Recommend a Good Sleeping Bag

[Hookemdown.]

A few months back I asked you guys to recommend a pack, now I need a sleeping bag.

I'll be sleeping in sheltered areas, but the temps could dip to around 20* at night.

It needs to be able to pack small, I'll be carrying an 80 L bag for a month. I'd like to keep the price under $150.

And would you guys recommend using a sleeping pad as well?

[fourbizz]

http://www.sierradesigns.com/p-334-wild-bill-20.aspx

[Root beer]

I've heard great things about Big Agnes. I have their insulated Air Core sleep pad, and soon as I get some cash I'm look into buying their sleeping bag to pair up with my sleep pad. Each bag has a sleeve where you can slide their sleep pad in, so no more rolling off the pad. lol. Their Insulated Air Core packs pretty small and light, takes me about 5 minutes at most to blow it up. The sleep pad is also insulated to 15 degrees. Also, you could buy a sleeping pad, that's slightly shorter to save space and weight and just put extra clothes at end of sleep pad to elevate your feet. I'm 5'8 so I didn't do it, but I've heard of someone doing that before. lol.

http://www.bigagnes.com/

P.S. Down will packed the smallest, but don't get it wet, well, don't get any sleeping bags wet. lol.

[fourbizz]

I think down is WAAAAY better than any synthetic. But it is expenisive, especially high quality down like 600-800fil

[Root beer]

I think down is WAAAAY better than any synthetic. But it is expenisive, especially high quality down like 600-800fil

I wish I wasn't allergic to feathers.  :-/ It would be nice to have a 1 pound sleeping bag that keeps you just as warm, if not warmer than synthetic..I passed out on a friend's couch a couple weeks ago and he had down pillow in which resulted in me waking up with scratchy throat and stopped up nose..

[Hookemdown.]

What about this?

http://www.campmor.com/kelty-cosmic-20-degree-sleeping-bag-regular-1.shtml?source=CI&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=41952

[fourbizz]

That would probably be a decent bag. Kelty isnt as good as it once was, but their stuff is still pretty good.

Also, the Big Agnes air pad is the best thing ever invented. EVER!

[fourbizz]

you might think about this:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/319,2974V_Big-Agnes-15-F-Crater-Down-Sleeping-Bag-with-Sleeping-Pad-Mummy-600-Fill-Power-.html

sign up for their email and they send you really good email only coupons and sales. you could get 30% off of the already discounted price with todays email deal

[Root beer]

That would probably be a decent bag. Kelty isnt as good as it once was, but their stuff is still pretty good.

Also, the Big Agnes air pad is the best thing ever invented. EVER!

I concur.

[clayton86]

check out military surplus my issued ecws bag is warm as all heck and is 3 piece so u can take parts out for warmer conditions or add for colder. it keeps me warm sleeping in the snow in Ft. drum with sub zero temps. you can find them in cheaper than dirt or ranger joes

[bigfruits]

check out last years or models that are a few yrs old online. theyre usually alot cheaper. find a good bag on discount and read reviews on it. make sure it packs small

i like marmot bags. id get synthetic only because down doesnt dry very well.

i used to not use a pad and laugh at my friend for bringing the extra weight. after trying one several yrs ago, I wont go without again!

[Root beer]

Whatever sleep pad you go with, make sure it's insulated..It'll help provide warmth.. I've slept in 30 degree bag, with 15 degree rating sleep pad, and woke up with weather being 18 degrees and I was pretty warm. The tent floor was pretty darn cold too..

[Hookemdown.]

Thanks guys.  I'll probably buy the Big Agnes insulated pad.  Is there any significant difference between the rectangular and mummy version?  I'll be using  a mummy bag.

[Root beer]

Thanks guys. I'll probably buy the Big Agnes insulated pad. Is there any significant difference between the rectangular and mummy version? I'll be using a mummy bag.

Just the shape. Of course mummy usually pack smaller than rectangular. But with rectangular you got more room to move around in, so it just depends on your sleep preference.

[fourbizz]

Thanks guys. I'll probably buy the Big Agnes insulated pad. Is there any significant difference between the rectangular and mummy version? I'll be using a mummy bag.

Just the shape. Of course mummy usually pack smaller than rectangular. But with rectangular you got more room to move around in, so it just depends on your sleep preference.

The mummy pad is just too small for me. But I'm a big guy, so your mileage may very.

[Hooligan]

BA makes great stuff across the board.  I have two bags that see extended use annually.  The first is a Marmot Trestles 20 degree.  Great bag, great price, and it's warm.

The second is a Kelty Light Year down 20.  It's a 600 fill bag that is very warm, and very light.  It packs perfectly for backcountry, and has the features of a lot more expensive bags.  Ground level seams, chevron stitch, full baffles.  I've been very happy with it, wouldn't hesitate to recommend it at all.  It's not particularly cheap, @ $190 but it's worth it compared to a $300 MSI or Mountain Hardware with the same features, fabric, and fill.

[Root beer]

]BA makes great stuff across the board. I have two bags that see extended use annually. The first is a Marmot Trestles 20 degree. Great bag, great price, and it's warm.

The second is a Kelty Light Year down 20. It's a 600 fill bag that is very warm, and very light. It packs perfectly for backcountry, and has the features of a lot more expensive bags. Ground level seams, chevron stitch, full baffles. I've been very happy with it, wouldn't hesitate to recommend it at all. It's not particularly cheap, @ $190 but it's worth it compared to a $300 MSI or Mountain Hardware with the same features, fabric, and fill.

Yes they do! I have the BA super light seedhouse solo tent. With poles, stakes and the tent itself, it weights less than 3 pounds packed. 

[Hookemdown.]

Back to the bags...Let's say it's 7x18 in a stuff sack.  How much smaller is a compression bag going to get it down to? 

[Root beer]

Back to the bags...Let's say it's 7x18 in a stuff sack. How much smaller is a compression bag going to get it down to?

Not much better. Stuff stack are design pack the bags to its smallest form. The "compression bag" I had, didn't pack my sleeping bag any smaller than the stuff stack, but I haven't had any experience with a lot of compression bags.

[fourbizz]

You will get them MUCH MUCH smaller with a good compression sack. I have half a dozen different compression sacks but my favorites are the Granite Gears. I get my 30degree down bag down to the size of a half gallon ocean spray bottle.

[fourbizz]

http://www.granitegearstore.com/Product3.aspx?ProductId=143&CategoryId=14

[Root beer]

http://www.granitegearstore.com/Product3.aspx?ProductId=143&CategoryId=14

I'm have to check that out. Thanks.

[Hookemdown.]

How about this guys?

http://www.sunnysports.com/Prod/CategoryID_2165/Context_2144/Sort_Price/DescSort_0/Filter_4%3d2176%2c2178%3a5%3d2432%3a3%3d2174/SDSBYH20R.html

[Root beer]

Looks good. Roll the dice on it and let us know how well it performs. lol. 

[Hooligan]

You will get them MUCH MUCH smaller with a good compression sack. I have half a dozen different compression sacks but my favorites are the Granite Gears. I get my 30degree down bag down to the size of a half gallon ocean spray bottle.

What he said.  Those are the same that I use. 

Keep in mind, too, a synthetic bag will not compress as far as a natural down bag.  I don't understand the mechanics of it, and I'm not going to try, but it's the way it is.