Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 1, 2011 at 8:01 PM
This year we plan to get out in the backcountry so after inventory, it turns out I need a new sleeping bag. I've been reading reviews for a couple of months now and am basically back at square one! I know many of you get way out there, so I thought I'd ask all of you, what do you use? Down/Synthetic?
I'm looking for lightweight, warm, and durable. Is down worth the extra cost? Does it really pack down smaller? If down is the way to go, spring for the extra loft? Help! I feel like those search engine commercials where I'm full of random info about sleeping bags, but no closer to actually knowing what to buy
Thanks,
Anne
Anne, I am certainly not a gear expert and have far less experience than some of the folks on this forum, but I think one of the biggest questions you have to answer is what seasons you plan on camping out in. If your like most people and don't plan to get out in the winter, then a 3 season bag rated at 25 degrees and warmer should be plenty sufficient. The bags that are zero degree rated or even colder are much heavier and pack bigger. I own two down bags and am happy with both, and think they do pack smaller.
Once you have narrowed down your target temp and answered the down question, there are a ton of good brands. You can just look up some reviews at backpacker or one of those magazines online and pull the trigger on whatever you find a good deal with.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 1, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Thanks, Koveh! I am only planning on 3 season overnighting. Full blown winter camping is not my idea of a good time (yet). I was wondering about the degree rating since I'm a cold sleeper and at elevation even in July we can have snow, so you think 25 would be fine?
I appreciate your help!
Koveh is right about really analyzing your backountry style. Are you going to be mostly using it for car camping or more backpacking? Also, us ladies do get cold easily, I do love winter camping but I will be the first to tell you I'm a wimp. So I did love my 0-degree down bag even if it was a little heavier. But I'm upgrading this year and getting a 10 degree down bag with a silk liner. The liners add that extra few degrees and the silk is really light, keeps the moisture away and very durable as opposed to the fleece which I also have.
Keep in mind that even during summer at higher elevations you could get some near freezing temps and snow so for me light and warm is key. I've suffered way too many nights to skimp on that.
For me, Down is by far the better choice. It's less weight, actually compresses, and in general seems warmer. The downside? More expensive, and if it gets wet, generally takes longer to dry out. My down bag has been wet before, nothing the hot sun didn't dry out that afternoon.
If you backpack, then down is the way to go. There's not many items that go into a pack that can make an impact on overall weight in your pack. A sleeping bag, a tent, the backpack itself, and food is where you're going to save weight. Most synthetic bags outweigh their temp comparable Down bags by up to 2 pounds! That's a lot. That's like caring another Nikon D700 camera!
Also, when I backpack, I try not to skimp on luxury items. A bulky sythetic can eat up close to 35-40% of your space, minimizing space for such items. A bulky synthetic bag may mean the difference between packing your tent inside your (way better) pack or strapping it to the outside of your pack.
If you get a nice Down bag, I guarantee you won't miss the money. I would recommend the REI bags, especially warmer bag than you may think you need. If you can afford the difference between a 15 degree to a 0 degree then spring for the warmer bag. I can't stand waking up cold in the night. It’s a miracle that some of us can even sleep out in the wilderness; I don't need to wake up uncomfortable and risk not being able to get back asleep. Once I'm asleep I stay asleep.
I sleep COLD, so I don't play, I own the -20 REI Kilo Expedition. It's incredibly lofty and often wonder why I carry a mattress. My son prefers sleeping in this puffy thing to sleeping in his bed. I use it all year and never wake up cold. If I get too warm I just unzip. One bag for all seasons.
I wouldn't think twice about getting this bag for my wife.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 1, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Thanks, Kane and Aleks! I have had experiences in the past where I am freezing overnight and spend the trip cranky and that was car camping! This year we are going backpacking for one or two nights at a time and for the sake of my marriage I hope to get a decent night sleep
I was looking at liners also since they are lightweight and can add that extra layer of warmth (according to reviews). Glad to hear they actually can help. Great advice on silk vs fleece!
How weird, Kane, that is the EXACT bag I've been looking at for 2 months! I've heard the loft is worth it. I really appreciate your helpful feedback!
Now all I need to do is get my REI dividend!
You have no idea how much you have helped with this decision!
I don't have a ton of body weight so I get cold pretty easy too, but the 20 or 25 should be plenty for 3 season. You can always just layer up a bit underneath it, but it is harder to take the heat off if it is a warm night. The REI bag Kane recommends is a good choice as well.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on February 2, 2011 at 12:27 AM
When I started outfitting for backpacking, weight and comfort were critical factors. I use a Marmot 0-degree Never Summer bag and it has been GREAT! It's not too warm on warmer nights (nothing is very warm above 11,000ft at night), and has always kept me warm on the cold nights. It compresses a lot and saves space and weight. I don't like sleeping in a bunch of layers and the 25 degree bags only promise to keep you 'comfortable' at 20-25 degrees, not warm, in my experience. I'd add 10-20 degrees to estimate the actual comfortable range of a bag if you're not dressed up or in a liner.
Posted by Bill Speaks on February 2, 2011 at 8:30 AM
Anne,
Check out GoLite.com. Their bags are pricey but they are very light and extremely well made.If you can wait, they usually have a Boulder warehouse sale in February or March with some great pricing.
Bill
Posted by Roger Rouch on February 2, 2011 at 9:53 AM
We all probably have different thermoregulation systems and comfort zones for temps, but by my experience I go 5 or 10 degrees colder than what the sale people have recommended. I have a very light bag for mid summer that is a 25 degree bag and a 15 degree bag for most of the rest of the year. The 15 degree can actually be a little chilly in the Utah spring or during a Colorado fall cold spell. They are both REI, which seems to make some decent bags.
Posted by Don Grall on February 2, 2011 at 12:24 PM
If you can keep it from getting wet, choose down. I would only use synthetic if dampness were an issue. In terms of warmth, decide the coldest temp you would be compfortable about camping in then get a bag that will go at least 10 degrees colder. You can always unzip to cool off, but its way harder to add warmth when needed.
Since I have a very low fat index, I get cold easily and I get hot easily (near zero insulation on my frame) so I use a bag good to 20 degrees for most of the year and a -25 degree bag for winter temps.
As already mentioned, each person is a little bit different. I'm going to cut and paste an entry that I typed up earlier that's part of a longer article on car camping and photographing. It's not specific to you, but might help. It's probably too long, but here it is:
--*--
You want a sleeping bag that’s warm enough for almost all of the conditions you’ll run into. After your vehicle, this is the second single most important piece of gear that you have. More important than which camera you’re bringing. A bag that’s too cold will mean that you won’t sleep well and won’t recover completely from one day to the next, which means that by your third week or so, you’ll start to think about warmer locations or start to think about going home and slagging off the trip. Where does that leave you? Unless you already know that you’re a warm sleeper, you probably want a 20-degree sleeping bag (measured in Farenheit, that is). And... you want it to be an honest 20-degree rating, which generally means a bag from Sierra Designs, Marmot, North Face, or Mountain Hardwear among the major brands. REI’s house brand is also quite good, but their entry-level or mid-range models are generally optimistic in their temperature ratings by about 5 degrees. Kelty is generally overrated by 10 or even 15 degrees in my experience. Other brands are also fine, but those are the one’s you’re most commonly going to run into. Be highly suspicious if a bag is significantly lighter or cheaper than the other ones you’re looking at.
You probably want a mummy bag, which can take a few nights to get used to. If the bag is a touch warm, don’t use the hood. If it’s pretty warm, use the zipper to vent your feet. If it’s really warm, unzip it all the way and use it draped over you as a comforter. If it’s cold, wear a fleece hat and additional clothing inside the bag -- I’ll wear a fleece jacket and arrange my down jacket around my feet. If it’s really cold, leave and go somewhere warmer or find a friend or hostel. If you’re convinced that you’re not going to be backpacking, there’s no need for the extra expense of down. If you might backpack or plan on backpacking, down is wonderful stuff. If you’re traveling for more than a few weeks, do not try to squish the sleeping bag back into its little stuff sack: a quality sleeping bag should have come with a “storage” bag. Use that, even if you then have to squash down the storage bag later into the car. Again, do not cheap out on a marginal sleeping bag. Spend less on a tent, buy a used rain jacket from a thrift store; whatever. Your sleeping bag is the biggest single factor in your quality of sleep and therefore how good you feel the next morning.
You probably want two ground pads. This is not only for cushioning, but also for insulation so that you don’t lose heat downwards into the ground. I’d recommend at least one of the pads be closed-cell foam, like the ridge rest. They always work and never puncture. If you want to use an inflatable pad, use it above the foam pad. Personally, I usually use a ridge-rest and then a second thicker foam pad. Again, a big factor in a good night’s sleep. Some people swear by cots and Campmor has a couple that aren’t insultingly large. My dad preferred one for his back when he was camping with me on shorter trips. Even with a cot, though, use at least one pad for insulation.
--*--
Whew! Hope that wasn't too much. Note that many women sleep cold, usually by at least 5 to 10 degrees. When I'm with my fiancee, I use a 30 degree bag and she uses a 15 degree bag. Even then, she's usually "colder" than I am.
Two last things: Beyond Bill's recommendations, look for Sierra Trading Post (up in Cheyenne, but they mail order, and delivery is very fast down I-25) at [sierratradingpost.com], or Wilderness Exchange Unlimited in Denver [www.wildernessexchangeunlimited.com]. Both companies sell last year's gear at nice closeout prices.
Good luck!
Posted by Roger Rouch on February 2, 2011 at 6:49 PM
You know, if you are liking the REI bags, usually around the time when they issue their annual dividend they offer 20% off of any first item purchase and also have some great deals on bags. It doesn't have to be REI brand to get the 20% sale price. I think they send the dividend credits out around the end of Feb. or early March along with a sales brosure.
I often have a big ticket item on my wish list that I reserve for their 20% off and dividend sales.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 2, 2011 at 7:13 PM
Kalin, I had checked out the Marmot bags as well, but they didn't have the same loft (600 vs. 750 fill). I was wondering if the 10 degree difference would offset the loft factor, but I just don't know.
Bill, my friend checked them out and I plan to go with her next time she goes. Thanks!
Roger, I am hoping to use the 20% for this and am anxiously awaiting the dividend! I appreciate your help!
Mark, that is a great article! I have an inflatable pad for now and may be looking at switching to a foam pad in the future. I will check out the Sierra Post!
Thanks everyone for the great info! I feel much more confident in quest for a sleeping bag. I hope to see you out there after a great nights sleep!!!
Posted by Sarah Marino on February 2, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Hi Anne –
I would agree with everyone who suggests a down bag. I have two bags - a zero degree bag and a 15 degree bag (Marmot Sawtooth). I have had the Marmot bag for seven years and it is still in great condition (used about 40 to 50 nights per year).
I am a really cold sleeper and have finally perfected my system for backpacking after years of being cold. It is pretty ridiculous, but this is the only way that I can be comfortable when backpacking. I have found that my 15 degree bag – with accessories - is warmer, lighter, and easier to pack than my bulkier zero degree bag. For summer mountain travel, I use the Sea to Summit Thermolite mummy bag liner, a pair of light-weight down booties, chemical foot warmers, fleece clothes, and a hat in addition to the bag. This keeps me mostly comfortable down to about 20 degrees and doesn’t add as much bulk or weight as my other bag. I may use my REI dividend this year to buy a new zero degree bag since newer bags are lighter than my current set-up, but this set-up works for me for now.
Don’t forget to invest in a good sleeping pad, both for comfort and insulation. I also have three different pads – a Mountain Hardware mountaineering pad, the awesome Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (incredibly light, small, and so comfy), and a super-cheap, super-light foam pad. In colder weather, I typically combine the Big Agnes and the super-light foam pad (Big Agnes for comfort, foam pad for warmth). Together, these are almost as warm as the mountaineering pad, far lighter, and way less bulky.
Discussion
14 repliesI'm looking for lightweight, warm, and durable. Is down worth the extra cost? Does it really pack down smaller? If down is the way to go, spring for the extra loft? Help! I feel like those search engine commercials where I'm full of random info about sleeping bags, but no closer to actually knowing what to buy
Thanks,
Anne
Once you have narrowed down your target temp and answered the down question, there are a ton of good brands. You can just look up some reviews at backpacker or one of those magazines online and pull the trigger on whatever you find a good deal with.
I appreciate your help!
Keep in mind that even during summer at higher elevations you could get some near freezing temps and snow so for me light and warm is key. I've suffered way too many nights to skimp on that.
Good luck and see you on the trail
For me, Down is by far the better choice. It's less weight, actually compresses, and in general seems warmer. The downside? More expensive, and if it gets wet, generally takes longer to dry out. My down bag has been wet before, nothing the hot sun didn't dry out that afternoon.
If you backpack, then down is the way to go. There's not many items that go into a pack that can make an impact on overall weight in your pack. A sleeping bag, a tent, the backpack itself, and food is where you're going to save weight. Most synthetic bags outweigh their temp comparable Down bags by up to 2 pounds! That's a lot. That's like caring another Nikon D700 camera!
Also, when I backpack, I try not to skimp on luxury items. A bulky sythetic can eat up close to 35-40% of your space, minimizing space for such items. A bulky synthetic bag may mean the difference between packing your tent inside your (way better) pack or strapping it to the outside of your pack.
If you get a nice Down bag, I guarantee you won't miss the money. I would recommend the REI bags, especially warmer bag than you may think you need. If you can afford the difference between a 15 degree to a 0 degree then spring for the warmer bag. I can't stand waking up cold in the night. It’s a miracle that some of us can even sleep out in the wilderness; I don't need to wake up uncomfortable and risk not being able to get back asleep. Once I'm asleep I stay asleep.
I sleep COLD, so I don't play, I own the -20 REI Kilo Expedition. It's incredibly lofty and often wonder why I carry a mattress. My son prefers sleeping in this puffy thing to sleeping in his bed. I use it all year and never wake up cold. If I get too warm I just unzip. One bag for all seasons.
I wouldn't think twice about getting this bag for my wife.
http://www.rei.com/product/778167
Hope this helps,
Kane
I was looking at liners also since they are lightweight and can add that extra layer of warmth (according to reviews). Glad to hear they actually can help. Great advice on silk vs fleece!
How weird, Kane, that is the EXACT bag I've been looking at for 2 months! I've heard the loft is worth it. I really appreciate your helpful feedback!
Now all I need to do is get my REI dividend!
You have no idea how much you have helped with this decision!
I don't have a ton of body weight so I get cold pretty easy too, but the 20 or 25 should be plenty for 3 season. You can always just layer up a bit underneath it, but it is harder to take the heat off if it is a warm night. The REI bag Kane recommends is a good choice as well.
Check out GoLite.com. Their bags are pricey but they are very light and extremely well made.If you can wait, they usually have a Boulder warehouse sale in February or March with some great pricing.
Bill
Since I have a very low fat index, I get cold easily and I get hot easily (near zero insulation on my frame) so I use a bag good to 20 degrees for most of the year and a -25 degree bag for winter temps.
As already mentioned, each person is a little bit different. I'm going to cut and paste an entry that I typed up earlier that's part of a longer article on car camping and photographing. It's not specific to you, but might help. It's probably too long, but here it is:
--*--
You want a sleeping bag that’s warm enough for almost all of the conditions you’ll run into. After your vehicle, this is the second single most important piece of gear that you have. More important than which camera you’re bringing. A bag that’s too cold will mean that you won’t sleep well and won’t recover completely from one day to the next, which means that by your third week or so, you’ll start to think about warmer locations or start to think about going home and slagging off the trip. Where does that leave you? Unless you already know that you’re a warm sleeper, you probably want a 20-degree sleeping bag (measured in Farenheit, that is). And... you want it to be an honest 20-degree rating, which generally means a bag from Sierra Designs, Marmot, North Face, or Mountain Hardwear among the major brands. REI’s house brand is also quite good, but their entry-level or mid-range models are generally optimistic in their temperature ratings by about 5 degrees. Kelty is generally overrated by 10 or even 15 degrees in my experience. Other brands are also fine, but those are the one’s you’re most commonly going to run into. Be highly suspicious if a bag is significantly lighter or cheaper than the other ones you’re looking at.
You probably want a mummy bag, which can take a few nights to get used to. If the bag is a touch warm, don’t use the hood. If it’s pretty warm, use the zipper to vent your feet. If it’s really warm, unzip it all the way and use it draped over you as a comforter. If it’s cold, wear a fleece hat and additional clothing inside the bag -- I’ll wear a fleece jacket and arrange my down jacket around my feet. If it’s really cold, leave and go somewhere warmer or find a friend or hostel. If you’re convinced that you’re not going to be backpacking, there’s no need for the extra expense of down. If you might backpack or plan on backpacking, down is wonderful stuff. If you’re traveling for more than a few weeks, do not try to squish the sleeping bag back into its little stuff sack: a quality sleeping bag should have come with a “storage” bag. Use that, even if you then have to squash down the storage bag later into the car. Again, do not cheap out on a marginal sleeping bag. Spend less on a tent, buy a used rain jacket from a thrift store; whatever. Your sleeping bag is the biggest single factor in your quality of sleep and therefore how good you feel the next morning.
You probably want two ground pads. This is not only for cushioning, but also for insulation so that you don’t lose heat downwards into the ground. I’d recommend at least one of the pads be closed-cell foam, like the ridge rest. They always work and never puncture. If you want to use an inflatable pad, use it above the foam pad. Personally, I usually use a ridge-rest and then a second thicker foam pad. Again, a big factor in a good night’s sleep. Some people swear by cots and Campmor has a couple that aren’t insultingly large. My dad preferred one for his back when he was camping with me on shorter trips. Even with a cot, though, use at least one pad for insulation.
--*--
Whew! Hope that wasn't too much. Note that many women sleep cold, usually by at least 5 to 10 degrees. When I'm with my fiancee, I use a 30 degree bag and she uses a 15 degree bag. Even then, she's usually "colder" than I am.
Two last things: Beyond Bill's recommendations, look for Sierra Trading Post (up in Cheyenne, but they mail order, and delivery is very fast down I-25) at [sierratradingpost.com], or Wilderness Exchange Unlimited in Denver [www.wildernessexchangeunlimited.com]. Both companies sell last year's gear at nice closeout prices.
Good luck!
I often have a big ticket item on my wish list that I reserve for their 20% off and dividend sales.
Bill, my friend checked them out and I plan to go with her next time she goes. Thanks!
Roger, I am hoping to use the 20% for this and am anxiously awaiting the dividend! I appreciate your help!
Mark, that is a great article! I have an inflatable pad for now and may be looking at switching to a foam pad in the future. I will check out the Sierra Post!
Thanks everyone for the great info! I feel much more confident in quest for a sleeping bag. I hope to see you out there after a great nights sleep!!!
I would agree with everyone who suggests a down bag. I have two bags - a zero degree bag and a 15 degree bag (Marmot Sawtooth). I have had the Marmot bag for seven years and it is still in great condition (used about 40 to 50 nights per year).
I am a really cold sleeper and have finally perfected my system for backpacking after years of being cold. It is pretty ridiculous, but this is the only way that I can be comfortable when backpacking. I have found that my 15 degree bag – with accessories - is warmer, lighter, and easier to pack than my bulkier zero degree bag. For summer mountain travel, I use the Sea to Summit Thermolite mummy bag liner, a pair of light-weight down booties, chemical foot warmers, fleece clothes, and a hat in addition to the bag. This keeps me mostly comfortable down to about 20 degrees and doesn’t add as much bulk or weight as my other bag. I may use my REI dividend this year to buy a new zero degree bag since newer bags are lighter than my current set-up, but this set-up works for me for now.
Don’t forget to invest in a good sleeping pad, both for comfort and insulation. I also have three different pads – a Mountain Hardware mountaineering pad, the awesome Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (incredibly light, small, and so comfy), and a super-cheap, super-light foam pad. In colder weather, I typically combine the Big Agnes and the super-light foam pad (Big Agnes for comfort, foam pad for warmth). Together, these are almost as warm as the mountaineering pad, far lighter, and way less bulky.
Good luck making a choice!