10 or 20 degree FF bag

I have a 10 deg EE quilt, and an Xtherm.  Last weekend I probably had nighttime temps in the low 50s; I was a little warm but still too lazy to unzip or uncinch the footbox.  I tend to sleep cold, at least early in the night, so I’d much rather deal with a too warm setup than a too cold setup.  I’d say think about whether you’re a cold or warm sleeper, what type pad you use, and how much the bag can be opened up.

Debbie

Jennifer,

Since you would rather not get too warm or too cold it might be worthwhile to go with the 20F bag and additionally custom made down pants (for example here from GooseFeet). I assume you already have  down sweater or a down jacket. That way you have a sleeping system where you can decide to not bring the down pants if it is really warm, bring them but not put them on if it is  warm, or put them on when the temperatures get too cold otherwise. Since you decide how much down to fill the pants with you can make sure the system fits your needs.

Have fun out there!

Manfred

Second The above post.  Save the weight and supplement the 20 degree bag with your jacket and hat..when things get too chilly

Third the above. I hike in shorts, but take legwarmers for cold mornings and evenings in the Sierra. I can also wear them while sleeping.

So if in doubt, get a 20 degree bag and at the cold end of the season, supplement it with bedsocks, legwarmers, and a beanie or balaklava.

BTW, I’m thinking of replacing my North Face Blue Kazoo (15 degrees, 35oz ) with a FF Flicker UL 20. I like the idea of a hoodless mummy, because instead of the mummy hood, I can use a fleece or down balaklava that I can also wear around camp.

I have a FF Flicker 20 degree in wide and back pack in the Rockies where it often snows in July.  My feeling is to go with the 20 and as indicated above, layer in when you need too.  FF bags tend to be conservative in temp rating anyway.  Between FF and Western Mountaineering, there really isn’t a better line of sleeping bags on the market.

Thank you so much for all the thoughtful replies

My experience with Feathered Friends is that their temp ratings are very conservative. If they say 20 deg, it will be toasty warm, just wearing a thin base layer, down to 20deg for sure!

I’m usually warm in my bag but I don’t think I’d even follow through on a trip if the mornings around camp were less than 20.

After all that. They are out of stock of the 20! So I set up an email alert and I’ll wait :) they’ll catch up after the summer I think.

I also think I might sell the north face bag and buy a second cheaper summer bag for car camping. My sons big agnes 40 has been good and isn’t expensive.