Sleepin bag decision (help)

“Ok..i own a WM iraquois (38F)..I want a warmer bag. Apache SMF(15F) or the Antelope SMF (5F). I live in Alabama but want to start doing more hiking in higher elevations and more northern locations. Should i go all out for the antelope and let that be my push to go colder..or do i go the middle ground cause that's all i'll probably need. Or do what everyone else does..and get both bags..LMAO..jk..not an option now, i wish though. I'd like to get it before this weekend..but will i be too hot in a 5 degree bag if it's only 30F? I can always unzip..but if your too cold your kinda stuck right?”

“I own a 20 and a 0.

I would have no use for a 38.

My experience has been that nights when I am carrying 'too much bag' I just unzip some and let the heat out.”

“If you go with the 15F bag and then want to try hiking colder you can always use the 38F bag as an overbag and add about 10-15 degrees to the limit--essentially making the combo a 0-5F. I own a 0F bag and find it to only be impractical at about 40 degrees. I am a cold sleeper, though.”

“You could get a polar fleece liner for the warmer bag. Polar fleece liners add a lot of warmth to your bag. They also feel good to sleep in nice and soft. Also if you get cold try sleeping with a winter hat on. You lose a lot of heat though your head and with me haveing a shaved head I know this.”

“Have you ever camped cold? If you never have, you should try it first to see if you like it. That will make your decision easier too...

I love my antelope. :o)”

“AmyG: see that's me.. I don't care if I am too warm.. but I hate being too cold.”

“Exactly. I'm pitiful. Zero degree bag, wool socks, winter hat, poly pro pjs, hand warmer at the foot if it drops below 20. It's just sad.”

“I have a coleman zero bag. I have onhly got cold in it once. There is one more thing that I forgot to tell you. You have to have a sleep mat. If you don't the cold from the ground will work your way into the bag. One time I was moose hunting in Alaska and I forgot my sleeping mat. I got cold because I didn't have that barrier from the ground. But when I went the never weekend it was colder but I remembered the mat and I slept like a baby.”

“I'd get the Apache SMF.

It's almost a half pound lighter than the Antelope SMF and is a good bag for early spring/late fall in New England (where I go most).

The Antelope is not really warm enough for real winter conditions, so save your money for a Puma SMF (love mine) or Big Horn SMF.”

“Mountain Hardwear has great system with an insert bag that I use for a summer bag, goes into my winter bag to extend the temp range down another 15-20 degrees. Gives me three bags in two. sort of. I guess.”

“i've had the Iraquios (38F) down to about 25..had to wear a beanie, wool socks on feet and hands, and my polypro long johns and a fleece jacket over it. hehe..it was cold but i was able to get warm enough to sleep. As far as liners go..i can't see paying 100 bucks for a liner that adds 10 degrees when 200+ bucks will get me a new bag”

“If you look you can find polar fleece liners for cheap. I got one from rei outlet for 10 bucks once. It was the best thing that I have ever bought.”

“I do use a standard thermarest as a pad. And my tent (though i love it) may not help. Kelty Zen...lotsa MESH. Thanks for all the info so far...still thinkin...lol..and and Violin...more than an inch of snow and my ass is gone...time to hike out bro!!! And if it's under 30F for too long i'm at the house playing X-box!!”

“Tell me where I can find an WM Apache SMF or Antelope SMF for $200 - PLEASE!”

“www.travelcountry.com has the antelope smf 6' for 375$
apache smf 6' for 259.99$
free shipping
And www.acadiamountainguides.com
antelope SMF 6' for 299$
Apache SMF 6' for 219$

not 200..but purty close!”

“See that's the OTHER kicker...for only 80$ more i can get the antelope”

“"more than an inch of snow and my ass is gone...time to hike out bro!!! And if it's under 30F for too long i'm at the house playing X-box!!"

OPIE
02:28:34 PM
01/11/02


heh.. can we say... WUSS?

:)”

“dick's has a fleece liner bag for 20 bucks. it's not ultralight but it's light enough if you'll only be using it a couple times a year.”

“I own a 20 rectangular and a 45 semi-rectangular; both are down-filled. The 45 is for summer. When the temps get down into the thirties or twenties, I use the 20. Below 20 I use one bag inside the other. Since they're down-filled, the weight of carrying both is still less than just about any 0 degree syntheitc bag.

My $.02 worth.”

“Save some money, buy the Apache, then with the extra $$, buy a 4 season tent.

Of course if you can't handle temps below 30 and hate snow, buy a 20-25 deg. bag, save even more money and weight. Then buy more x-box games with all the money you saved for the days when you bail.”

“Costs next to nothing to make a fleece liner for your bag. Head out to your local fabric store, purchase a length of fleece, fold over to make a bag of the appropriate size, sew up the bottom & one side. We have the scouts do this all the time.”

“Man I think Reptile has the winning answer!!!! Either that or i need to get a nice satin lined double bag and carry 2 playmates with me to keep me warm...might be too tired to hike back out though!”

“Just remember the Apache is narrow!
Western Mountaineering has...
Indian Names= Narrow cut
Animal Names= Medium Cut
Tree Names= Extra Wide Cut

I always carry a sleeping bag that's a little overkill...I hate sleeping cold!”

“The www.acadiamountainguides.com deal is for the regular Apache. Those other prices are sweet! If you see an Apache DL for under $300, let me know!

Unless you are a really cold sleeper, the Antelope SMF would be overkill.”

“Oh yea..i forgot the name game they have...no wonder i feel like i'm in the stomach of an anaconda when in the iraquois..not bad though..cause the bag sticks with me as i roll around”

“I think Acadia Mountain is out of Antelopes - no longer listed on the sale site. bummmah

It's ok, you'll be playing x-box anyway. heheheh”

“I talked to them earlier today...he's outta stock..and will call me when they get more in”

“I have a 40 deg and a 0 deg bag.If you shop around you can get a great 0 deg bag for a great price.”

“How about just getting a pair of fleece pants. They can do double duty. You can sleep in them to beef up any bags apparent performance and then wear them around camp the next morning. Maybe just a bit warm to hike in though.”

“You don't want a 5 degree bag if you live in Alabama. I've been comfortable in a 20 degree bag on plenty of freezing nights. IF you ever need more than a 20 degree bag you probably have warm clothing with you to help you through the night.

2 cents from somebody in Texas


You probably don't need a 4 season tent either! Where are all those go-lite people when you need them?”

“toejam..oh yea i agree on the tent dealio...now if i can only pinpoint the best website with the apache SMF or SDL in stock”

“Kleetn posted this a couple of days ago, you might try to find the bag here.

Gear Shark”

“OPIE, don't worry about the new bag. This weeekend the low is only in the upper 30's from weather.com. It looks like rain.”

“Set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul.
You've got to run like an antelope, out of control.”

“*looks at buddur*..wow..you really gotta lay off the drugs *giggles*
Dayhiker..yea i should be ok..another good reason to bring michelle. Thanks for the e-mail...i got the route down pat!!”

“I just bot the rei sub kilo bag.It is 700 down,20 deg and is super light at 34oz!I paid 164 bux on sale...it stuffs real small and best of all is very roomy unlike the marmot and north face down i tried.I am slim but like lots of elbow/leg room.....Very comfy.”

“Sounds like a good choice. Congrats. I bought a down bag recently and will never go back to synthetic.”

“Thanx,
my SD synth is comfy/warm but is like packing a watermelon and weighs 13oz more.
No more compression sack too!yeehawww...”

“Chek 'Em Out...

Moonstone 800 fillpower liners at REI Outlet for just under 70 Bucks. I bet they'd work for light summer-weight bags, tooooo...”

“The WM apache is an awesome bag. Been considering an Iriquois for summer, thinking that anything beyond 15degree I could slide the Iriquois inside the Apache for the added warmth.”

“stevet...the iraquois is a sweet lil bag...sewn thru stitching..packs down to around 12x6 and not much more than a pound. the rating on it is pretty accurate 35-38 degrees. i could see it fitting nicely in the apache”

“Any Down bag that has a fill power of 650 or better is a great choice. Synthetic bags loose their loft quicker and are not much different in price. Just keep the down dry.”