvantages, some are lighter, some are warmer, some are cheaper, some just feel nicer on the skin. My main consideration when making my last major invest was a
1. large upper body area.
2. the right temp rating (3 season bag 15-20)
3 weight
4 cost
This is why I ended up with the Marmot helium.
1. Marmot is the widest of the light bags. some other bags with width numbers equal to the marmots are not as wide in real life, in my experience. The Marmot plasma line is slightly lighter but that is achieved in part by slimming down the bag, making it LESS wide, so even if price not a factor "the top of the line , line" was not right FOR ME.
2. It had the correct temp rating (15)
3. Because of my most important criteria (width) I had to make major concessions here. it is slightly over 2 pounds where as many bag in the same price range and Temp rating are slightly lighter but also slimmer.
4. I waited for what I wanted till I could find a price I was happy with.
Here is a picture illustrating the difference in width between a REI 20* down bag and a Marmot 15* down bag. Its from thsi thread about differences in sleeping bags. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?81316-Sleeping-bag-comparison-with-pictures
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=15256&d=1329775299
So what I am trying to say is that I think the Marmot Hydrogen (30F) would be a good choice for you. and on the few cold nights you have it is nice TO BE ABLE to zip up and cinch down in the hood. Last summer in July and AUG I recorded several nights under 20* on the PCT and JMT. remember 4* drop for every 1000' gain in altitude. So if you want to sleep on the top of Mt Whitney that is a night time low 58*lower than the night time low at sea level.
ChinMusic
04-16-2012, 16:07
So what I am trying to say is that I think the Marmot Hydrogen (30F) would be a good choice for you. and on the few cold nights you have it is nice TO BE ABLE to zip up and cinch down in the hood. Last summer in July and AUG I recorded several nights under 20* on the PCT and JMT. remember 4* drop for every 1000' gain in altitude. So if you want to sleep on the top of Mt Whitney that is a night time low 58*lower than the night time low at sea level.
I have a Marmot Hydrogen and it is too confining in the shoulders for me to comfortable sleep with it zipped up. It is NOT a bag for those with some claustrophobic issues.
I rarely use that bag anymore since I have a Montbell #1 and #5. I am thinking of getting the #3 and sell my Hydrogen.
The Montbells are the bomb.