Whats a good all purpose temp rating for a sleeping bag? Is 30 deg good enough or bump up to 20 deg? It would be used from sept to late oct, and I know weather can very greatly.
sleeping bag temp rating
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ssliger
Very Active Member
I think a lot depends on whether you are a warm sleeper or a cold sleeper. It also depends on the quality of the bag and their rating. Some bags ratings are way off. I use a 20 degree EE Quilt, where I hunt in Wyoming. I am a warm sleeper and this seems perfect for me.
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say a 30 degree bad would not be sufficient until late October for most. If you said from Aug to late September that might be a little different. Other factors are where it's being used, if there's another heat source and if you tend to be a warm or cold sleeper like has been mentioned. I use a 0 degree bag all year long backpacking in Colorado. I'm always glad I have it as it get's cold in those mountains even in the summer overnight! I'm never to hot, and if I get warm I simply unzip the bag a little.
Elkfitness
Member
I agree, late October can get cold. I use a 15 degree bag for your range of months. I use the same bag in November, but bump up the pad and use a tigoat stove when really cold.
Thanks for the reply's so far guys, I know its very hard to cover all basis with one level unless I just go as cold rating as possible. Price wise it will prob be in the middle/higher price range. Spend once cry once right? I'm thinking most of the time it won't the extreme cold temps that's why I was thinking the 30-20 range. I'm normally a warm sleeper seems my body is like a furnace. I could also add a fleece liner if its going to be colder. I'm looking at a good down bag that I can use from 1000-11000 feet.
I have a 30°+ bag that I use in the summer and a 0° bag I use when the weather starts to turn. The 30° bag I bought of craigslist for $10 and it is a retailed $200 bag. I'd say buy a nice cold one and get a spare mid weather bag like I did and your covered from warm to cold weather.
Depends if weight is a factor and how warm you sleep. I have some old slumberjack 0 degree synthetic bags that are almost too hot sometimes but they weigh like 5-6 pounds. But for backpacking in (usually in late fall,10,000ft+) I use a Marmot helium 15 degree bag. I sleep warm though. haven't had to yet down to single digit temps but in the past I have worn my thermals inside the bag. A good pad goes a long way too. I use a Exped synmat 7but my wife had a Exped downmat 9. Both are warm and very comfortable. My pad weighs under a pound. Inside a tent makes a lot of difference even without a heater.
RICMIC
Veteran member
I consider a 30 bag as a summer bag. I spend all summer canoe camping in Canada and it ofter gets into the 40s at night, even in July. My REI 800 fill 0 degree bag is the go to for Sept./Oct. western hunts. It it fairly lightweight and compresses down well. Just add your base layers if cold or zip open if hot. I would like one of the new Kuiu bags, but don't really need anything better than i already have.
JPSeveland
Active Member
Every persons body heat is diffrent and bags are diffrent as well i have 0 degree golite mummy bag that is no longer available and use that from september threw november. I have a few friends that have 20 degree bags but once it hits 20-30 degrees they are freezing. You can go with a down bag or synthetic. Synthetic bags are a little more heavy but there a little more water resistent. I am also hunting from 7500 feet to 11000 feet. You can also get historical weather conditions online for the area you will be hunting even thow we all now you never now whats going to happen in the woods. i would suggest a 0-15 degree bag just to be on the safe side with a good pad that will reflect your body heat back to you. hope this helps if you have any questions feel free to ask or P.M. me
missjordan
Veteran member
My personal preference is to pick a bag that is water than expected, if you get too hot you can always unzip it a little. I am a very cold sleeper and like a zero degree bag except in the middle of summer when it stays warm out at night.
laxwyo
Very Active Member
BigSurArcher
Very Active Member
I use a 30 degree bag almost exclusively (EN Rating of 27 technically).
A quality pad goes a long way in extra insulation. For cold weather (15 degree nights in Alaska and single digits in Idaho last year) I just wear down pants and jacket inside if necessary. That way I'm still packing a sub-1.5 pound bag, and supplementing with items I'd already be carrying for use during the day on a cold hunt.
If you're not concerned about weight and don't feel like getting crafty with combining other items into your sleep system, most people with your needs go with a quality 15-20 degree bag.
Good point earlier by someone on the rating method used. Anything other than the European Normal standard could be and most likely is entirely arbitrary. The EN Rating is a test performed by the International Down and Feather Laboratory, which considers the temp rating of the bag to allow "an average man to sleep for 8 hours without waking up due to cold". Some companies even include an IDFL certification sheet with their bags
.
A quality pad goes a long way in extra insulation. For cold weather (15 degree nights in Alaska and single digits in Idaho last year) I just wear down pants and jacket inside if necessary. That way I'm still packing a sub-1.5 pound bag, and supplementing with items I'd already be carrying for use during the day on a cold hunt.
If you're not concerned about weight and don't feel like getting crafty with combining other items into your sleep system, most people with your needs go with a quality 15-20 degree bag.
Good point earlier by someone on the rating method used. Anything other than the European Normal standard could be and most likely is entirely arbitrary. The EN Rating is a test performed by the International Down and Feather Laboratory, which considers the temp rating of the bag to allow "an average man to sleep for 8 hours without waking up due to cold". Some companies even include an IDFL certification sheet with their bags
.
laxwyo
Very Active Member
25contender
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