Down sleeping bag shopping

“I'm still sleeping bag shopping. Ebay hasn't had anything that looked good in a few weeks. Northern Mountain Supply has some good sale prices. I keep checking them, Campmor, EMS, and a few others. I think I want a 10-20 degree bag that is around 3 lbs. I am 5'5" and think a regular would be good (the description says up to 5'11"), but if I need to stuff the foot area with clothes and water, will that be long enough in actual use?

In my town it frequently gets down to 30 in the early AM in June and Oct, so I'm expecting the mountains to be colder. I'm thinking that heavier clothes for sleeping would work if it is colder than 20 degrees. I have one summer down mummy bag, so I can focus on colder weather for this purchase. Does anyone have any suggestions?”

“I just purchased a Marmot Never Summer sleeping bag from www.killerdeals.com”

“rei-outlet has the Marmot Pinnacle 15 deg 'old style' on sale. Since it has a greater fill power down (one ounce of 775 fp down will fill 775 cu inches) it weighs closer to 2 pounds than 3 (more typical with 550-600 fp bags of that temp range).

This is the bag that I've used for a while and am pretty happy with except I wish I'd spent the extra money on Dryloft. (rei-outlet has a small dryloft one left - it would fit you).

Don't get too large a bag - you have to fill all that space with your body heat. I rarely have to bring anything in my bag on fall or spring trips, even in New England. It takes a while for water to freeze at 25, especially inside the tent. If you'll be doing winter trips, get a third bag.

If you want to spend some money, get a Western Mountaineering Apache or a Feathered Friends Swallow.”

“I got an 10 deg. REI dryloft down bag on a closeout sale for $180. Its been good so far, about 2.5 lbs. It was warm in 10 deg conditions last winter.”

“I know this is a gear thread & therefore probably doesn't belong on TT, but... I am also shopping for a winter bag & hope this thread stays alive.

In my case, I'm buying two bags..one for me & one for my son, so I'm spending a lot of $$. Therefore, I'd like to know what everyone else comes up with & why.

So far, my favorite bag is Feathered Friends. Undeniably a great product, the question is do I want to spend that much $? Not if I can find something nearly as good at a lower price. What I keep thinking, however, is that I don't want to be 20 miles from nowhere in the middle of the mountains in the middle of winter, to find out that my "bargain" bag isn't doing the job!”

“Mean like the guy Snownymph's pal found in a sleeping bag?”

“You got it Pekka! There's no easy way out from 8,000 feet elevation through 30 feet of snow in the Sierras... want to make sure my bag is what I think it is before I head out!!!”

“I'd avoid buying a bag too big. I bought a large winter bag years ago and found out I didn't need to bring much inside and the large size is just extra weight and bulk for me.
I bought a 20 degree down mummy bag from L.L Bean in 1990 that weighs 2 lbs. and it's cut tight with no room for bulky clothes. I use it 3 season and it's very warm with such little area to heat up, but it's not for restless sleepers.
You might want to check Sierratradingpost.com sometimes they have some good deals on bags.”

“Western Mountaineering bags are pricey, but worth it.”

“I have a Marmot Pinnacle Dryloft 15 deg bag and love it! The dryloft was worth the extra $$. I use it in the Sierras most of the time and it fine. I also have a Sierra Designs Ella 0 deg (women's bag) that weighs 3 lb 4 oz that I use for snow camping. Wish it was dryloft.

btw, the guy was found in the summer, in a desert wash, back exposed, face down with a trash bag tied over his head.........I don't think it was the weather.....”

“Snow Nymph, I wanted to go with the dryloft, but I couldn't convince myself that it would be a good idea in humid conditions. I felt the breathability of untreated nylon would be more important than moisture resistance.

How does the dryloft handle internal moisture?”

“Ok so far.... I don't like to sweat at night, so the bag is partially unzipped. I wanted the dryloft mainly because of condensation when there's 2 of us in the tent. The SD bag has to sit out in the morning to dry out before I can pack it. The Marmot goes straight in the stuff sack. When we do the JMT I don't want to have to wait for the bag to dry. The new backpack is toploading so the bag goes in first.”

“Well I just got the Jack Wolfskin Diamond Dream and will be using it the first time next week. 15 to 25 degree bag only weighs 3.2lbs. Looks very good. I have used the Jack Wolfskin Skylite 32 to 40 degrees. Wieght only 2.5lbs. This performed very well I sleep cold. Those weights are on regualar size.
The price is right too. Skylite $139.99 and Diamond Dream $159.99. You can get those from my store Zoe's just a little plug there. But hey where ever you purchase from Jack Wolfskin makes really nice stuff.”

“What does the condensation do on the dryloft? Bead? I know what you mean about wanting to air out the bag before packing, but how is it different?

The moisture won't condense inside the bag, because it is warm, but it can certainly get clammy. I don't know, and I would have asked an expert if I hadn't met so many 'experts' who were later proven wrong.

You hike in a drier climate than I do, but I consider your experience to be valid.”

“WM... light, toasty, packs small, airy if you want it, and some are mate-able (right/left)”

“The dryloft looks great, but I just can't spend that much on one bag right now, unless it goes on sale for a lot less than the $274 Northern was showing it at.

One frustrating thing is that frequently a sale on down only includes the long sizes. But I'll keep looking. They had a TNF blue kazoo 15 deg for $135 or so. Is the Marmot Pinnacle non-dryloft a better bag at $175 or so?”

“I don't have any experience with the Blue Kazoo but in my research before buying the Marmot, I noticed that a common complaint in many reviews was that the zipper was prone to snags and it tended to lose feathers. It is also has the lower quality 600 fp down so it weighs more. (Note: the manufacturer's quoted weight is sometimes light.) It is a popular bag. At that price you could get most back on e-Bay if you end up hating it.

If you join the NY/NJTC, Campmor will give you 10% off the in-store purchase. That purchase and the tax deduction nearly pay for the membership.”

“For winter camping in the humid south, I have a dryloft 0 degree North Face. Spring/fall I use Western Mountaineering highlight, and summer I use 60 degree Jack Wolfskin. I am very happy with all of them. I agree with SN, it's nice in the winter to just shake the bag off and go without waiting to dry it out. I would say the temp. ratings on the North Face and Wolfskin are right on and the WM is rated somewhat warm, it would be comfortable to at least 30 degrees.”

“Barb, I thought you had already left for CA! When are you going?”

“Next Friday...can't wait..........
more later”

“I am still looking for a 1degree bag of somesort for our trip but really have no clue what to get. I sleep cold and cant have it weigh much. right nowI have a kelty 20 degree bag but its tight. Kids model. that weighs 3.5lbs Keep it mind that Im so short 4 feet 11 in. What would be a good bag for me to look into? down? on the East coast? were going to be out all winter.”

“While hiking that much in the east I wouldn't get a down bag. They do sleep warmer but I haven't really got to try it out in really wet weather. In snow that may do fine. I guess I am not much help. But I did test the down bag in cool wet weather it did great but that was only one day and night of rain. So further testing will be in order. You have time so I will keep testing and doin some research for you.”

“I have a Campmor -15 mummy I bought a few months ago for $139.(long). It's on sale there again.I used it only coupla times at the tail end of last winter, but am quite satisfied (the stitching and material seem 1st-rate sturdy). Of course, this is NOT a 3-season bag.”

“I was out shopping yesterday and actually saw a $635 sleeping bag. It was on sale for $515, what a deal! The Marmot Never Summer looked good and was on sale, but it was a long. I wish outfitters would put a printout from their internet sites with all the spec, on their in-store merchandise. My memory just isn't good enough to remember that much detail.”

“MOM -

I wonder of you mistyped. You are looking for a 1 degree bag???

For long distance in the winter, I would only consider down for the comfort, warmth and weight savings.”

“[posted by bacpac: What does the condensation do on the dryloft? Bead?]

Condensation from the tent....touches the dryloft, and it gets wet....but I just wipe it off before packing. The bag w/o dryloft sits out in the sun to air dry in the morning. I'm more concerned when its raining and we have to pack the bags up before drying out. Haven't had a problem yet with down.”

“[posted by MOM: Im so short 4 feet 11 in.........were going to be out all winter. ]

I'm 4'11'' too. I like the SD Elle 0 deg womens bag, comes in short. I did two winter trips last season, and on the first trip, (wkend before xmas), I carried the Marmot Pinnacle 15 deg bag, and slept cold. The following weekend I took the SD 0 deg, and slept good. I like the fit of the SD, but we had to dry it out both mornings. The Marmot has a lot more leg space, so I throw extra clothes down there. It was worth the weight I saved, it packs pretty small, and I love to wipe and pack it.”

“Buy once: Feathered Friends.”

“Feathered Friends did just come out with a couple of bags sculpted for women. I doubt a 10 degree bag would work for a cold sleeper in the winter though.”

“www.sportsmansguide.com has a zero degree down sleeping bag for $80 bucks. The item number is WX1-51924.”

“From the library I have a book called "AMC Guide to Winter Camping" which has a discussion about down bags and drying them out as Snow Nymph discussed. But they talk about the problem as being the water vapor from the inside. We sweat one pint a night, even when not "sweating". Plus we exhale water vapor that condenses on the outside of the bag. But mostly they talk about the inside water vapor as being the issue requiring drying out in the morning. The Dryloft sounds like it is only on the outer shell of the bag. Is this right or are there other differences in the Dryloft version?

I printed out the specs on eight bags yesterday. The only one with the 775 fill was the Marmot Pinnacle. The North Face Superlight Down was 0 degrees and $167 with 600 fill and 3lb 5 oz. I couldn't find a SD Elle like Snow N mentioned. A SD Dream Catcher looks good, light, fits up to 5'5", temps to 15 deg. 600 fill, $179. LLBean has very nice bags, not on sale, but great size choices.

Violin, the NJNY Trail Conf discount, is it on sale items also, on web orders and cat orders? Ramsey's and Campmor are so coy about the discount, it seems more word of mouth, not displayed in store or catalog. At Ramsey's, a sign shows which organizations the store "supports". Anyone with membership card gets a discount, but the sign does not say that.”

“I don't have a dryloft bag, but from my readings the dry loft is only on the outside and wouldn't work on the inside since vapor would flow through it. I believe that a dry loft bag that was damp from body vapor would take longer to dry than a taffeta shell because the wind would not blow through as well. The shell on my bag is very light taffeta nylon and while not very water resistant, the flipside is that it dries very quickly and breezes blow right through the down and puffs it up fast. Never had the bag soaked, but I'm careful not to get it soaked in the first place.”

“Campmor gives the discount on all in-store purchases except the super-super-deluxe-deals (the price ends in 96 cents). I think canoes and bicycles are excluded as well. Ramsey will give you the discount on all regular price merchandise but the cashiers don't always know that sale items are excluded (wink-wink, nudge-nudge).

Campmor has the regular length Blue Kazoo and a similar women's model, the Blue Igloo. They also have a similar model with 800 fp down, the Hot Tamale. I still like the Marmot Pinnacle - I got mine on clearance at Ramsey's (last one).”

“The condensation inside a dryloft bag probably wouldn't be an issue for you on 2-5 day trips, especially if you air it out while you eat. Most have dark linings to absorb the sun's heat and help them dry. If you're out for weeks at a time, it might be more of an issue, especially if you have bad weather and can't let it air out.

My summer bag has a dryloft shell and I've not had any problems but I usually have it unzipped anyway. My friend has a WM Apache Dryloft and hasn't lost loft from moisture, even on extended trips.”

“I forgot about the wind. That would make quick work of drying the bag. I've decided that I will keep watching for a great sale and save some more money. I want the lighter weight higher loft bag, but they CCCCCOST SOOOO MMMMUCHH! Alright, enough whining.

I'm sending in my NJNY TC membership now. My older daughter is hooked and wants to go to Ramseys all the time. She has her eye on a kayak. PFD's, paddles, waterproof watch, I might as well sell my house. We could move to a cabin and have a second cabin for gear. I could home school the kids. I think I saw this in a movie once. Just think, no dealing with the PTA.”

“Good. I think it makes sense to buy once rather than sell or store a lot of stuff you don't use anymore - and cheaper in the long run. If my budget weren't dedicated to diapers right now, I'd offer to sell you my Pinnacle (that replaced others) so I could get the dryloft bag I really want.

Don't forget to tell the trail conference who sent you so I can get my commission.”

“I agree with waiting for a sale if you don't need it right away. There's so many retailers to buy from these days it's worth it to watch for sales.”

“Well I suppose I'll need your employee ID number then, at the least, Violin, or should I just describe you to them.

The fellow who smells of baby powder (or something...), posts sound bite and pictures to the internet all day, and hikes in New England with a NinjaTurtle cotton tent while it is snowing. They'll assign the commission to the right person, I'm SURE!”

“Violin, I sleep with the bag open too, I get warm, and don't want to get all sweaty. I've only taken the Pinnacle on 5 day trips, so I hope its not a problem on a 30 day trip.”