Need New Sleeping Bag recommendation

“I'm gonna get a new down bag.....600, 700 or better power fill down, I know the higher the power fill the better the down hence the price, but for a winter bag I guess I should look at quality...... Advice Please”

“You can't go wrong with Western Mountaneering. The Kodiak is thier 0* bag. It has 7" of loft and weighs 2lb 12oz.

I would also look at the:
Feathered Friends Ibus (7" loft 3lbs), Marmot Couloir (3lbs 3oz),
Mont Bell UL SS Alpine Down Hugger #0 (2lbs 13oz) and the
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 (2lbs 10oz).”

“The choices Mocs gives are excellent bags. I would look at all of them.

Your next decision would be how much you want to spend. The Feathered Friends and Western Mtn bags are probably the most expensive, but will last forever if you take care of them. You can also custom order these bags and have extra down put in for a small price.

If and when I get a 0* bag, I will lokk at these makers.”

“I like both of my Big Agnes. They have a little room than most and I like to turn on my side. I would suggest looking at the different makers and see what they specialize in verses what you want in a bag and how you want it to fit.”

“Figure out a minimum weight you want to carry. The biggest thing is Weight, warmth and cost to benefit.

I rarely need more than a 20F where I am. I have a friend who has slept under a poncholiner and a space blanket (he never gets cold)...so it is something to think about.”

“Too bad you're not a girl, Stovestomper would send you a free bag.
last edited: 7/30/07 4:01:40 PM”

“Are you sure you want a down bag for winter? After 2 nights camping in the snow condensation started to be a problem.

Just my $.02”

“Western Mountaineering.”

“I had a Mont Bell a while back...and I got rid of it....I wish I hadn't!!!! I was trying to weed out my bags, and I think I got rid of the wrong ones!!! Go with Mont Bell!”

“http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=Microfiber%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=37

I have four different Western Mountaineering bags. This one has a true rating of 5 degrees. Be careful of other manufactures ratings.”

“WM are great bags and very light. I also have a Marmot Lithium. A great bag!!! Specs: 900 Fill Goose Down Weight, Regular: 2 lb 8 oz Length: Regular: 6'

Some info: http://www.trailspace.com/gear/marmot/lithium/”

“I have a WM 20 bag, but this caught me eye.
http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/quilt/index.htm”

“i'll vote for western mountaineering but you should do your own research so you know what you are getting.

there are five things to really consider first:

1. how much loft does the bag have?
2. how heavy is the sleeping bag?
3. how is the bag constructed?
4. what materials are used to make the bag?
5. other features

loft and weight are determined by the type and quality of the fill being used. higher quality down will produce more loft per oz than a lesser quality down.

weight is also heavily determined by the shell, so i clearly mean fill weight. sorry.

construction is also key and for me the major factors here are whether a bag is "sewn through" or "box baffled". in a sewn through design the bag is quilted by sewing through both sides of the sleeping bag. this is easy to do and hence sewn through bags cost less, but it also means that where the bag is sewn through there is zero loft and hence the bag will not sleep as warm. a box quilted bag has strips of mesh sewn inside the bag to form little boxes or strips that are filled with down. the down isn't pinched and hence the fill is consistant and doesn't lose heat like a sewn through bag. a bag that is box baffled is harder to make and hence more expensive, but results in a warmer sleeping bag.

materials are wide and varied. down loses it's loft as it gets damp. it can get damp a number of ways. first, it can get wet (rain, dew, etc). second, as you sleep your body releases moisture that gets into the bag and wilts the down. after several bag nights a sleeping bag can lose a lot of loft this way. so a material that can repel water from the outside while still breathing so you can keep your bag dry from moisture originating from the inside is key.

other features: look for a hood that you like a lot. draft tubes are nice, so you don't get cold from air getting in from the zipper. a good no-snag zipper is key for me. some bags save weight by using a 1/2 length zipper and i know some people have a hard time getting in and out of these and prefer a full-lengh zipper.

my favorite (and what I use)? i have several.

summer: jacks 'r better down quilt -or- marmot atom sleeping bag
winter/spring/fall: above quilt -or- western mountaineering megalite

i used to use the marmot hydrogen but it's sewn through and i found the WM bag to be vastly superior.

i also have a marmot "pounder plus" which is a synthetic bag where the insulation is "shingled" meaning put down in layers like shingles on a roof. i use it on kayak trips where i expect wet, cold conditions.

hope this helps. let us know what you decide! a WM bag is a great investment and you won't regret it years after your purchase.
last edited: 7/30/07 7:27:27 PM”

“I actually bought a house at the foot of Cold Mountain in Haywood County North Carolina so I'd mostly be hikin this part of NC. I keep lookin at Western Mountaineering but just ain't got the dough for it............StoveStompers can send my wife a bag though.

Thanks Again All”

“He will:)”

“another vote for Western Mountaineering.”