Big Agnes Down bags

“I am thinking of getting a new sleeping bag and I like the look of the Big Agnes Mystic. Does anyone else have this or any other BA bag? How well does it work with the sleeping pad etc. Do you have to use only BA Pads? Do you need to get heavier duty pads to insulate the bottom? I have a Prolite 4, is that good enough? Thanks”

“I have the BA Mica 20 degree synthetic bag and the REM insulated air core pad. I have been in 20 degree weather and was comfortable in it. The only time I wasn't was when in a 30-50 mph snow storm I was setting up my tiny 1 man tent I was in too much of a hurry and slid the pad into the sleeve with the bag a little twisted. One side of the pad was overlapping the bag and the other had a 2 inch gap that let in a draft. A little wiggling around and it righted itself and no more draft.

What I didn't like was having to kneel out in the snow with my bag inside my coffin sized tent and sliding the pad into the sleeve. The BA rep at Traildays told me to just leave my pad in the sleeve and roll both the pad and the bag up together and stuff them into the bags stuff sack.”

“I don't have a BA sleeping bag, but I've looked at them a lot and read that any 20" pad will work. I think the Prolite 4 would work for all but the dead of Wisconsin winter. You could put a foam pad underneath your thermarest-bag combination if you need extra insulation.”

“just make sure its a mummy pad”

“I have the zirkel and REM pad. Absolutely love the combo, couldn't be happier with it. Never have and drafts, always have been toasty warm. The system works great.”

“oh, a cautionary note, don't buy the pad/bag combo deal you see so often at places online. The pad isn't the aircore pads, its the hinkle or something like that and it weighs nearly 5 lbs.”

“I almost fell for the combo trick. The combo description didn't list the pad weight, and I had to find it elsewhere. I quickly gave up that idea.”

“yeah but you can usually get the bag/pad combo cheaper than just finding the bag. So go for it and leave the pad for car camping and buy the lighter version.

I have three BA bags. Horse Thief, Mica, and Pomer Hoit, and I wont sleep in anything else. So roomy and you never have to worry about rolling off the pad at night. Temp ratings are dead on with these bags.

Also I have used non-mummy pads with the mummy bags and it worked out ok not great but to save weight I tried it using a thermarest 3/4.”

“One of the reasons I chose the mystic was because on the BA website it recommended the use of a rectangular pad rather than a mummy pad. The bag I have now is a great bag, one of the features are zippers to make it into a rectangular bag in hotter climes that works really well. I am looking for reduced stuff size and weight and the BA bags seem to have lots more room and I like that idea. Once again thanks for all the tech help.”

“I just bought a BA bag myself. I bought the Lost Ranger (long) which is the same temp rating and style, but slightly heavier and cheaper. I coupled it with the Prolite4 (long) (note you need a rectangular pad not mummy pad with this series) and only have spent one night in it so far. It was a cold night (for this part of the country) on frozen ground. (around 25F) I was not warm and was a bit on the cold side, but not totally cold either. I think this is the limit at least for me until I put another paid beneath. I could feel the cold coming up from underneath. I do roll the bag and pad up together so I don't have to deal with putting the pad in and out of the sleeve. You can see my review on the other side:

http://forums.backpacker.com/thread.jspa?forumID=4&threadID=61797&messageID=1035741#1035741”

“if you want small stuff size, the Mica isn't your bag. Its warm, its roomy, and its stuffs ok for its size, but it ain't no football.”

“It might not be a football but I bet it stuffs better than the bag I have now.”

“I bought the Horse Thief (long) and the respective mummy pad but I got the colder weather pad.
I am a rather large human with wide shoulders.
The bag and pad work great. A bit tight around the neck and shoulders but good leg room. I have a wee bit of psychological trauma waiting, that night long fight to not roll off my pad, which, obviously, never happens with this stuff. Every time I use it, I become more accustomed to it.
And the whole thing weighs around 4 lbs or less.
It is a bit of a hassle getting the pad in the bag but as Hyway says, especially if you're on a trip, leave the pad in the bag.
I'm sure there is more expensive, maybe better stuff, but, so far, I love this setup.”

“I've narrowed down to the Mystic.

Does anybody use the compression sack (sold separately - not the stuff sack) with that?

What's the compressed size?

Do you recommend it? (I'm not sure I want to compress it to the maximum at the risk of losing loftiness)”

“btw: I usually like to just stuff my bag in the backpack inbetween cracks w/ no compression -- but if I expect rain, I prefer to have it in a bag.”

“bump”