Sleeping bag for back country?

amp713

amp713

New Member
Feb 21, 2011
13
0
Utah
Hey guys Im trying to find a good lighter bag for the back country, I know you get what you pay for but im trying to not pay for one lined with gold. :p

I want a +20 bag or something close, that is low weight, durable, packs easy, and isnt to hard to care for. Just kinda fishing around for ideas!

Thanks!
AMP
 
G

Graylight

Active Member
Apr 27, 2011
222
0
Southern California
Be careful of budget bags... Their loft and fill power will likely cause you to suffer from cold spots and cold seams... If you are using a synthetic bag and you keep it rolled up, IT WILL crease and cause cold spots... This is not something you will want to deal with in a cold, wet, multi-day scenario... We use Western Mountaineering bags with 850 fill power down... A little pricey but worth a decade of use without a problem. Good luck in your quest...
 
EdD270

EdD270

New Member
Dec 20, 2011
45
0
Arizona's Mogollon Rim and White Mountains
there are so many quality sleeping bags on the market now it's hard to suggest any one over another. Down will be the lightest, but if you're going into some wet climate, a slightly heavier synthetic fill will be better.
Check out the websites for REI, CampMor, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and so on. Look at bags by REI, Kelty, Big Agnes, North Face, Marmot, and the list goes on and on. Find a bag that's in your price range, they're not cheap, and has the temp rating you want, about 10* below what you expect to encounter, and the least weight, get it and don't look back.
Yeah, common sense. But that's what it boils down to.
 
amp713

amp713

New Member
Feb 21, 2011
13
0
Utah
Wow thanks guys i gotta go through all that now! I went to the sports expo in slc and have been catching up on everything around the house so Ill take a look and get back to you all!!!

(just didnt want to look like someone who was wasting your time)
 
amp713

amp713

New Member
Feb 21, 2011
13
0
Utah
Ok so to answer a few questions and maybe give some more ideas.... 150 is probably the most i can spend, I want this for Archery season here in utah which is usually pretty warm. I'm thinkin a 20 degree bag because even if it gets a lil chilly i can layer up some in the bag versus packing a heavier bag. Im definately thinking a down bag, I use a light tent instead of a bivy so that helps with the moisture.. Thanks for the Kelty Cosmic idea it looks like a good bag might be one i keep an eye on!
 
R

Rob P

Member
Mar 10, 2011
135
1
for your price range you should look into a North Face Cat's Meow 20degree bag. It's a sythetic bag but still some what light weight at 2lbs 10 oz. A down bag of the higher quality power fills, I'm talking 800+, is lighter per cubic inch but those bags are all starting near $300 and up. When you start looking at down bags with 600 power fill the weight and cost becomes comparable to a synthetic bag. If I were limited in price to a 600 fill down bag I would just go synthetic. I have a North Face Snowshoe O degree bag and it's a great bag so I know the Cat's Meow is good too since they have the same features. you can probably find one on ebay for cheap
 
Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
0
Montana
RobP gives good advice. If your budget is $150 and under, I would also look at quality synthetic fill bags. TNF Cat's Meow is the ... well, you know ... of synthetic bag values.
 
CoHiCntry

CoHiCntry

Veteran member
Mar 31, 2011
1,390
21
Colorado Mountains
You might try and find a place that sells demo bags or even lightly used? I bought a Big Agnes Pomer Hoit 0 degree from a place that sells demo stuff last year. It's a $500 bag and if I remember right I paid about half of that. The bag was in great condition and I saved a lot of money! The web site is www.wearbap.com from the home page click on deals on the left side and options to view demo stuff will come up.
 
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Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
0
Montana
Muleys 24/7 said:
BB, do you use this bag in the winter.....or just summer and fall?
Click to expand...
I use it for early season. It stays unzipped during the summer. When temps get down to under 20 I go with my 0 degree Kelty, but this year I will get a -20 synthetic BA. It is six pounds, but the horses will be carrying it. :)

I have been in the Zirkel down to around 15 without being chilled, and I am not a warm sleeper.
 
Muleys 24/7

Muleys 24/7

Veteran member
Jan 12, 2012
1,406
12
The Golden State
Bitterroot Bulls said:
I use it for early season. It stays unzipped during the summer. When temps get down to under 20 I go with my 0 degree Kelty, but this year I will get a -20 synthetic BA. It is six pounds, but the horses will be carrying it. :)

I have been in the Zirkel down to around 15 without being chilled, and I am not a warm sleeper.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of getting the BA Blackburn SL 0 degree.What do you think about this bag unzipped for the early season with no insulating pad?I'm trying to get away with only buying one bag for early and late?? It weighs 3# for the long..... Do you have to buy the pad to stay warm on the underside? If so which of their pads are best?
 
Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
0
Montana
BA bags require a pad. There is no insulation on the underside of the entire bag (rectangle bags) or torso (mummy bags). The Blackburn is a great bag, and ridiculously light for a 0 deg., but it would be too warm for me most of the time. I would think the Zirkel w/ a liner and/or cover would be more versatile. But that would be for me. If you are a really cold sleeper the Blackburn might be perfect.
 
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