What sleeping bags are you using

[quicknick]

Hey guys just curious what bags you all are using. Brand, model, temp rating, mummy or rectangle; and how do you use them. Pack in for miles, base camp, or a little of both? I'm just kind of interested, I'm looking into a new sleeping system and I'm just curious what everyone is using.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Kevin Root]

Marmot Plasma 15 Degree. 900+ Fill Goose Down, 1 lb. 14 oz. I use it year round. It's a bit snug being a mummy bag but it has worked well for me for a couple seasons now. Only thing I would change now would be to get something in a water resistant down that is out there now to get weight to warmth ratio benefit and also get the water resistant properties of a synthetic.

 

[JMSZ]

Hey guys just curious what bags you all are using. Brand, model, temp rating, mummy or rectangle; and how do you use them. Pack in for miles, base camp, or a little of both? I'm just kind of interested, I'm looking into a new sleeping system and I'm just curious what everyone is using.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Snugpak Special Forces Combo system - Lightweight bag is rated for 41 to 32 degrees, heavier bag is rated for 20 to 14 and combination is rated for 5 to -4. Both bags are mummys, it's got a baffle/zipper that connects the two bags so you only have one zipper to mess with.

The downside is that it's 7lbs for the whole thing and the cost is up to $700 (mine was about half that when I got it), the trade-off is being able to cover the wider range of temperatures by bringing one or both of the bags as needed.

I'm still in the reserves, so all of my gear serves double-duty for deployments and hunting/camping, so I like having the ability to adjust my gear depending on where I'm going.

I'm going to be taking just the heavier bag this year, which saves me 3lbs. I normally just wear a pair of pants, a t-shirt and socks if it's really cold, but after reading around some of the ultralightweight backpacking forums, this year I'll wear my wool long underwear and socks and I can add my primaloft jacket if I need to.

I also always have a thinsulate poncho liner with me and always use it in my bag to form a seal around my neck.

I ended up doing base camp last year, but I'll be packing in this year.

I've used the combined bags multiple times and I like it, I'm bad about leaving it packed up, but even last fall when it was sub-20 degrees at night, with my thinsulate poncho liner and socks, I was nice and warm.

 

[JMSZ]

Marmot Plasma 15 Degree. 900+ Fill Goose Down, 1 lb. 14 oz. I use it year round. It's a bit snug being a mummy bag but it has worked well for me for a couple seasons now. Only thing I would change now would be to get something in a water resistant down that is out there now to get weight to warmth ratio benefit and also get the water resistant properties of a synthetic.

Geez, Mister Fancy-Shmancy with your super-duper-ultra-lighweight sleeping bag.

How do you like it? A lighter sleeping bag is floating around somewhere on my list of "nice-to-have-one-day", but the low cost-to-weight-savings ratio has kept it on the "things to buy when I win the lotto" part of the list.

 

[Huntography]

Wiggy's zero degree bag. Super comfortable. Fairly lightweight at 4 pounds. Pretty compressible with a compression sack. Easy on the wallet. And best of all, made right here in Grand Junction Colorado.

If you decide on getting one, just email Jerry, he's the owner, and tell em Rudy sent you and hell take care of you

Good luck.

Rudy

 

[Musket Man]

I have the army sleep system complements of the US army! Im not going to say its the greatest thing out there but its pretty versital since you can take just the light bag, just the heavy bag or snap both together if its really cold plus it comes with a bivy sack that snaps onto either part aswell.

 

[Kevin Root]

Geez, Mister Fancy-Shmancy with your super-duper-ultra-lighweight sleeping bag.

How do you like it? A lighter sleeping bag is floating around somewhere on my list of "nice-to-have-one-day", but the low cost-to-weight-savings ratio has kept it on the "things to buy when I win the lotto" part of the list.

I do like the bag. It's a bit snug fit but lightweight. The only thing it lacks is not being efficient when wet. I finally upgraded from my Slumberjack qualafill bag that I've had since the 80's. That bag kept me very warm but it was so much heavier.

 

[25contender]

I have a Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree and a Marmot Never Summer 0 degree. To be honest with you the Sawtooth is all I ever use as Most of my hunting is done during bow season. Even down to 20 degrees the sawtooth has been pretty toasty. I agree with the comment about moisture. I have used mine in a bivey sack and it will get damp.I would have to hang it up to remove the little bit of moisture. In my one man tent the down bags are fine.

 

[quicknick]

I'm thinking about getting the big agnes fish hawk down 30 degree. I'm a hot sleeper anyway and I can get a liner if its really cold. I hate mummy bags because I'm a bigger guy with really broad shoulders and they drive me nuts. The fish hawk looks like the perfect compromise and I like how they incorporate a pocket for the sleeping pad. And I think its lighter that my kelty mummy bag.

 

[clacklin009]

I also use the Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree bag. There are times when I could use a warmer bag. I hunt and camp up high around 10,000 ft during early September and have a three season tent the Big Agnus Copper Spur 1p. I think the tent you have has a lot to do with how warm the bag seems. If you have a 4 season tent the heat stays in so the bag doesn't need to be as warm. In a three season tent the heat doesn't stay in as well so the bag needs to be warmer. In a three season tent you don't have to worry about the moisture like you do in the 4 season so I don't have to worry about the Sawtooth not being water proof. If I was using a 4 season tent I would have purchased the Sawtooth Membrain Bag it costs $50-$70 more but can take care of the fragile characteristics of having a down bag.

 

[87TT]

I have a Marmot Helium 15* bag (2lb2oz) and an Exped synmat 7 (15oz.) and I sleep as good or bettewr than at home. When it's not that cold, I use it like a blanket.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I just bought a new one from Cabelas, their brand. I prefer rectangular and over sized so I can turn over inside the bag. Since I don't use it for backpacking, weight was not a factor. Rated to -10 and has a canvas/cotton outershell and an oversize zipper. I have a similar bag from Coleman that I bought 45 years ago that finally wore out. Havn't used the new one yet, but will in September.

 

[JMSZ]

I do like the bag. It's a bit snug fit but lightweight. The only thing it lacks is not being efficient when wet. I finally upgraded from my Slumberjack qualafill bag that I've had since the 80's. That bag kept me very warm but it was so much heavier.

After reading around on bags a little, I'm now curious as to whether there is any advantage to down vs synthetic and vice versa or whether it is comes down to personal.

The coldest rated bags (as low as -45 degrees F for arctic expeditions) do all seem to use down as a fill, so there does appear to be some advantage to it, but for bags in the -10 to +40ish degree range, the cost and weight seem to be about even for down and synthetic fills.


Has anybody here used both types of bags recently (modern down bag and modern synthetic-filled bag) in similar conditions and if so, was there any noticeable difference?

 

[25contender]

From what I understand the synthetic bags are more efficient when they are damp. The down bags semi collapse when they get damp and loose some insulation value. Many of the new down bags have a membrane that helps with the moisture problems. Down will also keep you warmer in most cases unless it gets wet. The down are also supposed to last longer and are lighter.

 

[25contender]

I also always store my down bags in a closet on a hanger. They should not be stored in their stuff sacks.

 

[NorthT]

I have used Marmot hydrogen 30 degree bag for last couple of years, 14oz if i remember right. Its good to me to about 25. Last year temps dropped down to 15-20. I used my cabelas XPG bivy and was good with that.

 

[Rob P]

Marmot helium here in the long version. 15 degree bag. I don't like being cold at night. For september high country it is plenty warm. Go as light as you can afford to go in the 15 to 20 degree range if you're a backpack hunter.

 

[Rob P]

Cost and weight comparison of down and synthetic fill are not the same when you compare higher quality down. 750 fill and higher. Down of this grade will be lighter and more expensive. I would buy an 850 or higher fill bag if u want to go the down route and weight is a priority.

 

[mnhunter]

Anyone using the Sierra Designs Zissou 12. I am thinking about picking one of these up before the season.

 

[tdub24]

The North Face® Alpenglow Series Blue Kazoo, 600+ Eastern European goose down, 15 degree, 2lbs 11 ounces mummy style sleeping bag. I went with the the tall to give me extra leg room since I'm only 5'10" 190lbs and its 84" long (7ft). Surprisingly, I am able to toss and turn like I need to just fine. I have used it primarily on base camp situations, but will use it this year in the back country with my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 tent. One thing to consider getting to go along with the sleeping bag is a good quality sleeping pad. This will help you get off the ground which allows you to keep heat better. I went with a Big Agnes is this as well.