Topic
UPPER temp limits of sleeping bag comfort?
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › UPPER temp limits of sleeping bag comfort?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Aug 26, 2011 at 1:22 pm #1278557
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.
Aug 26, 2011 at 2:12 pm #1773186I'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.
Aug 26, 2011 at 2:23 pm #1773190I used a 35 degree bag in 55 degree weather and it was annoying, pretty much as you described.
Aug 26, 2011 at 2:44 pm #1773197Looking at EN charts seems to also suggest about 15 degrees above rating before going into darker red.
Aug 26, 2011 at 2:53 pm #1773202Bag 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-70FNow can add variable of shifting down from top to bottom as well and customize it even more if have bag with continuous baffles.
Aug 26, 2011 at 3:13 pm #1773208I 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)…
Aug 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm #1773215ive 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
Aug 26, 2011 at 3:41 pm #1773221For 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.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.