Sleeping bags

J

jball1125

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Aug 26, 2011
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Planning a camping trip soon with some buddies and wanted to upgrade the ol walmart sleeping bag.

You guys or gals recommend anything? I like the ones that have several layers for different temps. The biggest factor in my decision however will probably be size, don't want to be carrying around a huge bag.

Thanks!
 
If you can find a military issue bag, I would get it. There are very warm and compact to about the size of a Rugby ball.
 
I've been looking at big agnes packs. I'm a big guy, and they seem to have a good range of sizes.

Picked up a Kifaru G2 Woobie a year or two ago, it is crazy warm for how light it is.
 
How light do you want it?? That's the question. I started with NorthFace's Cats Meow. Great bag, but too bulky and too heavy. I moved on to the Mountain Hardware Phantom at 1lb and 32degrees. This sleeping bag packs to the size of a water bottle. Can be a little chilly at night when it gets in the 30's.

I borrowed and tried a Marmot Plasma 15 degree bag. Best bag ever but now you are talking 500$+ dollars.

So how light and how much are you willing to spend? Also check out Zpacks for their ultra lite bags made with Cuben fiber!! Super light!!
 
Hindsight said:
If you can find a military issue bag, I would get it. There are very warm and compact to about the size of a Rugby ball.
Click to expand...
Yep, I still have my old one (that's my 20 month old daughter). I've used the system for 70 degree nights down to single digit nights. Has a gore tex bivy cover too.

IMAG0026_zps2cbc7724.jpg
 
If weight and packing size is your main concern, go with one with down filling.

Those are MUCH lighter and smaller when packed up than those with synthetic fiber filling.

The comfort is also greater!

There are two "down"sides:rolleyes: though:

They are usually a deal more expensive than synthetic ones.

And:
A down sleeping bag will not tolerate water. So you risc getting wet, a down sleepingbag may be a bad choice.
 
I agree with Hindsight. Checkout the Military surplus ECWS Bags, I got a couple for me and the wife.
You get a 3 piece system, that can go down to -10 degrees. You take what you need for your trip.
We usually take the Gore-Tex Bivy cover and patrol bag and that's great down to 20-30 degrees is pretty well windproof and keeps you dry even if the tent floods.
The price is pretty reasonable too.
 
Wiggy's. No nonsense bag, no nonsense manufacturer! Wiggy is serious about keeping you warm and alive. If I am not mistaken Alaska Search and Rescue uses his bags and I know for certain the military use them. Check them out, you will not be disappointed. I have 4!
 
Most of the decision is going to wrapped in where are you going camping. I see your location says Miami. Are you talking camping in the S.E USA or are you going up into mountains somewhere. When I lived down south I never needed a sleeping bag, just took an old Army Green wool blanket and a poncho or tarp. Going north and things changed. I have had Coleman sleeping bags and had many years of comfort in them. Now I use a North Face -20'F, but I'm in Alaska.
The Military bags are great as I used those for over 20 years. Just buy a good quality bag cause it can last for years, look how the zippers are built and if the bag is poly material, some other blend. Look at how fast they can dry out if wet. Do you still need thermal properties if wet? etc etc. Like I said it all depends on where your going. Whatever you do DO NOT get a bag that is going to be to hot for the environment, sweating is not a good thing cause the bag absorbs vapors and moisture.
Good luck in you decision.
 
A couple of years ago I bought two Marmot bags. They are nice bags, but are not holding up as I had hoped they would. Not sure if this makes sense, but the quality is there but not the durability. I won't be purchasing Marmot sleeping bags next time around.
 
Russ brings up a good point in regards to zippers. My military issue bag pictured above has huge, robust zippers. Very durable and almost completely snag-free.
 
I have the USGI MSS like the one pictured above in woodland camo and can't say enough good about it. The only and I mean "only" downside to it is that it is about 3-4 pounds heavier than a comparable down bag system. I like this better as you don't have to worry about water like you do down on repeated use for weeks. There are plenty of youtube vids of people doing reviews that are good to watch. These are way cheaper than a quality down bag too.
 
amflud said:
Russ brings up a good point in regards to zippers. My military issue bag pictured above has huge, robust zippers. Very durable and almost completely snag-free.
Click to expand...

Thanks for elaborating on that Bro cause that is what I was trying to say but did it poorly. Snags have a tendency to turn into tears and rips, filling coming out etc. When the SHTF you need to be able to grab the bag from the inside and open it rapidly. I was out one night and had my .338 Win Mag and a 12 GA. laying next to me and was woke up to grunts and snorts i.e. Brown Bear. The tent could turn into a hazardous condition real quick so being able to bale out is a necessity. I have no desire to be a hot pocket for any varmint.
 
Man lots of replies on this. First off thanks all for the input!

I am not as worried about the weight as I am about the size. The trip is planned for mid Florida in the winter time. My guess is it could be anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees when we go. The main reason I wanted a system with several layers is so I can choose the warmth. I don't see myself needing anything for below freezing but I wouldn't mind having the capability of removable layers in case I ever ventured north. I would say water resistance is very important since Florida is pretty wet.
 
I've had good experience with Slumberjack products, and they've also been recommended to me by outfitters in the past. They offer a good variety of configurations and are not terribly expensive. Check them out online.
 
My summer sleepingbag has a built in mosquitonet, which is pretty neat.
Both my summer and winter are synthetic ones, since tolerance towards water weighs heavier than weight and packing size.

I use Carinthia Defence 4 and Carinthia Tropen.
Those I can highly recommend. Don't know if they are available in the US.
 
Along with being a knife whore...well I have a thing for sleeping bags (and boots ;) ). Value v warmth v versatility the US military sleep systems are really hard to beat, they come at a cost and that is weight/bulk. I have two complete sets of these and some "bits" (extra bivvys etc) and the older black/green combo bags are my most used (as they live in my truck 24/7 and are therefore what I grab. I have an ultralight Snugpak for summer months and when weight is the most important consideration. If I am actually serious I have a Mont (http://www.mont.com.au/index/catalog/product/61 ) down bag that I love (and they customized for me some years ago). Along with these I probably have another ahummmm ;) 10 or so ;) bags from Snugpak and military contractors including some if the SF extreme cold weather bags (that replaced Wiggys bags with our SF for use in Arsecrackestan). Of my three Godkids, two are actually getting new sleeping bags from me for Christmas (and one is getting a RMD ;) ), I ended up getting them both Snugpak bags http://www.platatac.com/brands/snugpak/snugpak-softie-elite-4-sleeping-bag-5885.html .

Andy
 
amflud said:
Yep, I still have my old one (that's my 20 month old daughter). I've used the system for 70 degree nights down to single digit nights. Has a gore tex bivy cover too.

IMAG0026_zps2cbc7724.jpg
Click to expand...

That picture is adorable :thumbup:
 
Wiggy's makes a really nice product in the way of sleeping bags.

There is usually something "on special" on their website. wiggys.com

With any sleeping bag in Winter you really need to avoid close ground contact.

You can go the cheap route and take a large Contractor bag with you and stuff that chock full of leaves or you can spend the money for a sleeping pad.

BY FAR the best under bag sleeping pad is the extremely lightweight inflatable Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm...down side...it is expensive and a tiny bit of a P.I.T.A. to inflate using their built in inflatable system (since you do not want inflate it by mouth in freezing temperatures because the moisture in your breath will condense and form ice crystals inside - so just plan on it taking about 10 minutes to get it fully inflated) but, Therm-A-Rest also makes a roll up solar pad that also reflects body heat back at you...down side...it's a bit bulky.

If you go with an appropriate temp rated Wiggy's bag inside of a Gore-Tex waterproof Bivvy cover and a Therma-A-Rest sleeping pad you really do not need a tent and only need a small piece of TYVEK to make a rain or snow cover over your face in bad weather.

If you shop for a Gore Tex bivvy cover buy a surplus unissued one and that way you'll know that it's 100% waterproof and still breathable.

I go Winter hammock camping using a Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro hammock with an under quilt that I made myself (from a Down comforter) and a Wiggy's bag in the hammock and a section of MIL surplus wool blanket under the bag for added tushy warmth...I also wear a wool cap and I have slept out when temps were hovering right around ZERO with no problems at all. Nice and toasty.

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Down bags are great and they are warm but, REMEMBER that the down will compress underneath you and you will completely lose that "DEAD AIR" warmth underneath. You will be toasty above and your underside will get quite cool and uncomfortable unless you get something that is effective between you and the ground.
Pine boughs work great if you do not have a sleeping pad but, use a layer about 3 times as thick as you think you will need because they compress a LOT as the night progresses.

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As also mentioned above the Snugpak bags are very nice also and they are reasonably priced. My Wife has a Snugpak EXPEDITION and she likes it.
I like my Wiggy's.
 
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