sleeping bag
01-22-10, 01:33 PM
#27
It's true, man.
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01-22-10, 02:30 PM
#28
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Light, cheap, durable- choose two. If you can be responsible about keeping it dry, go down all the way.
You're not going to find an ultra-light bag for cheap. Ultra-light bags use very high fill down, and ultra light materials, which are costly. They are also much more compressible.
I'd go with a 20degree, full zip. That way when it's warmer you can use it like a comforter. I have a Western Mountaineering Alpinlite that works fantastic for this.
Lastly, consider that only Western M and Feathered Friends, and maybe Montbell are accurate in their temp ratings. The other bags are really rated for the lowest that you can survive in the bag, not sleep comfortably.
You're not going to find an ultra-light bag for cheap. Ultra-light bags use very high fill down, and ultra light materials, which are costly. They are also much more compressible.
I'd go with a 20degree, full zip. That way when it's warmer you can use it like a comforter. I have a Western Mountaineering Alpinlite that works fantastic for this.
Lastly, consider that only Western M and Feathered Friends, and maybe Montbell are accurate in their temp ratings. The other bags are really rated for the lowest that you can survive in the bag, not sleep comfortably.
01-23-10, 02:00 AM
#29
vintage tourer
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i'll chime in with fantom1's advice, with a couple of minor exceptions or additions.
my personal recommendation would also be to get a down bag with the highest lofting down inside that you can afford. i have a few from feathered friends and beyond the excellent materials and workmanship, you can bet your butt that you'll still be warm when the temp actually hits the bag's rating. Western Mountaineering also has an excellent reputation. as far as ratings go, keep in mind that there is no national standard and that each company makes their own call. if you get a bag from a company that only makes sleeping bags and thus stakes their reputation on them, you'll get your money's worth. i've never used their bags, but someone mentioned Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada; their in-house products that i've used have also been excellent, especially considering their low(er) prices. much better than my older REI down bags (which aren't actually all that bad, though).
i don't think you actually need a 20˚bag. a 30˚one ought to be fine with the possible exception of over the rockies, when sleeping in your fleecewear should get you through. if you get a bag that doesn't utilize side block baffles, you can shake some of the down from the bottom of the bag to the top and vice versa.
i bought a bag liner some years ago, but found that i couldn't tell that it made any difference warmthwise, and just added bulk & weight. i don't use it anymore.
industry-standard down is 550-fill. better bags with 650-fill have become more common in the last few years. 750 (or even higher exists) is what you get in a top-of-line bag. at the bottom end of the spectrum are bags with well under 500 fill utilizing duck down and containing up to 50% small feathers. if you were to comapre primaloft and other newer synthetic filled bags with these pricepoint bags, you could say that they are on a par with down bags without actually lying. but for lightweight, compactibility, and warmth, there is still nothing out there that actually comes close to a good down bag.
most people will notice a significant loss of loft in a synthetic filled bag after about 3 year's use, and that loft is irretrievable as far as i know. you'll be putting at least that much wear on your bag in only 1 season, so you'd expect it to be rather less warm toward the end of your trip. maybe someone who has used a synth-bag cross-country can comment on this. longevity is another point to consider along with price.
my personal recommendation would also be to get a down bag with the highest lofting down inside that you can afford. i have a few from feathered friends and beyond the excellent materials and workmanship, you can bet your butt that you'll still be warm when the temp actually hits the bag's rating. Western Mountaineering also has an excellent reputation. as far as ratings go, keep in mind that there is no national standard and that each company makes their own call. if you get a bag from a company that only makes sleeping bags and thus stakes their reputation on them, you'll get your money's worth. i've never used their bags, but someone mentioned Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada; their in-house products that i've used have also been excellent, especially considering their low(er) prices. much better than my older REI down bags (which aren't actually all that bad, though).
i don't think you actually need a 20˚bag. a 30˚one ought to be fine with the possible exception of over the rockies, when sleeping in your fleecewear should get you through. if you get a bag that doesn't utilize side block baffles, you can shake some of the down from the bottom of the bag to the top and vice versa.
i bought a bag liner some years ago, but found that i couldn't tell that it made any difference warmthwise, and just added bulk & weight. i don't use it anymore.
industry-standard down is 550-fill. better bags with 650-fill have become more common in the last few years. 750 (or even higher exists) is what you get in a top-of-line bag. at the bottom end of the spectrum are bags with well under 500 fill utilizing duck down and containing up to 50% small feathers. if you were to comapre primaloft and other newer synthetic filled bags with these pricepoint bags, you could say that they are on a par with down bags without actually lying. but for lightweight, compactibility, and warmth, there is still nothing out there that actually comes close to a good down bag.
most people will notice a significant loss of loft in a synthetic filled bag after about 3 year's use, and that loft is irretrievable as far as i know. you'll be putting at least that much wear on your bag in only 1 season, so you'd expect it to be rather less warm toward the end of your trip. maybe someone who has used a synth-bag cross-country can comment on this. longevity is another point to consider along with price.
