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UPPER temp limits of sleeping bag comfort?


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  • #1278557
    Shawn Bearden
    BPL Member

    @shawnb

    Locale: SE Idaho

    It seems to me that we put a lot of thought into the lower limits of sleeping bags; talking about the specifics of wearing other garments to get another few degrees cooler. Then, the upper limits are often brushed over (just use as a quilt when it's warm, for example). So, at how many degrees above your bags rating do you find yourself turning it into a quilt. At how many degrees above the rating is 'quilt-style' not enough and you find yourself hanging more and more of your body out from under it? Asked another way – what is your experience with the comfortable range of a bag around it's rating – not adjusting clothing – only adjusting zipped/unzipped; then how many more degrees as a full quilt? I recently had a 15F bag on a trip and we didn't get below 45F – I was uncomfortable all night because spots that were draped with the bag were hot and uncovered spots were cold – I could never really reach a comfortable equilibrium.

    #1773186
    Jim MacDiarmid
    BPL Member

    @jrmacd

    I'm really only comfortable about 10-15 degrees above my quilt or bag's rating, and 15 degrees is really pushing it for me. My first bag was a 15 degree Marmot Sawtooth, and even in the mid-30s, I'd wake up sweating. You're right, it's hard to find an equilibrium at a certain point. Draping and venting can only do so much, for me at least. Excesivelly perspiring in a down bag isn't a good thing, either.

    I changed to a 32 degree quilt, figuring it would be easier to push it lower with extra clothing than it would be to make a 20 degree quilt comfortable at 45F. I spent one night with that quilt when it was in the 60s, and lucky for me I had brought a bivy, as I ended up sleeping on top of the quilt, with the bivy and my clothes enough to keep me warm.

    Now I still have the 32 degree quilt, a 40F 2/3 quilt, and a 5 degree bag. I think ideally I'd squeeze a 15 or 20 degree quilt back in there if I could afford it.

    #1773190
    Justin Baker
    BPL Member

    @justin_baker

    Locale: Santa Rosa, CA

    I used a 35 degree bag in 55 degree weather and it was annoying, pretty much as you described.

    #1773197
    Shawn Bearden
    BPL Member

    @shawnb

    Locale: SE Idaho

    Looking at EN charts seems to also suggest about 15 degrees above rating before going into darker red.

    #1773202
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    Bag is only part of sleep system:

    example:

    tent closed up, long underwear, puffy jacket, thicker socks = 15-20F
    tent closed up, long underwear, bag cinched up tight =20-25 F
    tent well ventillated , long underwear, bag cinched tight, = 30F
    tent well ventillated, long underwear, bag not cinched up = 40F
    tent well ventillated, long underwear, bag open at foot and neck = 50F
    tent well ventillated, no long underwear, bag open at foot and neck = 55F
    tent well ventillated, no long underwear, bag unzipped = 60F
    tent well ventillated, no long underwear, bag used as quilt as needed=65F-70F

    Now can add variable of shifting down from top to bottom as well and customize it even more if have bag with continuous baffles.

    #1773208
    Kristin Fiebelkorn
    BPL Member

    @kushbaby

    Locale: South Texas

    I am in San Antonio, Texas, and it stays quite warm throughout the night here and in much of the surrounds. I really appreciate the post above, looking at various configurations depending on temp. Not hiking right now (recovering from ankle injury), but as I'm a "hot" sleeper, when I head out I was planning to leave the bag at home and use a tent plus either silk or CoolMax sleepsack (I own both). I would love to hear additional tips or arrangements for comfort in hot weather sleeping (especially a barrier over the sleepsack that wouldn't leave me sweaty and uncomfortable)…

    #1773215
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    ive never had any issues …. if its that warm, just sleep in yr insulating clothing or cover the core of yr body

    a 20F quilt would have the same issue as a 20F bag unzipped and draped

    #1773221
    Brendan Swihart
    BPL Member

    @brendans

    Locale: Fruita CO

    For warmer weather desert trips I usually take a narrowish silk 2.5 oz Apex quilt and no other insulation. Very breathable, nice against the skin (not clammy like nylon gets) and light.

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