Trad Gang

I don't want to spend $150-$300 on a sleeping bag. I need a good, warm and reasonably priced sleeping bag. Any advice?

Take a look at outdoor vitals bags. I have a couple of them and they seem to be good quality and a reasonable price.

Being cold at night really sucks, one thing I won't cut corners on is insulation. Can't offer suggestion on bags since I switched to a hammock from a tent.

Kelty Cosmic down is pretty good.  Military system isn't bad if weight isn't a concern.  I prefer an enlightened equipment quilt.

I used to think that you should get the warmest bag (rated) that you can, not anymore.  

Years ago I bought a very good one from REI that was on a really good sale, making it affordable to me.  It is rated well below zero if I recall.  Under normal conditions I can't even zip it shut because I get way to hot in it.

Just a thought......

OK.... sleeping bags.

1) Temp range (which has a huge impact on cost) ALWAYS choose a bag 10-15 F lower than the lowest anticipated temp to be sleeping in.

2) Are you backing packing in or car? Light weight sleeping bags are expensive

3) You're on a budget - cool... Since less expensive bags do not perform nearly as well as higher-quality bags (duh?) - choose a bag rated  around 20 degrees F lower than anticipated coolest temperatures.

4) AVOID BAGS MADE WITH ANY COTTON MATERIAL

Incidentally, i've been backpacking/ mountaineering (not so climbing anymore...i'm fat now) for over 30 years,

I accidentally posted my reply above and have no way to edit it....

Long story short.... I started out dirt poor in the late 70's and used the cheapest gear available - and suffered.

I grew up, got a career and bought the top shelf gear and replaced it as it either wore out or as i  broke it.

Sleeping bags are among the few items i will spend big for. A good nights sleep is worth it in the extremes...

However, if you're not camping in extreme cold then really good gear can be had for reasonable prices.

Under $150 or so you're gonna have to shop hard.

Look for Kelty brand bags - in that price range they're really good (i use 'em for my kids sleep-overs and general 'knock around' use.)

I've used Slumberjack a few times and every bag i've bought sucked. Big time.

A lot of hunting type outdoors folks buy the "Wiggy's" brand and swallow the "Lamilite" bait. It's bunk. The guy is a nut job and defends his "technology" too ardently.

I've not used one, but the "Big Agnes" brand gets a lot of accolades from credible sources (credible to me anyway...).

The REI and EMS brands are usually very good as well and have exceptional return policies (though may be outside of your stipulated budget).

OK, i'll stop here.... Sorry about the book... but you did ask for it  :D

frank

Oopsie ....

2x posted... if it can be done wrong i'll find a way!!!

Stay away from down, except for winter or above tree line camping.... rains happens unless it's below freezing....

I used to work an outdoor outfitter.... after leaving the Corps...
Higher end bags are lighter and more accurate about temp ratings than no name bags...

I have two North Face bags... one is 17 years old, the other is 10!years old- it replaced (under warranty) one that I bought 25 years ago...

A hint about making a bag cover more temp ranges... firstly, bags are rated with used in conjunction with an insulated pad!!! In a tent!!!
A sleep bag liner cuts 5-10 degrees... as does a sleeping bag cover ....
a military poncho liner  adds about 10 degrees to a bag...

So I use a cats meow bag, use a silk sleeping bag liner, Cary a poncho and  poncho liner... I can use the liner and leave the bag open... if it get cold, insert the poncho liner... still colder, zipnit up some... still too cold? Wrap the poncho over the bag and tuck it under the bag.... so a 20 degree bag can go to about  zero for this native Floridian!!!

I second JakeD, have had the 30 degree OV bag for a year and it has been fantastic. I have the 800 fill down bag that cost about $120 and have been camping in late november and had no issues at all going right down to 35 degrees. I will be purchasing other items from them soon.

I bought a like new MSS surplus sleep system on **** for $56 2 years ago.  You can't beat it for that price.

Great info, guys! Thanks!

Down will keep you warm as long as it stays dry. Fiberfill insulates even when damp. I bought a 20deg. Kelty mummy bag back in 2006 when I went to Colorado and it worked well them and since. When I have room I bring along a fleece throw to compliment the bag when needed.

Years back I did quite a lot of winter camping.  My list goes like this.  1. Long underwear, stocking cap, and super warm socks, two pair if needed. 2. Absolutely no air mattress, I now use a cot with a memory foam pad.  3. An extra wool blanket.  4. If using a small 4 season tent, a candle lantern.  5. If using an Egyptian Sail canvas wall tent like my Eena wall tent or my Egyptian canvas Baker tent, put an elevated grid in the tent heater and use charcoal in place of wood.  Wood give the old heat boom and bust, with charcoal elevated an inch or two it is easy to add a few charcoals during the night and keep more even heat.  6. Never try to use wire or plastic stakes in frozen ground.  You will need to hammer them in and pry them out.

I don't understand not being able to keep a down bag dry.  I used a Bean down bag on a two-week Alaska float trip for moose.  It rained 13 out of the 15 days we were on the river.  Never got my bag wet.

Have been using down bags for nearly 40 years, and can't ever remember getting them wet enough so they didn't keep me warm.  

You might check out what Bean's has to offer.  My Bean bag is more than 30 years old and still gets the job done in moderate temps.  I did upgrade a couple years ago with another bag of different manufacture for colder weather.

R.E.I. Has some nice bags that may be in your price range. If it were to cost you a bit more, then don't hesitate since being cold and miserable is not worth the extra few bucks spent.

Big difference if you are looking for a backpack wilderness sbag or a bag to use in a main camp. For a main camp you cam find cheap sleeping bag that cam fit you in any wheather if otherwise you need a sleeping bag to carro insidie your backpack $ 200-300 aren't enough for a good 15•.

I would 2d the military sleeping system.  I just picked one up for under $100 bucks.  Will take you down to -50. The lightweight piece and gortex cover will take you down to comfortable levels.  Compresses to a manageable size.

Bought my son one from Dick's Sporting Goods that is rated to +20, throw in a fleece blanket and it easily made him comfortable on a Scout camping trip when the temps were at zero.

If not back packing, use blankets and layer.  I tent camped few years back, from truck.  Got down to 5 degrees, in a 20 degree bag, I went to the truck got a few blankets and slept like a baby

Mummy bags are generally warmer. Especially for your feet.
The biggest secret to any temp.rating is having a good insulated pad underneath and if sleeping outside wind and rain protection.

Since this trip will be in September, in Colorado, the temps shouldn't be too low (   :pray:  ). Anyway, we will be truck camping. That said, I chose the Marmot Aspen Explorer 20* and I purchase a fleece liner to add warmth and layering. Hopefully that will be enough.

it can be warm depending on where your at. I hunted up near Eastes Park in September and never got cold. We tented it. If you get to warm the liner may be enough, been there done that as well.

I've had one of these for 10 years and never a problem.

https://colemans.com/shop/cold-weather-gear/us-gi-modular-sleep-system-mss/

QuoteOriginally posted by M60gunner:
it can be warm depending on where your at. I hunted up near Eastes Park in September and never got cold. We tented it. If you get to warm the liner may be enough, been there done that as well.

A guy at REI mentioned that he places a hot Nalgene bottle in the bottom of his sleeping bag when its too cold for his bag. He said the heat generated keeps the inside of the bag nice and warm.

QuoteSince this trip will be in September, in Colorado, the temps shouldn't be too low

One year on opening morning in August in Colorado at 8500' it was 18 degrees.  It can easily be colder than that.  It's a 50/50 that you will be snowed on too.  

A lot depends on the tent as well.  If truck camping you can go with something more comfortable.

Even with a marginal bag, the fleece blanket can seriously up the comfort level.

QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
 

QuoteSince this trip will be in September, in Colorado, the temps shouldn't be too low

One year on opening morning in August in Colorado at 8500' it was 18 degrees.  It can easily be colder than that.  It's a 50/50 that you will be snowed on too.  

A lot depends on the tent as well.  If truck camping you can go with something more comfortable.

Even with a marginal bag, the fleece blanket can seriously up the comfort level. [/b]

I took the advice of JusAGuy and returned the 20* bag for a low quality 0* bag in hopes that it will cover ranges from 15* and up. Like you said, Monterey, I decided to go with something a little more comfy.

Dennis, I made a bad decision and took a cheaper bag with me to Alaska in 2013.  It made a huge difference for the worse, and I was miserable for 13 long nights on our float.  I took a -25° rated bag, bought at Dick's, and had to sleep fully clothed and with my coat on, though it was only down to about +10° at night.  I'd had it for years, but had never used it much.  I was convinced that even a cheap bag would work if it had that kind of rating, but I was wrong.  I kept a daily journal on that trip, and I forget how bad it was until I read that journal again.  I wish I could remember the brand of that bag.  It was fancy looking, a mummy bag, with pretty dense synthetic fill, someone had given it to me as a birthday present years earlier...  But we ended up helping some people that dumped their raft, and I gave that bag to them and just slept in my clothes and in an emergency bivy sack that last night.

I've done a lot of tent camping in Alaska, but that was the first and last time I'll ever go with a cheap bag.  The first thing I did the day I flew back to civilization was to take a shower and then go buy a good sleeping bag.  I bought a Mountain Hardware Lamina -20°.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Roman.  Now you've got me really reconsidering my decision... and that's a good thing! I really want to be warm and well rested. The thought of busting out $400 or more dollars for a sleeping bag just hard to do! Thanks for your help, everyone!

I have two down mummy sleeping bags that I use for car camping and backpacking. A Big Agnus Lost Ranger 15* bag that I'll be cold in at 25* and a Marmont Helium 15* bag I was warm in at 17*. I use a Big Agnus Insulated Air Core mattress for most trips. Its most important to use a good insulated  sleeping pad for your sleep system. I did not pay more than $150 for either bag, keep an eye open for sales/close outs. BTW I find the Helium bag too warm for most Colorado late September nights.

I have a Marmont Helium bag also and it is awesome! Just over 2lbs and extremely warm, I tested mine in February when it was 20 degree's and stayed toasty!

http://www.wiggys.com/   hard to beat for quality and price

I have several military issued items. A Korean War vintage bag I's nothing more than a wool blanket sewn into a bag with hood-it works well in moderate temps.  I have the double bag with goretex cover-get serious about the cold with it, but problematic to carry.  I will not have to buy another bag!  have had down bags, liked them.  I use moving blankets from harbor freight -$7-as under paddin-even on a cot, and the pull one over me if I chill.  Stocking cap is in every bag I own and a poncho liner.  Poncho liners are gold-used them from SEAsia to Norway to Alaska while on active duty.  Never breath in your bag-it will freeze.  Use a towel lightly over your face    If you get chills, eat a candy bar to give the body immediate sugar to burn.   Do not skimp on a bag, it will be around as long as you care for it and may make an outdoor experience enjoyable

Pearls of wisdom, Roadkill. Thanks!

If you're just truck camping, as you say, forget the sleeping bag.  Just layer with blankets & comforters on top with good insulating foam pad (cheap thermarest ridgerest, for example) + futon or comfy mattress underneath.  Make sure your PJs include warm beanie or hoodie and you'll be fine.  Sleep in warm clothes.  Bring a little propane heater & crack a window if things get really chilly.

When I was in college, A buddy & I camped out in the open bed of a pickup for a pig hunt in early February.  We backed up to a tree, rigged a lean-to from a tarp over the pickup bed & fired up a propane heater to blow into the "tent."  Hokey as all get-out but we were warm.  I already had a 0-degree bag but he only had something more suited to summer temps.  We used a lot of propane on that trip but it was still cheaper for him than buying a new bag.  I've seen other ideas for alcohol space heaters or hand-warmer packs to add some heat to your setup.  Ideas are endless.

Backpacking is another beast & where you need to spend a bit to get something worthwhile.  But for car/truck camping, you probably have everything you'll need down to arctic conditions as long as you have the space in the vehicle to haul it + your intended quarry.

Good stuff, Yosemite!

Hmmmm.  I don't agree with using the propane heat, or any other kind of burner when I'm sleeping.  Every year, a couple of hunters in this state die of asphyaxiation due to propane heaters. Sure, they're safe enough if properly ventilated, but folks don't always properly ventilate. Stuff happens.  I simply won't chance it. If I'm not awake, no artificial heat source.

Regarding temperatures you might expect, most folks camp at lower elevations, in valleys, creek bottoms, etc. enabling the best use of thermals, i.e., to hunt up in the morning, down in the evening.

Those same evening thermals bring a lot of cold air to low lying areas. Whether sleeping in the back of the truck or a tent nearby, it can get plenty cold at night, often below freezing, in September.  I recommend at least a 15 degree bag, mostly because they're seldom as warm as advertised.  Even a 0 degree bag.  You can always open it if you get too warm.  A liner, or blanket will help, of course.

Good luck.

Thanks, Jerry!

QuoteOriginally posted by Orion:
Hmmmm.  I don't agree with using the propane heat, or any other kind of burner when I'm sleeping.  Every year, a couple of hunters in this state die of asphyaxiation due to propane heaters.

Here, here!  Lost a high school friend to deer hunting in a pickup w/ propane heater.  I might use a heater w/O2 sensor in a wall tent. Never in a p/up or smaller tent.

If you do your research,  the newer down is treated to remain more waterproof than ever in the past.  Don't shy away from it.

Truck camping?  Cost / type of sleeping bag not as important when you can bring a couple of extra blankets / comforters and not have to worry. Backpacking is different.

Hope this helps
homebru

Truck camping makes all the difference in the world in my bag decision. For that a Bean or Cabela's flannel canvas bag can't be beat in cost or warmth. I take a Lil buddy heater and fire it up when I get in the tent and then shut it off before going to sleep. Then in the morning do the same for getting dressed. We use a utility trailer for our sleeping quarters now. Once in Colorado in Sept. we were camped at 11,000' and a storm blew in with 10* temps with 60 MPH winds and 10" of snow. I've never been happier to have spent the money on the best gear I could afford. My buddies would have paid $1000 each for a better bag and tent (they had the Walmart summer types of both) on those 2 nights. They piled all of the clothes they weren't wearing on top of them while the top of the tent was beating the hell out of them all night from the wind. I slept like a baby! Just a reminder it can happen. I take a -20 Down/Thinsulate combo bag on all my hunts where I'll be away from our main camp. Rest or lack of is the one thing that (WILL) take you out of the game!  Just my .02
John

Have used WIggy's bags for years and love them. Only downside is they are a little (small amount) bulkier and heavier than some more expensive models. They are super durable and comfortable.

Pick out a few and read reviews before buying.
amen to what bucknut said

I used a Wiggy's for a few years then saved up and purchased a 0 degree down bag from KUIU when they were on sale best move I ever made. Like others have said if you get to warm you can always open it up. The best thing is it packs small, it is light and will do both car or back pack camping.

QuoteOriginally posted by longbow fanatic 1:
I took the advice of JusAGuy and returned the 20* bag for a low quality 0* bag in hopes that it will cover ranges from 15* and up. Like you said, Monterey, I decided to go with something a little more comfy.

Hi Longbow Fanatic -

I hoping to clarify my thoughts a bit as regards my experience with sleeping bag temp. ratings and materials/design quality.

For the mid-level sleeping bags, i would add 10F to 15F degrees to whatever they rate them at.

So for mid-level manufacturers (or their mid-performance offerings mid-level manufacturers (or their mid-performance offerings) adding 10F to 15F degrees to whatever they rate them at works about right.

For cheap/lower-quality bags, in my experience, i add a minimum of 20F and more as the suggested temperature rating decreases.

For example, in the early 90's i wanted to explore the 2-bag sleeping systems which were being touted. I bought a Slumberjack "Everest ELite" supposedly rated to -30F. It had two separate bags - one rated to 0F and the "outer" rated to 30F.

I am a cooler sleeper so taking that into consideration, i took my nifty new Everest Elite on a moderate winter backpacking trip where anticipated temps would approach 0F.

I used two closed-cell foam pads as bottom insulation and slept in a tent.

AND FROZE MY HEINIE OFF!!!

The old "Nalgene bottle with hot water" trick was useful, but with that terrible bag it only lasted about 3 hours and them became a cold-water bottle.

Sleeping bag temp ratings are *very* subjective. Ya get what a pay for generally - there is no free lunch.

In fact, even in the highest level of sleeping bag brands there is some bit of discrepancy in temperature ratings.

The highest quality brands, in my experience have been Feathered Friends, Rab, Valandre', and Western Mountaineering with Western Mountaineering being the best and Valandre' coming in second. Feathered Friends has a reputation as being "border line" in their ratings, though still quite close to "accurate".

The problem is multi-faceted. Some people are "naturally" warmer sleepers - their metabolism remains higher even when sleeping (I am a cool/moderate sleeper even though my wife says i'm a furnace).

Another matter to consider (and perhaps the greatest consideration) is a person's hydration level. If dehydrated, the body's fluids thicken and remain closer to the torso so limbs/extremities do not receive that warm blood/oxygen supply.

General exhaustion and fatigue also affect the campers ability to sustain body warmth.

I just realized i'm typing a book.....

All the above is meant to say, leave adequate funds in your budget to acquire a good sleeping bag.