Mountain Harwear Phantom- good bag? Opinion on my sleeping bag "plan"?

[ShelterLeopard]

Hey all- I need a good down bag that is light and highly compressible. I saw the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 degree bag in a store and I really liked it. Opinions?

So, my original plan was to use my synthetic bag (0 degrees) for the cold part of my NoBo thru, which I am starting in February, then switch it out for this lighter 32 degree Phantom bag in late May. But my synthetic bag is really pretty heavy and a bit large when compressed. Should I just get the Phantom 15 degree bag and a liner, and use it for the whole trail?

Also keep in mind, I like to sleep with my bag zipped up, even in the summer, but I can't stand being hot.

(Sorry if this thread is a little bit all over the place, I'm really tired right now.)

[MintakaCat]

Yes, they are excellent sleeping bags. I have both the Phantom 0 and the Phantom 32. I liked them so much that for awhile there I considered the Lyell -15 but my tent in the winter has a wood stove so I dropped the idea.

Those Mountain Hardware bags are super light and very well made.

[bigcranky]

My wife had the original Phantom 32. Great bag. Slim cut, so make sure you try it on. We traded it on a bag with a full-length zipper so she could use it as a quilt in the summer.

If you like being zipped up, and dislike being hot, I'm not sure how much fun you'll have in a Phantom 32 in the summer -- let alone the Phantom 15. I have a similarly-rated bag and I would just melt if I zipped it all the way up in warm weather.

[ShelterLeopard]

Do you think the phantom 32 with a liner would be warm enough for the begining of my thru? If it was too cold, I could always tent instead of kip in a shelter, and I am very open to layering. Would it be okay>

[Phreak]

I own the Phantom 15 and 32... excellent bags.

[ShelterLeopard]

I think the 32 degree would be okay in the cold, if I use a liner and some serious layering. Or is that just completely stupid? Well, whatever. I'll be able to test it out in the snow before I leave for my thru, and if it doesn't work, I'll just bring my 0 degree synthetic bag and switch it out.

[take-a-knee]

I think the 32 degree would be okay in the cold, if I use a liner and some serious layering. Or is that just completely stupid? Well, whatever. I'll be able to test it out in the snow before I leave for my thru, and if it doesn't work, I'll just bring my 0 degree synthetic bag and switch it out.

You will freeze your A$$ off in FEB.

[ShelterLeopard]

...............................

[buz]

Well, since you are apparently starting next feb., you got the perfect time to test your stuff. Get the 32, if you like it, make sure it fits right after you get it, with some serious layers on in the bag. If you are jammed in, I would send it back, get the 15. Then plan on practice sleeping out when it is seriously cold this fall/winter, in both this bag and your 0 degree one. Best way to figure out what works, is ahead of time at known temps. You could easily get into some single digit nights when you start your trek. Sucks to be cold, do some good testing before hand. You will thank yourself the first really cold one after you start, for being prepared.

Good luck.

[ShelterLeopard]

Sounds good- Thanks Buz.

[buz]

And personally, if I were starting in Feb, no way would I get the 32, just buy the 15, and not plan on using the syn. 0, and work on layering plan with the 15. With the warmer bag, you can always quilt it, or vent somehow, trying to get warmer never works. You will need some nice layers anyways, and if the bag has room, I would think it would be warm enough for the cold nights. But your best way to do this is to test it out this winter.

[chicote]

You will freeze your A$$ off in FEB.

Very true. We had sub 10 degree nights in April of 07. I had a montbell bag rated to near twenty with a down jacket and insulated pants on – stayed toasty till I got out of the bag. 32* is way too little of a bag for that time of year.

[partinj]

Hi get the Mountain HarWear Lamina 15 great bag really warm pack really small
here is the info

Temp. rating
15 F / -9 C

Bag Shape
Performance Mummy Cut

Weight
2 lb. 14 oz. / 1.30 kg.

EN Rating: T-Comfort
30 °F / -1 °C

EN Rating: T-Limit
19 °F / -7 °C

Lining
20D Nylon Taffeta

Insulation
Thermic Micro™

Shell Fabric
20D Micro Ripstop Nylon