Sleeping Bag - Long or Regular?

“Since the 15th wedding anniversary is the "goose down" anniversary, BowlderGal is planning to score an REI SubKilo 0° bag for me when the sale starts tomorrow. The "regular" size is usually advised for people up to 6 feet tall, with the "long" for those over 6 feet. Well, I'm just a hair under 6, so could save the extra 10 bucks, but I'm thinking I would use this for winter, and may want a little extra room for stuff stored in there at night. Whaddya y'all think?”

“I'm 5'11"...I always got the long version in a sleeping bag so I could store water bottles, etc at the bottom. It's what all the books said to do.

The last winter bag I bought (WM -20) was a regular. After some twenty years of mountaineering and snow camping I realized that I almost never put anything at the bottom of my bag. I found my feet got cold and I learned other ways to keep my gear from freezing.

I also was tired of fitting that long puppy in my tent or snow cave, the foot section always seemed to hit the snow or tent wall. I have also noticed that my feet are noticeably warmer.

I would recommend getting in the bag...if you have an inch or two between you feet and the end of the bag, when it's properly zipped up...it's just right.”

“That sounds like good advice, steve, although I have about 3/4 of an inch on you! I noticed it last time I winter camped (current bag is a reg.). I have some migraine medication I have to keep from freezing, so it's not really bulky, and it wasn't too comfortable. I don't do the snow cave thing, due to claustrophobia, but I could see the end getting wet on the tent wall. I was wondering about having to keep the extra space warm, too. Hmmmmm....”

“Bag sizing is a little like shoe sizing...it's not a perfect science. One company's 6' bag is another's 5'10" bag. Any chance you can get in one?”

“Yes, I'm making a trip to REI in a couple weeks, so will check it out then....”

“I'm 5'10" (barely) and I got the regular SubKilo.

It performed wonderfully in temps down around 10 or slightly below last weekend in the heavy snow here in CO.

I had room for water bottle and some clothes in there with me and didn't feel crowded at all.

If your right at the 6 foot mark, you might want the long to have room, BUT its not a really slim cut bag, so you'd have some room anyway unless your a more bulky guy than I am.

I think its a great bag.”

“by the way, the sub kilo is on sale at REI right now too.”

“If you're going to use it in 0 degrees, your not going to want to put on cold clothes in the morning. Buy the long and stuff it full of clothes at the bottom at night.”

“I bought the long version of my bag because I hate the feeling of a hood cinched up around my face. When it gets really cold I just slide down inside my bag and pull the top over my head like a blanket.”

“I use the long bag so I can put a water bottle and the next day's clothes by my feet. If there's still extra dead air space, I fill it with my down vest or jacket.”

“I think Roam Around staying warm in a SubKilo may be the exception to the rule. ;-)
I was cold at 32 in my '20 degree' SubKilo.
I returned it.
That zero bag might work if you are a warm sleeper like Roam.
If you are like most regular folks, subtract 15-20 degrees from the rating.

I would go for the long size if I was 6'.”

“I'm 5'2" and I had a regular size bag for a while but I was always cold in it. Then I bought a bag made for short women and it is much warmer. I'm sure there are other factors involved (bag quality, etc.) but I really think having a bag that fits makes a difference in how warm it keeps you.”

“i think i messed up, sorry - i have the Kilo - the zero degree version.

thanks for pointing that out stove.

I am a warm sleeper though.”

“That sale price for a 'zero' SubKilo is a good deal for a 10-15 degree down bag.
The nice thing about REI is you can always return it if not happy.”

“Stovey, you don't need to be so nasty about it.

You should learn to embrace innovation.







lol.....”

“lmao”

“I'm not overly worried about the temp issue - I've been using my 20-degree bag in winter and just wear all my clothes to bed. I just wanted something so I wouldn't have to do that, and ordinarily the temps where I go aren't that cold. Although it did get to 0° winter before last. Usually it'd be more like 15 or so at the coldest.

Where are you in CO Roam? I'm going to a conference in Vail next month - if convenient, maybe I could swing by and say hi. I won't have much time, but maybe a cuppa joe or something....”

“LOL@bit”

“am sitting here wondering "WHY would stovestomper know how warm a sleeper Roam is????"”

“LOL@Carlette
Because he implied he stayed warm at 10 degrees in a '20' degree SubKilo.”

“when will the world learn that quilts are the way to go?

free yourselves of the bag comrads!”

“I think Roam Around staying warm in a SubKilo may be the exception to the rule. ;-)

your wink at him thru me off! lol...that probably violates one of those man rules like leaving a vacant seat between y'all at a movie or something.”

“I use a selfmade quilt in warmer weather.”

“just for the record, there are a couple of time zones between StoveStomper and I.”

“that doesn't make it ok roam
last edited: 5/06/05 9:55:44 AM”

“(somehow I think roam's voice dropped an octiv...LMAO)”

“LOL”

“I had the same experience as StoveStomper. Had a 20* Sub Kilo for 2 years, never went below 32-33 degrees but I was freezing. Took it back and got the 0* Kilo Plus (note the zero bag is not called a Sub Kilo) and have been happy down to the 20's. Their stuff just isn't as warm as they say it is.”

“FWIW...
I'm 6' and wondered about the same issue.
I ended up getting all "long" bags.
I put my clothes inside so that getting dressed in the morning is less "shocking".

I've never had unusually cold feet - except when I used my kids' "regular" length bag and my feet press againt the bottom.”

“Get the long bag. I'm 6' and use the extra space to store stuff so it doesn't freeze when the overnight temps drop. It also makes it easier to get dressed in the morning when your clothes are already warmed up from body heat. And frozen boots are a real pain in the a$$ to put on in the morning.”

“I go with the long versions of everything.

I have no choice.”

“Hey HPM, your last name is 'Long'. ;-)”

“those 10 bucks wont seem like a lot when you can get all that mileage from packing your clothes in the bottom of that bag, but again, its not likely that you'll sleep in it at temp belo 20-30, your feet and the bag just arent warm enough to keep all that extra space cozy.”

“You think you guys have problems? Try being 6'4" and over 250 pounds. I have the Paul Bunyan by Sierra Designs. It is a 10 degree oversized bag and I fill all of it. Even worse try to find a lightweight tent that you can stretch out in. Most dome types are too short. I bought my kids a square dome that I could probably use if I slept diagonally. The great thing about it is it can be fast packed with a foot print and is self standing. I use a 3 man Sierra Designs Clip 3 because it is about 8 feet long. That is how much I cover stretched out. Unfortunately it is not a free stander.

I bought my kids (they are 11 and 10 and about 5 feet tall) Marmot 15 degree long bags. We have camped in the 20's and they never complained about being cold. They crawl down inside the bag like a cocoon.

Lofting tip I like to do.

Put the bag in a big rubbermaid container and toss in a dryer sheet or two. It keeps away bugs and the bag smells nice and fresh.
last edited: 5/07/05 6:43:08 AM”