Kelty Sleeping Bag

“Kelty Mistral 5° CloudLoft™ Mummy Sleeping Bag - Regular (Special Purchase - Mislabeled)

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39161834&memberId=12500226

Is this a good deal?”

“6lbs!!”

“5 deg and 6 lbs = even if it were free, it wouldn't be good.”

“i agree.
unless it comes with a sherpa to carry it, or you *only* car-camp, then its
no bargain in my eyes.”

“Why don't you just pack your queen size bed, equiped with pillow shams and dust ruffle.”

“So, what IS a good weight for a backpacking sleeping bag?”

“for a zero degree bag - around 3 lbs would be good.

Down is the only weigh to go for zero degree stuff.”

“I'd say 3# for down and 4# for synthetic. For example, my 3 season shelter, bag, and backpack don't weigh 4# 4oz.”

“-"So, what IS a good weight for a backpacking sleeping bag?"

well, to start with, unfortunately(for all of us) you cant get one for $30. 'Tis true.

whats a 'good weight' depends on tons of factors, but im willing to bet most folks dont carry over about 3 lbs, even
for near zero temps. Milder temps(30's
and 40's) can be conquered for 2lbs and
even less!! So keep on shopping!
:)”

“Also, keep in mind that synthetic bag ratings are pretty liberal. That's probably more like a 15* bag.”

“I have some type of Kelty down bag that's supposedly rated to -15... which means, of course, for this cold sleeper, that I'd probably use it in 20-degree temps. lol... It was on closeout and probably cost around $140-ish 3 years ago. And I'm guessing it weighs 4 lbs.

HEY, I gotta sleep comfy! ;-P”

“Dang liz, you got ice in those veins or blood?

lizs = ice queen!

LOL”

“I sleep cold. ;-P

I wish sleeping bag manufacturers would finish the inside of bags with some type of napped fabric -- on the order of fleece or flannel. Do people really like the slick, slippery bags? Maybe in the summer, but in the winter, too??

I hate to have to carry a fleece liner bag yet on top of everything else... although it would increase my sleeping comfort 1000 percent. LOL!”

“Hubby & I took 50 degree bags to Alaska... way too cold for our bags!
(it got down to the mid-30s or so most nights). We ended up having to wear many layers to bed...

We bought remnant pieces of fleece the size of the bag. The fleece helped a lot, although it wouldn't stay in place properly... We're thinking of adding some snaps or something to help it stay in place.

I'm going to modify mine with an extra piece by my feet (They got frostbitten when I was a teenager and now my feet get cold easily). Hubby tended to wear his like a scarf to keep the air out of the top of his bag, so he's thinking of doing something to keep the cold air out..

It also turns out that he had bought the "midweight" long underwear, and I bought the lightweight (no wonder he had on less layers than me!)

We're looking into either modifying our current bags or just getting new ones. (we have the "car camping" (HUGE) ones that are fleece-lined, but about twice the weight and size of the ones we took with us!

We haven't ever camped in winter time, usually Summer & fall.... however, we can now appreciate how COLD you can get, depending on location!”

“A zero down bag filled with 600 cubic inch/oz down will weigh about 3.5 to 4 pounds and can cost under $200.


A zero down bag that weighs 3 pounds will have to be filled with 700-800 cu.in./oz down and can cost $300 and up.

My FYAO bag is about -20 and weighs 4.4 pounds.”

“Check out the Kelty Clear Creek, synthetic bag, 20 deg. but its got a liner like your talking about. Plus its got a pillow pocket. I like it and i've slept warm in it down around 5 deg ( I sleep really warm though )”

“Here's a link to the small bag we own.

http://www.abogear.com/pacsac.html
(This is the summer weight one)

The other one weighs about 5.1 lbs (too heavy and way bulky!)

Both are poly-filled...”

“A while back on campmor I saw a Kelty 20 degree down bag with a WB shell for about $160. It was about two pounds. I thought it looked pretty sweet.

However, the bag you have chosen is a dog. You can do better.”

“Okay. Good thing I asked before I bought! Thanks for help.”

“Well, Pink... I have a flannel sleeping bag -- good ole Ozark Trails, which could be a liner. Also, much like yourself, I have a SMALL piece of remnant fabric -- FLANNEL -- that I can wrap carefully around cold spots. It's pretty small, but helps.

Wow, Roam, so someone is doing that! cool! My bad habit in the summer is to get it cold at my place and then pile on bulky comforters, etc. I sleep wonderfully, but it's bad training for backpacking trips. LOL!

Also (thread degeneration)... Roam, do you know companies hiring carpenters to do post-hurrican construction work in your area? gojo's thinking of heading to FLA to work....”

“I'm sure there will be tons of work to be done and someone with carpentry skills can quickly find a way to keep busy for days, either here or in the panhandle.

I've got a buddy of mine that can prolly lead him to work. If ya want, I'll ask.

Feel free to have him email me and I'll get a couple of phone numbers if I can.”

“Cool, thanks! I think he is probably gonna be posting on here tomorrow. He hasn't been on or had access to a computer in a bit, so also needs to set up a new e-mail addy.”

“http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2579726&cat=79361&type=21&dept=4125&path=0%3A4125%3A4128%3A79361



How is this?

30o rating, and weighs 3#

Just $34.48”

“Where and in what conditions are you backpacking? Your original bag was a 5-degree. This Wally-World one is more like a spring or fall bag.”

“I'll ask my buddy tomorrow what he knows of in the way of folks gettin hooked up with work.”

“Either Georgia in March, or Colorado in probably April-June area.”

“I agree with Roam and dayhiker. Like MarkO said, you can get deals on stuff like that, in that range. My 0 degree bag (REI Downtime) weighs in at 3lbs 4oz and cost me about 160.00. It was cheap because they were discontinuing that bag, but it's filled with 650 fill and has worked great in temps about 7 degrees below 0, with help.

lizs - why don't you just wear a fleece *outfit*?”

“I'd be very hesitant to trust the temperature ratings on cheaper bags like the WalMart one you posted. When I first moved from camping to backpacking, I had a cheap 40 bag and a fleece liner. I took both into Rocky Mountain National Park in April. Dawn couldn't come fast enough. I learned the hard way the bag was nowhere near what its rating said.”

“T Mac's right-- It sucks being cold at night! My hubby & I found that out in very quickly. our next investment is definitely a GOOD sleeping bag!”

“hehehe, laqtis said *outfit*

Do I get to wear a bunny tail and ears with it, or more like a short apron and French maid uniform? hmmm... ;-P

Good idea, I have worn fleece and it definitely helps. Still, there's something about being wrapped in fleece, aaaaah, baybeeeee! lol”

“lizs:

Hike in either of those outfits for the Yellow River trip! :-)”

“While I'd like to say hey, that'd bring'em in, well the reality is, hey, I don't wanna skeer'em away. LOL”