sleeping bags........

“I'm planning on purchasing a new sleeping bag, and was wondering if someone could lend a learned ear my way....? I would like to know what kinds of bags are better for the colder months, but aren't that expensive? Should I get 2 bags: one for the warmer months and one for the colder ones? If so, what brands are good, but inexpensive? I'm looking for compactability as well.....nothing too heavy. Any words of sage advice?”

“I use 4 bags.

50 deg.
40 deg.
25 deg.
0 deg.

Thats what I use.

8D”

“get more than 1 if you can afford it. if you can't id say go with a 20 or so. it'll do everything for ya. throw a cheappy fleece inside it when it's colder out adn use it like a blanket when it's warmer.”

“Any brand names anyone can think of would be helpful too....

Nice idea Josh.....thanks for the hint.”

“ How about being a little more specific with your needs?

Synthetic or down?
What seasons are you planning on using it/them in?
Do you want a woman's design?”

“where do you do most of your backpacking? what temperature do you anticipate on your coldest trips?”

“more info, please!”

“Thanks for nice advice everyone...

I'll be using the sleeping bag mostly for the fall in Mich., maybe a few times in the winter. I'm interested in down-filled bags, and have been looking into the Mountain Hardware types...

So...any other suggestions? I'm all ears! 8)”

“What is your budget?”

“Some where in the price range of $150-$200.”

“I think rei-outlet.com still has some of the Moonstone 800 fill down bags on closeout . . . very good prices, very good bags.”

“Ya you should go check out the prices over there like Gforce said!

8D”

“I'll check into that! Thanks so much for the info! :0)”

“and get a western mountaineering if you want to know what i think.i pulled my microfiber shelled bag over my head in a decent rain once and stayed toasty warm and dry. it don't get no better than that for me. it was $315 though and sales are hard to come by.
i also looked at the north face blue kazoo, good rating, good price, good weight. you should check out the marmot sawtooth also.”

“Coyote13 - I see you live in Michigan. Although WM bags are my favorite, I picked up a super deal on a North Face Dryloft Maxwell Demon -5 down bag at the North Face Outlet in Birch Run. They are running a sale soon, August 29-Sept. 15. Check out the normal prices in Campmor and then compare. I saved $110. over Campmor's lowest sale price. This was a very expensive bag in the first place but I am sure you can't go wrong with their prices. Good Luck”

“Coyote, I have a twenty-five degree bag for spring and fall, -5 for winter and a chespy fleece bag ($15 at target) for summer in Michigan. If you want compactibility look for a down bag. REI is running great sales right now. Also, the used gear sale is next weekend in Troy. You can find some awesome deals there if you're there when they open the doors.”

“I can't go wrong here...everyone is so generous with your wonderful suggestions! :-) I'll be sure to look into all of them!

Thanks so much! :)”

“so you can probably go on a tt trip and end up getting all these guys to give you their stuff. they give it away all the time.”

“I'll back gforce's words on the Moonstone Zone 2, 10-25 degree, 800+ down fill bags at REI-Outlet.com as I have one (that I have used - at gforce!) and am pleased with it. I have the DryLoft shell model and have used it in wind chill temps well below zero in a tent and shelters. I, um, survived and actually did sleep. The bags are very well constructed, very good weight to warmth ratio, and clearance prices are great.”

“That looks like a very good bag. I like the Moonstone line. I have one of there vests. Great purchase.


With the down bags, you'll have less weight to carry, a smaller package, but they cost more. The type like that Moonstone, or a line of equipment like it, is a good direction for you to look.

The Synthetic bags will bring you cheaper price, more weight, but the one thing that they have over the down bags is:

If your bag gets wet, it is not as much of a b!tch to dry the thing. You can go to bed in a Synthetic bag with wet clothes and have them some what dry in the morning, along with the bag.

There are good deals to be had this time of year. I will be at the REI sale in Troy on Labor Day morning. Let me know if I can keep an eye out for you.”

“quilt for down to 30*F then a 40*F bag in combination for colder.”

“After picking up a NF Blue Kazoo for $99 I'm sold on down bags. They're light, comfortable as hell, and don't take up half your pack space like bulky synthetics.

My ultimate goal is to get a Western Mountaineering.”

“Well, as a matter of fact I may have a couple of pads taking up room in the garage. Full length Ultra light thermarest and a full length Ridgerest.”

“I'm more than happy at all your responses! It's nice to know that there are people out here, still willing to help one another.

Pathman, that's sweet of you to offer, but I have my pad already.

I'm going to try to get to that sale at REI, and then later to the "garage sale" on the 3rd. I don't live that far away from the store, and am looking forward to it!

I'll be sure to check into all these wonderful suggestions everyone has made for me.

With that, I bid you adieu and happy hiking! :)

Thanks!”

“I own a Marmot Arroyo very nice bag. It's rated at 30 degrees and weighs about 1.14 lbs and stuffs down to the size of a football.”

“Maybe we'll bump into each other at the sale. I plan on getting there real early. I've heard stories about huge line ups.”

“Hey Coyote, just in case you aren't a memeber at REI; you have to be to buy at the used gear sale. It's a great investment though, just $15 for a lifetime.

Hope we get to meet you sometime soon!”

“Don't you have to buy something from them (REI) every year too?

Not like that's a problem or anything....


BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“I don't know, I have never gone a year w/o a purchase from them. Someone try it out!”

“Wiggy.com

Loft and all else guaranteed for life.”

“http://www.bigagnes.com/

Best sleeping bag I ever owned. Get the Air Core Pad, you won't be dissapointed.”

“just a little heavy for your modern day ultralighter. i've got one that was rated at 20 and i've slept snugly at 0 before with my long undies and socks on. i also piled my fleece jacket and sweatpants on top of it. '
you can send those things back without a receipt or anything adn they'll repair or replace. cheap, too.”