After many years of backpacking, I have concluded that no sleeping bag works very well for me, since I don't like to be confined in a mummy bag, and the bags with more room in the shoulders are both heavier to carry and not as warm as the mummy bags.

What has worked well for me for the past 4-5 years is a combination of an elephant's foot made by Feathered Friends and a high-quality down jacket with a hood.  The down jacket is more than I would usually take backpacking or hunting, since it is too warm to wander around in during the day and too fluffy in the arms to shoot the bow very well.  However, the overall weight of the two is about the same as an equivalent down bag, and it feels great on cold mornings, and some cold evenings, to wear the down jacket around camp.  The elephant's foot reaches up to about mid-chest, so there is plenty of overlap with the down jacket when I'm sleeping.  And, of course, unlimited ability to swing my arms around during the night.

I too never really liked the restricted mobility of a sleeping bag (I like to sprawl out LOL) buuut i did finally get used to it and find that a mummy bag is the only way to really go for ultimate warmth and a light carry.

good luck on your quest

To the big guys or guys who "hate mummy bags" you should do yourself a favor and try the stretch bags from Montbell and Sierra Designs.

I'm 6'3" 230 [actually, right now a bit more with my winter coat-grin] and these stretch bags are comfortable as all get-out. I can almost extend my arms in my Montbell but then it returns to conform to your body which keeps you warmer.

Pretty clever system really and I have had a SD synthetic stretch bag for over 10 years and it is just now loosing its stretch.

2x western mountaineering with a neoair pad.  

I've had lots of toasty nights that my partners suffered through. Nothing is worse than being so cold you can't sleep. Been there done that, with cheap poly bags when I was young.

Money well spent.

Jeff

If weight is the issue, and if you're backpacking, it always is.  Then you've pretty much narrowed your choice to Down...

I've never understood the arguments that the synthetic bag junkies make, if you ever get a bag wet, you're pretty much uckfee'd anyhow.  So do the SMART thing and buy an E-Vent compression sack for your bag.  Also, submerge it in your bathtub, with your bag in it to make sure it works before you stake your life on it in the backcountry.  I'm talking about one of these


Next...  It doesn't matter how warm your bag is rated.  Unless you can defy the laws of physics, your body weight is going to compress all the insulation on the bottom of the bag no matter what you do.  SOOo.  You need a real pad with real insulation.  Two of my favorites are the POC Aerogel pad (its got like, space age strips of space shuttle in it man...) and the Exped Downmat (ooober cool, stuffed with goose down and has its own pump inside)

Now as far as bags??..  I'm 5'10" with a BMI of 18 and I weigh 210 Lbs.  If my legs matched my torso, I'd be 6'2"  I'm a thick dude.  So about the only mummy bag that fits me well is a Western Mountaineering Badger in 6'6"  Just enough girth that I'm comfortable, without wasting calories to heat a lot of air that I'm not living in.  As an extra added bonus, WM bags are the ONLY ones that aren't cross baffled (or "quilted")  So, if its really cold, you can shake all the down that you would just compress anyhow to the uphill side of the bag.  If you go the WM route, skip the Gore Windstopper shell.  They don't breath as well as microfiber, and on long hunts in the cold, internal condensation can be an issue.  Also, WM is supercool to work with.  I've had to send my bag in twice to have booboo's fixed.  Service is prompt and courteous.

My partner John Havard is a guy that tests the heck out of everthing before he buys it and then if it doesn't live up he gets rid of it.  That being said he has been using the same bag for the years I've known him and it's a dandy.

"Mountain Hardwear" and it's a down-filled bag with their proprietary waterproof outer shell called Conduit SL.

If I had the extra money I'd probably go that way too.

Mike

I've got an REI sub-kilo 20degree, and I'm not impressed when the temps get around freezing.  The Kifaru Slick bags look interesting, especially coupled with a bivvy bag, and living in WA I really don't like down in the rain...

Wow! Some awesome advice here guys! Thanks!

Jim: I don't know where you are located in OK but give me a shout sometime if you want to see a WM bag.  I promise you would sleep well during an elk hunt. ( The secret is the pad)

QuoteOriginally posted by Lost Arra:
Jim:  I promise you would sleep well during an elk hunt. ( The secret is the pad)

Come on now...you can't just lay that out there and not tell us   which pad    

[/QUOTE]Come on now...you can't just lay that out there and not tell us   which pad                

A lite weight fleece liner does alot to keep the warmest bag warmer.

My point is a great sleeping bag can't do it's job without a good pad that will keep the ground from sucking away heat.

I use an Exped but I have heard good things about the Big Agnes pad and the NeoAir. My Exped is the synthetic model rather than down only because I got it on sale. It's relatively heavy but used with the wider WM bag my old struggle with a good night's sleep is over.

:D   dang it.  All I can say is "agreed". Have used a BAIAC for a long time and it was always more comfortable than my bed at home.  Looking to try an ExPed or NeoAir now to see if they are any better.

I tested out a number of pads (including the Exped and NeoAir), both ThermaRest type pads (thinner air matts) and the thicker matts that look more like an old school air mattress that you'd float around in a swimming pool on.  By far, the thicker pads (for obvious reasons) are more comfortable.  Of the 4 different brands I tested, the NeoAir was the only one that either didn't leak air right out of the box or didn't leak the first year I had it in use.  The interesting thing is, it looks like it would be the first one to leak.  The material is really thin and lightweight.  It was the lightest of the pads I tested, but proved to be the most durable.  Whatever pad you go with, it is a good idea to use a ground cloth for your tent and spent a few minutes clearing off the ground your tent will be set up.  The mats can be fixed, but sometimes the air leak is so small you need a bathtub or a lake to submerge the pad in to find the hole.

Funny, was just at our camp and my bud had his north face bag. His bag is super light,compact,and yes,very warm. You owe it to yourself to check these bags out. Mountain climbers can't trust their life to any old bag. Not to mention they need to travel light.
If you want more info on his bag his handle is: missing impossible.
PM me and I can get you in touch with him.

Exped, Thermarest (neoair), Big Agnes. if they hold air they could leak.

KNOCK ON WOOD. My exped has no leaks in 5 years. I'll credit the Tyvek ground cloth because I frequently use a floorless shelter.
Kifaru Supertarp or GoLite Utopia2

Steve: save your $. I'm betting the Big Agnes is no more or less than the Exped or Neo. If you get too comfy you wil over-sleep!

Three years in a Western Mountaineering Sequoia GWS bag. Three years on an Exped Downmat-9, with a Luxury-Lite cot beneath that. I have never been so warm and totally comfortable in the wilderness. I figure I spend 1/3 of my hunt resting/sleeping. I can justify the (in my mind) best bag & bed I can afford. Almost $1G in the whole rig...but I'll get to the end of my days with it.

Big Fan of the Big Agnes they cut the weight by removing the quilting below you and sew a pocket the size of a mattress pad in place. the mattress pad acts as your insulation (which it does naturally) lightes warmes I've owned. Ive owned warmer-10* but much heavier and way bulky. And ALWAYS use the matterss pad the cold will get you from below for sure...(learned that the hard way)   :mad:

I'm not a big fan of the Big Agness insulated aircore pads.  I've had two of them fail at the valve where it comes into the pad.  There ain't no fixing it on the trail.

I ran the Exped Downmat 7M last season and love it.  Best pad I've had so far.  Good compromise between serious warmth and comfort.