boshank

I'm in the process of deciding what sleeping bag to get next year. I went to an outdoor shop and they said go with the 20F mountain hardwear lamina; but it was a bit pricey. Does anybody have any they recommend that are light, compact, warm and cheap?

brucewiley

Campmor is a good place to browse sleeping bags and compare weight, stuffed size and price. I have a Slumberjack "Ultimate" 20 degree bag on my Christmas list. 70 bucks

Cyclist0383

Check out Sierra Trading Post. I got a very nice +10 Marmot down bag for my wife for $110.

Sleeping Bags - https://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/3...ping-Bags.html

STP Coupons - https://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...243140&start=0

staehpj1

Campmor is a good place to compare bags and they have good prices. Their house brand 20 degree down bag is nice for the price. I would have bought that except my daughter is allergic to down.

I used the 30 degree Slumberjack Super Guide all Summer on the TA and didn't wind up liking the ventilation zipper at the feet. I thought I would, but if it was cool enough that I was in the bag I didn't need it and when it was cold my feet got cold even with the zipper zipped. It was just OK if I wore wool socks on cooler nights. This bag is similar to the Ultimate that you are considering and I suggest that you consider the Kepler instead unless you are really sold on the foot zipper. It looks like the Kepler is pretty much the same bag as the Ultimate but without the foot zipper.

It seemed like a good idea, but after living with it for 10+ weeks I think it is a poorly thought out gimmick. Then again you may love the foot zipper. Take some warm socks or down booties to sleep in if you go for the model with that feature though.

ceridwen

Might help us to know what you plan to use the bag for and how important different factors (weight, water resistance, temp rating, etc.) are to you. It might also help to know what your price range is.

In addition to the sites already listed you can check www.REI-outlet.com and www.backcountry.com (and their outlet version).

The +32 lamina is on sale on REI-outlet for ~90 bucks and there is a $20 off a $100 order coupon you can use if there is anything else on REI or REI-outlet that you want to buy.

My brother, who is a bit of a gear nut and just got back from spending a few months backpacking in Montana highly recommends the Mountain Hardwear bags. I'm getting an ultralamina (+32) for Christmas.

Machka 

Check out your local army surplus store. That's where I got my bags.

brucewiley

Thanks for the heads up on the Slumberjack foot zipper, I hadn't really paid attention to that feature. I've been using a Marmot "Grouse" down bag for over 25 years now (yes, they last that long), heck, it has a separate zipper for the foot section, hmmm.

My main thought was that after having some damp (I mean wet) episodes last summer with the down bag I would like to try a synthetic bag now.

Bruce

gregw

I think the best combo is the Big agnes with the integrated (slide in) inflatable ground pad and I think also pillow. If I didn't already have both separate, that's what I would get.

https://www.bigagnes.com/str_bag_home.php

fantom1 

A good down bag will last you nearly forever, and in my opinion is worth the extra $100-150 that you get for 1) Longevity 2) Lightweight 3) Compactability 4) Warmth.

If you want light, warm and compact, you're not going to get cheap.

After a lot of research I spent around $280 on a Western Mountaineering Alpinlite (20deg). Under 2lbs, packs down super super small, and is a true 20 degree bag.

jcbryan

Bruce,
I've had a Wiggys synthetic bag for eight years and been very impressed with it. I bought it used from a youth adventure camp. Not "ultralight" but very good for my purposes.
I, too, kinda drooled over the foot zipper, does you Marmot seem to suffer from cold feet?
Best, John

staehpj1

The foot zipper on the Slumberjack is different than any other bag I have seen. It is an extra zipper on the top and when unzipped it gives extra foot room. There is mesh under the zipper so the bugs don't get in. It definitely makes a cold spot even when zipped at least on the 32 degree model.

foamy

I just (this last Saturday night) tried out my Western Mountaineering Summerlite (30d) bag and Big Agnes insulated Air Core pad on a very wet 40 degree night, comfortably ensconsed in a BA SL1 tent. I'm glad to say everything performed as advertised. Tent was dry (but I knew that), the bag was comfortable and the pad, very comfy, though, mind you, I can see where you may want to take the manufacturer's reccommendation and have a thin closed cell foam pad underneath the BA pad if it were to be in the 20's or low 30's. My closed cell, egg carton Thermarest pad doesn't hold a candle to the BA Air Core as far as comfort goes. That and the BA AC packs down to a far smaller package. Amazingly small.

arctos

If you want light weight and compactness look at the Jacks R Better Down Quilts. Here is a link to their quilts on sale until Dec 19th. https://216.83.168.206/index_files/Pr...ng%20Quilt.htm

I have been using down quilts for many years on bike and kayak tours with great satisfaction. Just use a dry bag for storage.

Worth considering as an alternative.

nun

The BA insulated Air Core pad is great, it is better than the Thermarest Prolite 3 except for having to blow it up and being a bit heavier. I considered the WM Summerlite bag, its expensive, but the weight and small packed size are great. How is the size, do you feel confined in it. If you unzip it how is it as a quilt? IMO if you don't tour in the winter a 30 deg bag is fine and for most nights a 40deg is more than enough. Right now I use a Shenondoah Summer quilt. I've modified it a bit by sewing an extra loop mid way along its length so that if it gets below 40F I put a strap between the loops and close the quilt around me to stop draughts, works well and there is loads of room to move - I sleep on my side a lot.
If it should drop to around freezing I simply put of a few layers of clothing.

Juha

+ a lot. More info is needed.

Allergic to down itself or to the small particles attached to it? I'm allergic to most furry / feathered animals as well, but I'm quite comfortable in a good quality down bag. Many manufacturers wash the fillings well enough to get rid of the small particles.

--J

2ering

Just a suggestion that regardless of what bag/mat (I love my Marmot Helium +15/Exped Downmat 7 combo, but is pricey) you get, also buy a bag liner. It saves having to wash your bag which significantly reduces its life whether its down or synthetic. Just wash the liner.

staehpj1

I don't know for sure, but...
When she was tested they said she was allergic to down among MANY other things. I also know that when she was in the same tent with a down bag she woke up with a swollen face and other allergic reactions. It was a 4 person tent and when the down bag was on the opposite side of the tent it was a bit but not that much better.

foamy

No, nun, I didn't feel confined at all. I'm 165 lbs., 5'10" tall, average 50 year-old build. I change positions during the night and it accommodated me very well, there's room to move around in it. Coming from a quilt, though, a mummy may take a couple'a nights to get used to. I've used a mummy for years so it was like normal (actually, a little better) for me. This one is the best I've owned, well considering I'd still be using my Hillary $30 Sears special from 1975 if my ex hadn't snatched it (what a great bag, cheap down—feathers really, cheap construction, no baffles or tubes, but it did the job every time, unfailingly). It zips all the way to the foot, but not around the foot. Very comfortable. It would spread out fine, except, as I mentioned, the very bottom.

nun

You pretty much confirmed the impression I got about the Summerlite from my research. I like the full length zip so that you can use it like a quilt with a foot sack, that's how I use my current quilt on cool nights, I close up the bottom with the draw string so my feet stay warm and just let the sides of the quilt drape over me. If it gets below 40F I pull in the sides with a strap. It weighs 16oz and packs down to a 5" diameter x 10" long stuffsack

Juha

I agree, you should stick to synthetics then, having tested it in real life. I was highly sceptical myself (I'm allergic to several kinds of animals, pollen and food ingredients) but the seller convinced me to give it a go. He promised to change the bag for a synthetic one if I got any symptoms. Turned out there was no need for that. Allergy is one of those things where mileages vary a lot.

--J

staehpj1

I have heard of others with similar experiences to your's and she may even not have a problem with a different bag depending on how the down was processed, but given our experiences I will stick with synthetics.