sleeping bags

“I'm working in S.E AZ this summer and am looking for a new sleeping bag to use. I want something ultralight weight and around $100 give or take $20. I don't know what degree I should look for, maybe 20. Anyone have any suggestions. Thanks!

Katie”

“REI does some fairly reasonable low cost bags that are worth looking at. Also look at sales at places like mgear.com, rei outlet and northern mountain supply - there are a few bargains to be had at the moment I think.”

“bobwards.com
outdooroutlet.com”

“good sites markopolo!

birdy, in summer here in arkansas i just take a fleece bag, very lightweight...”

“Ultralight 20F bag for $100? Hmmm...

Well, for the economically-minded, there is the Campmor Goose Down mummy bag for $110, but Campmor overestimates the rating a bit. It's probably really a 30F bag. Also, it's not exactly ultralight at 2lb4oz. Are you going to be in the mountains, desert, or forest? For summer, a 45F bag might work well unless you plan on sleeping somewhere cold. I've got this REI Travel Down 45F, which is going for $99 right now and only weighs 1lb8oz.”

“FYI the Campmor 20 degree bag is cut similarly and has a bit more fill power (550 x 19oz = 10450) then my Western Mountaineering Megalite (850 x 12 = 10,200) and the WM is true to it's 25 degree rating. I'd suggest the campmor bag myself, the down bag will last you a lifetime is if cared for properly, while any cheap bag will probably be synthetic and if you use it a lot you will quickly lose much of the lost and the temp rating on the bad. I've read many a trail journal where a hiker started the AT with a synthetic bad and after the first month the bag has lost much of it's loft and would sleep 10-15 degrees colder.”

“I've got the Campmor 0F, and it doesn't quite live up to its temp rating. Nowslimmer has the Campmor 20F and has said the same thing. Small sample set, but that's all the data I have. I do take my Campmor 0F bag on any trip where I expect the temps to be below 40F, as I'm a cold sleeper. My 20F bag is an REI synthetic fill, and while it's a great bag, it doesn't stuff worth a hoot and it's heavy. But it has kept me plenty warm at 25F.”

“Bob Wards has the Kelty Arete 15 down mummy.
The Regular is $120 and the long is $127.

I have the long at 3.4 # (laudromat scale).

Over the weekend I was warm in that bag in my breezy Tarptent Cloudburst(the tent was rockin') at about 25 degrees.”

“I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest an El Cheapo synthetic-fill sleeping bag. I got the Slumberjack Deelite (Qualllofil) in 1988 and I'm still using it. There are better, lighter and mopre compressable (down) bags available, but for the money you just can't go wrong with Slemberjack.

You can throw a synthetics bag in a front loader and dry it with a tennis ball in the dryer. You can do this with down as well, but it's a lot easier with the synthetic fill. Good luck.”