Big Agnes sleep system question

“I have the insulated version of the Insulmat and am considering buying a BA Zirkel. It appears that the Zirkel is pretty much the same as my homebuilt quilt(3" loft) except it has a hood and a sleeve for the mat to be inserted into. My question is how it actually works when you sleep. I turn a good bit in my sleep while on the trail. In a conventional bag/mat layout I'll roll onto my side and my bag moves with me. When this happens the face hole is still in front of my face. Same thing happens when I roll onto my stomach. In a BA system are you stuck only sleeping on your back? It would seem that when you roll on your side that the air hole is now at your ear and you probably lose a good bit of warmth that way.

Finally, I heard their ratings are accurate. Can anyone verify they're accurate with a tarp? If it's 20* outside but you're in a tent and it's really closer to 28* or so then you really haven't tested the bag itself.

Any help would be great.”

“Dayhiker. I have a zirkel and absolutley love it, best bag I have owned bar none. I have stayed very toasty in it in the teens. Excellent zippers that dont snag, lots of shooulder room, nice draft collar and a built in pouch to make apillow outta clothes..buy buy buy buy!”

“I found one for about $200 which sounds like a really good deal. The BA site said they're retooling them so that they're a bit lighter and are good to maybe 15*. I doubt the $200 one is that one. Maybe clearing out the old ones.

What about the turning at night thing. Is that a big deal with this system?”

“You don't understand.

birch says buy it.”

“200 is about 79 belo9w retail.

Re:turning at night. I am 5'10" and nearly 200 lbs with brod shoulders. I can turn comfortably within the bag while its stays in place providing I have the BA pad in it (or similar type).

Buy it already then fly your arse up here for some hiking.”

“I'm probably going to get it, just leery of the airhole being at my ear while I sleep on my side.”

“I have the mica bag from big agnes with the insulated air core. You won't be turning the bag with you when you roll, the mat won't allow that. I roll a lot when I sleep, these bags allows plenty of room for that. I just roll inside the bag since I don't cinch the bag up around my mouth and nose (that would drive me batty).

Another thing, when I sleep I like to bend my leg and stick my knee out away from my body (helps the degenerated discs in my back). With a typical mummy bag I would be driven crazy banging my knee against the bag before my knee was half way extended to where I felt comfortable. Not a problem with the Mica as long as the aircore is not blown up so much thats its as stiff as a board.”

“The hood is roomy enough the airhole can move with my head. Your head might be bigger than mine though. ;)

I use the Insulmat and it works just fine.”

“one question about the Big Agnes Sheep System : do the boots point uphill or down hill and do they point toward the front of the sheep or toward the back?”

“Thanks Sass, that's the info I was looking for.”

“I suppose if they pointed to the front it should be mentioned on the hummer thread.”

“"Big Agnes sleep system question"

There's a system to sleeping? I never thought about it, but my system works great. I sack out at night, when I'm tired, fall asleep quickly, and wake up in the morning refreshed. During the night I sometimes use a pee bottle, but I can do that in my sleep. My system never fails, ah..., well, maybe once: Woke Up To A Nightmare
last edited: 1/19/06 3:41:55 PM”

“http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?cid=221&pid=BZL%20(L/R)

http://www.backcountryedge.com/products/big_agnes/zirkel_2005.aspx

http://www.backcountryedge.com/products/big_agnes/pomer_hoit_2005.aspx

The 0* is $260

These are closeouts on the 05 models. Alabama Outdoors is having a closeout sale. I'll check them out and if they don't have anything will get this one.”

“Heck, I'll pull the trigger now. Plastic is in hand.”

“They only had left zips but I figured the aggravation was worth the $90 I saved.”

“This probably doesn't answer your question, but we got a BA bag for my wife last summer. She is a delicate sleeper, and is never warm enough and never gets a good nights sleep at home or at camp. She really loves the Big Agnes, and was able to turn over easily.”

“I'll be getting 2 pomer_hoits soon.

Does anybody know anything about their pre-production dual-core pads?”

“It looks like I got the last bag. They're now out of stock.”

“Papa's got a brand new bag, as they say. Congrats!”

“Now I have to take a trip. It'll probably be Sipsey in March. By then the lows will be high enough for my tarp. Oh well, couldn't turn down that deal. Had cash in hand.”

“You got a great price!”

“The new REI Left zip also has a 24" right zip in it...makes the left zip a little more bearable....($25 at Unclaimed...LMAO)


BRAG BRAG BRAG....”

“I got my bag in today. So far, I'm not impressed. It doesn't appear to have much loft at all. Maybe just 2", though I haven't measured. It's been unpacked about 3 hrs now and just seems very flat.”

“uh oh...that guy who told ya to buy it is an idiot.

I hope it works out for ya.”

“I got my bag in today. So far, I'm not impressed. It doesn't appear to have much loft at all. Maybe just 2", though I haven't measured. It's been unpacked about 3 hrs now and just seems very flat.

That's what she said.

Just kidding.

Hey, which one did you get dayhiker. I'm thinking of buying 2 BA bags soon.”

“I'm going to examine it a bit more and let it loft for a day. It came in a plastic bag with a bit of compression on it.

I just can't help but compare it to my 40* quilt I made that lofts about 3-3.5"”

“I got the 05 model Zirkel. 06 is supposed to be a little lighter and a little warmer.”

“2#2.8oz. That's a little light. I wonder if it's short about 3oz of down.”

“isnt the regular zirkel 2lb 3 ounce and the long about 2lb 8 ounce?”

“I thought it was 2,6. I'll double check. How much loft does yours have, roughly?”

“you're right about weight I just checked their site. I dont like to brag about my "loft" but lets just say its at least 2 inches LOL. I will get it out to check...”

“2 limp inches, but its only been out for a few minutes.”

“The total depth of liner and everything is 4". I laid it on the conf room table and measured off that.”

“I wish I could afford it right now, but I was in Alabama Outdoors and they're clearancing their winter items. Patagonia Micro Puffball is listed as the suggested retail of $148, but it's 40% off. Add tax and it's still under $100.”

“just weighed mine, I have the tall version. 2lb 4 1/2 ounces”

“just remember that all the loft is on the top. None on the bottom. Its not like a normal bag”

“Ha Ha! You thought we were serious when we said it's a good system and you should buy one?! Gotcha!!





















Teasing! Don't worry, it's looking skinny because there's no fluff in the bottom. It'll be toasty warm. Trust us. (Yeah, that's the ticket)”

“I'm comparing the loft to my quilt which doesn't have a bottom. The quilt is much loftier. I'll measure again and just measure the top. It still needs to be 3". A 20* bag usually has about 6" of loft.”

“Wouldn't the fill number have something to do with loft? Maybe at 750 fill it doesn't have to look fluffier because the feathers themselves are flufferiffic?”

“The insulation value is tied to loft. If it's a lower quality down then you have to use more of it. The top loft is only 2". I'll call BA today and check into it. OTOH, birch's was 2" when he measured it and the rating is accurate for yall.”

“Extremely accurate. I sleep cold and have been in 17° nights with it with no problems. The only time I've ever been cold in that bag was when my BA aircore sprung a leak.”

“Has that also been in a winter type tent? That adds a good bit to the temp inside. The reason I'm asking so many questions is that I use a sil tarptent a good bit and it won't hold heat since it's open on the sides.”

“No, we don't use tents. We tarp unless Abby's along. Generally in winter it's the Walrus Trekker tarp.”

“One last question, what were you wearing???? Any other time that would get me in trouble. Were you bundled up?

The main reason for all the questions is that I probably won't see another 20* night until next year. It's been 60's most of this January with frost maybe 1/3 of the nights. Winter is pretty much over here, but we'll still have a few cold snaps. My next trip is March and it'll be upper 30's by then.

Another way for me to look at it, is that if I try it next winter and it's too cold for me then I can still break even since I got such a good deal on it.

The other thing that makes me nervous is it looks flatter than the top of my campor 20* that only keeps me warm to the upper 20's, hence the need for a new bag.

If you're a cold sleeper then I should be good.

I'll turn off the engineer mode now and shut the heck up.

Thanks for all your help.”

“I wear lightweight (silk weight) patagonia top and bottom. No socks, no hat, etc, etc. If it's going to be near 20°. If it's going to be around 25-30° I wear the patagonia top and boxers.
Birch wears boxers and a hat. He doesn't have nearly as much hair as me though.”

“I should be fine then.

Thanks again.”

“No problem. That's what TT is for eh?”

“Wow, I'm amazed Sass. I sleep very cold and I've completely eliminated the concept of the Big Agnes sleep systems. Maybe I should reconsider. I wish I could "try" it out. Hmm... Does REI carry it?”

“It really works well. If you lived closer or we ever ended up on a trip together I'd let you borrow mine Pixie.”

“Question Sass: Do you sleep in your's separately from birch? Or are you sharing? (body heat factor)”