Sleeping Bag Cover

“I have a 20 degree rated North Face down bag. It just barely keeps me comfortable at 35+. I thought about getting a 0 degree bag with Polarguard etc. Then I thought about the covers that Outdoor Research and related companies make. I live in a damp climate and keeping dry while sleeping is an obsession. Does anyone here use these products? I also am considering a silk liner for the warmth and keeping the interior of the bag clean.”

“i just always make sure it doesn't get wet on the hike in. my bag has a pertex cover but it's more water resistant than waterproof. once i am at camp i pull it out of the garbage bag and throw it in the tent and it stays dry. you could buy a waterproof stuff sack i suppose.

a liner would boost the temp rating, but fleece would give you more degrees than silk i believe.”

“I do not believe a liner can add any more warmth that you could get by wearing more clothes to bed. The clothes are multiuse some weight is saved. You need to look at your sleep setups weak points. It may lead to a solution that is less expensive and lower I weight. Try different pads under the bag (borrow & rent). Try a hat. You lose a lot of heat off your head. There is a saying I have heard and found to be true, ?If your feet are cold, put on your hat?. Does the bag fit you? To big and you increase the volume of air your body needs to heat and may increase air leakage. To small and you may be compressing the insulation. Compressed insulation has less insulating capacity and less thickness. If you are going for an over bag, get one with some insulation. One company that makes them is Wiggy?s wiggys.com. They guarantee the loft for ever and you can wash it as often as you like. The over bags are intended for use with their bags but I see no reason why you could not use it with another bag.”

“External covers may create more internal moisture than you may like.

If you sleep almost naked maybe put on some extra clothes(hat and socks, etc.) and vent the bag. I would try warmer clothing before dropping $ on a new bag. Maybe a better sleeping pad!!

Avoid contacting dirty sweaty skin with the interior of the bag. Use silk? or fleece (bulky)liners or super thin clothing(base layers stuff).”

“Ditto on the internal moisture warning. But if a new bag, one with dryloft of the like is not an option, try a thing called "the hot sack' or try a cheap bivy.”

“Campmor offers a Slumberjack, Hollofill overbag that I have borrowed from a friend and used with satisfaction. According to MEC (the Canadian REI), and overbag actually keeps your main bag drier. Try out Campmor at www.campmor.com. Happy trails.”

“I have the TNF Snowshoe, o degree, and in really cold temps I combine it with my 20 TNF THunderhead, and put both of them in my OR Gtex bivy.

I think the bivy is a great item to have especially with a down bag!”