Best summer-weight down bag?

[rafe]

I'm looking for first hand recommendations for a quality down bag for summertime conditions in the mid-AT states. I've been using an ancient Slumberjack down bag that has served me well. It weighs 32 oz. It lost some of its fill early in life (in a washing machine incident) and has lost some of its loft over the years. It will have a shortie Thermarest (Prolite 3) underneath.

Frankly, the only reason for replacing it would be to reduce weight.

I figured a 45 degree rating would be sufficient. But I slept last night in a brand-new Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45, in my basement, where the temperature was exactly 60 degrees -- and I was a bit disappointed. I haven't given up on it yet, but I'd love to hear what others are using and recommending for this very specific set of conditions.

[Jim Adams]

I have used a North Face Kilo (32*) for a few years now. I just use it unzipped as a blanket in the summer. It has worked very well.
Last year at trail days, I bought a Chinnook 50* and although I haven't pushed it temp wise, I love the bag. It is light, compacts very small and purchased new for $19.95.

[Seeker]

i've got a Western Mountaineering Caribou, and am very pleased with it. it's rated to 35* and weighs about 20/21 oz, depending on which stuff sack i use (stock vs silnylon). stuffs down to 6 x 12, but i never cram it that hard (made a slightly larger but lighter stuff sack from silnylon, about 8 x 12). i've had it down to 28* in a hammock with just a set of lightweight (duofold) longjohns and a fleece hat on, and was fine. would like to have been warmer, but considering i was 7* beyond its rated ability, i can't complain. most of the time i just leave it unzipped over me as a quilt. it's box-stitched, not baffled, and the hood is sort of shallow, but you don't need either in the summer. i've also tested its water-shedding ability. the stitching is obviously not waterproof, but i made a little pool in one of the box-stitched squares, poured in a half cup of water, and it sat for 3 hours without soaking through.

the highlite and summerlite are similar bags, but a bit lighter due to lighter shell material. WM bag specs can be found here:

http://www.westernmountaineering.com...2&ContentId=27

Marmot and Feathered Friends might have something similar, but i don't have any first hand experience with their bags.

You might also look at a Jacks-R-Better or Nunatak quilt.

[hopefulhiker]

I used the Nunatak blanket and a silk liner.. very comfortable.. sometimes on real hot nights I just used the silk liner.. I knew a couple of people who dropped the sleeping bag all toghether during the hottest parts of the summer..

[Footslogger]

Pretty hard to beat this one ..plus it's on sale !!

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

'Slogger

[floyd242]

I got an REI travel down at a scratch and dent sale for like $20, it works fine in summer... I usually just put my feet in the footbox and lay it over me like a blanket. It's on sale now for like $50 at REI...

[floyd242]

heh

There's also a coupon for $25 off $100 WMFRAN6 expires tomorrow!

[rafe]

Pretty hard to beat this one ..plus it's on sale !!

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

'Slogger

Yeah, it looks like a very good deal. Offhand, not much different from the bag I slept in last night. But I'm looking for first hand experience.

[floyd242]

Yeah, it looks like a very good deal. Offhand, not much different from the bag I slept in last night. But I'm looking for first hand experience.

I own it but I'm not sure what you're looking for in a summer bag... it works fine for me. You can buy try and return stuff to REI, it's cool like that.

[Almost There]

Kelty 45 Down. About 1.5lbs and I got it for around $40 on Steep and Cheap. Slept in 50s degree rainy weather in Va this past summer and was perfectly fine, I also use a Coolmax bag liner. I'm a big guy but it kept me warm enough, I slept in shorts and tshirt.

[rafe]

Have you used/owned this bag? You didn't say. Yes, REI is a fine outfit. Of late, I've been returning a lot of gear to them .

Spec-wise, and from the looks of it, the REI bag seems nearly identical to the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45. I tried to sleep in mine, last night, in my skivvies, in a 60 degree basement -- and it didn't really cut it.

[Ewker]

Kelty 45 Down. About 1.5lbs and I got it for around $40 on Steep and Cheap. Slept in 50s degree rainy weather in Va this past summer and was perfectly fine, I also use a Coolmax bag liner. I'm a big guy but it kept me warm enough, I slept in shorts and tshirt.

I'll 2nd the Kelty bag..it is a good one

[Footslogger]

Spec-wise, and from the looks of it, the REI bag seems nearly identical to the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45. I tried to sleep in mine, last night, in my skivvies, in a 60 degree basement -- and it didn't really cut it.

==================================

Sounds like you might be a "cold" sleeper. Pretty hard to base your comfort on someone else's experience. I use the synthetic version of the REI Down Bag I referenced above and it works fine for me in the summer. The REI Down Bag is warmer so for me it would be like a toaster in summer.

'Slogger

[rafe]

[quote=Footslogger;285559Sounds like you might be a "cold" sleeper. Pretty hard to base your comfort on someone else's experience. I use the synthetic version of the REI Down Bag I referenced above and it works fine for me in the summer. The REI Down Bag is warmer so for me it would be like a toaster in summer.[/quote]

I might be a cold sleeper.. but that ancient Slumberjack has been enough, up to now. The new bag was plenty warm after I put on a pair of cotton flannels and tee shirt and socks. OTOH, I was using it at 60 degrees, and it's rated for 45. So I'm not sure what to think.

I'm just looking for ideas... I'm always nervous and anal when changing a major component of my camp gear.

[Footslogger]

I'm just looking for ideas... I'm always nervous and anal when changing a major component of my camp gear.

==============================

I hear that ...and totally agree. My luck is that once I find something, like it and buy it and then when it needs to be replaced they've discontinued it.

'Slogger

[rafe]

My luck is that once I find something, like it and buy it and then when it needs to be replaced they've discontinued it.

I hear ya. I'd kill for a pair of Fabiano Trionics in my size.

[mountain squid]

Check out the WM Pod 30 (http://www.westernmountaineering.com...2&ContentId=31). Great bag, less than a pound. I use this with a silk liner.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[hobbit]

yo guys use summer bags?
in maine and the white mountains i'd rather carry the less than an extra pound of my 20 degree (slumberjack baffin) and know that i'll be warm rather than (like I did last summer) take the chance and bring a 40 degree and suffer the consequences of random cold nights in the white mountains... ymmv though it just doesn't seem worth the extra 50 bucks to buy a new bag to save like 9 ounces... there are other things you could do to cut out your weight in the summer, for example switch to alchohal... etc

[chemist]

My summer (and fall and spring) bag is the Marmot Hydrogen. It's about 21 ounces in the stock stuff sack. I'd consider myself a cold sleeper also - so I like having more bag than others might since I get cold pretty easily.

I really like the construction of the Marmot bags and the Pertex fabric doesn't feel as sticky as some other fabrics in the hotter weather. YMMV, of course....

[Almost There]

yo guys use summer bags?
in maine and the white mountains i'd rather carry the less than an extra pound of my 20 degree (slumberjack baffin) and know that i'll be warm rather than (like I did last summer) take the chance and bring a 40 degree and suffer the consequences of random cold nights in the white mountains... ymmv though it just doesn't seem worth the extra 50 bucks to buy a new bag to save like 9 ounces... there are other things you could do to cut out your weight in the summer, for example switch to alchohal... etc

Hobbit, if I was hiking in Maine I would take my warmer bag with me, but as a section hiker I can plan accordingly, and so I take the summer bag.