0 degree sleeping bag – Nemo Sonic?

Nemo is an innovative company and has some great designs. I think of them as a company that think outside the box. I haven’t used the Nemo Sonic bag, but have used a number of other “0*” bags and settled on a WM Antelope (WM rates as a 5* bag), which, if I take care of it properly should last a lifetime. In looking at the Nemo v. WM specs and unless Nemo has something magic going on with the design (which it may), the Antelope should be a warmer bag than the Sonic. The Antelope has less volume (62″/53″/39″ v 61″/58″/53″) and has almost 3 more ounces of down. And while the Sonic has less down, the overall weight of the bag is 4 ounces more than the Antelope. I don’t know if this is clearly a situation of you get what you pay for, but after spending time in other sleeping bags, I’m very happy with my choice. While not too many stores discount WM, they sometimes have sales and you can find deals on ebay and some other interweb sites.

The Mont-Bell 800 fill Down Hugger #0 seems like a pretty good buy.  30oz of 800 down fill for $550.

The Nemo Sonic looks like it has a good neck collar which is something my Eddie Bauer Karakoram bag did NOT have. I sent it back and got a full refund – thankfully. And yet for 2015/16 EB still has not changed their collar design after getting several returns of which I’m aware. “Guide tested” my @$$!

I’ve decided that when I get a down winter bag it will be DWR treated down and rated to -20 F. I can vent the foot and head for warmer conditions or use my -5 F. synthetic bag.

I have also decided on the WM Antelope except I chose to go with 3oz overfill as well. In comparing to the competition, I really think one of the only competitors comes from Feathered Friends. I did not look into Valandre though.

As far as something a little bit cheaper, I am a big fan of Mont-bell. The zero degree bag seems nice and the spiral sewing works well. The bag can hug your body but stretch a little when needed. I can sit cross legged in my #3 super spiral stretch thingymajigy! Although I do like Nemo and appreciate their designs I do not think it will be comparable to the others just by looking at the specs (as already pointed out).

Hermits hut offers free overfill BTW on western mountaineering.

Enlightened Equipment has 0 degree options if you’re willing to try a quilt, much cheaper too. The new convert zips up completely, anew no hood which I prefer as a side sleeper.

I owned a Sonic and sent it back, switched to a custom FF. The Sonic is a bag full of good ideas, and is a competent bag for what it is, but I wouldn’t describe it as a ‘solid winter bag’. I read a lot of the positive web reviews as well, but notice that very few of them push the rating at all; it’s not a true 0-degree bag and is a really, really heavy 40-degree bag.

If you look at the specs for conservatively rated WM or FF equivalents, they have considerably more down at the same weight — WM Kodiak, for example, at the same weight has 30oz of down vs the Sonic’s 23oz. I use the Kodiak as an example rather than a narrower-cut bag because the Sonic has a very generous cut; the ‘roomy footbox’ and ‘ability to comfortably cross your legs’ that Backpacker et al rave about mean the bag is thermally inefficient for a smaller person. I am not a smaller person, and even I found the Sonic’s footbox cut to be surprisingly big compared to even a Kodiak. The rest of the weight is in those zippers for the gills (potential failure points), big iron-on badges, and somewhat overcomplicated sewing pattern.

True, the bag is $200 less than WM or FF equivalents. I think if you’re actually going to take the bag to 0, you won’t regret spending the extra money in the long run.

I couldn’t ask for better responses to my question. Thank you so much. I never mind spending the extra money when it’s worth it. Sleeping systems are so important. I truly appreciate the advice and help

Get a WM bag, you will not regret it.

That chart looked a lot better before I pasted it into this thread.  It was a comparison between the Marmot Lithium, Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0,  Western Mountaineering Antelope (with 3oz overfill), Mont Bell Doen Hugger 800 #0, and a Feathered Friends Bag.

The shoulder firths are as follows:

Marmot 61″

MH 59″

WM 62″

MB n/a

FF 60″

the Fill Weight is

Marmot 30.7 (850fp)

MH 28 (850fp)

WM 29 (850fp)

MB 30 (800fp)

FF 25.3 (850)

%of total weight down

Marmot 69%

MH 68%

WM 69%

MB 65%

FF 56%

% of down volume (compared to the Marmot bag)

marmot 100%

MH 91%

wm 94%

mb 92%

ff 82%

Stephan if what you said is true, why do you see many more WM bags up FS than FF?

Ken,

I think it’s because WM sell far more bags than FF as they sell at retail locations and at lots of online sources, FF only sell from one shop and website.

I have only ever had 1 FF bag but many WM ones. Just a thought.

Edit: Ken, the name is Stephen not Stephan, I am Irish not french or German ;-) Just mentioned it as its how you have addressed me in Pm’s before.

I’d say it’s just because there are a lot more WM bags out there. That in no way disparages the quality of the either bag makers’ work.

I would be willing to bet there are a lot more WM Bags out there than FF.

I’m in the market for a new bag myself and although I wont be buying one as warm as what you are shopping for… I’m holding out for the updated Lightwave Firelight’s which are due out any time now. They have a WP foot box also and the zip is on the top and off to one side a little. Read any review of the current Firelight and everybody sings their praises.

Follow this link and scroll two thirds of the way to the bottom. Look for the rainbow of colored bags.

Good luck with your purchase,

Lawrie

Lightwave and their sister company crux make good gear, have not used their bags but have used their tents and down jackets

For full disclosure: I work for Enlightened Equipment. As someone mentioned we make 0° quilts if you’re looking at those, but we also make the Convert if you’d prefer to stick with a sleeping bag. Keep in mind our system is hoodless, which depending how you sleep might be a benefit or problem. Drawcord footbox too so it’ll adapt pretty evenly to warmer weather. Regular length/width in 800fp is $360 and about 32oz.

I would also suggest the Valandre bags i have the Bloody Mary they are beautiful sleeping bags with incredible design .There was a Shocking blue in the Gear swap the other day.

I was in the FF store the other day looking at Hilleberg tents they were very helpful lots of nice gear in there.