REI div, and female sleeping bags….

How far below freezing are we talking about? The difference between getting a bag for 30 degrees vs 15 is pretty substantial.

Does she mind wearing more clothes to bed to compensate for a lighter bag?

Would you consider getting a 2 person quilt/bag instead of a single bag? Shared body heat is a beautiful thing in really cold temps. (I know you have the dividend and probably still the coupon, but you can always request cash.)

Any extra info is extremely helpful.

Temps in the range of 15-30* so we were looking at 20* for a happy medium.
Typical base layer will be worn and im sure she is willing to layer up if she has to. We do not plan to backpack together all of the time so she really needs her own bag.
Shes about 5"5 125lbs with blonde hair. Her name is Britton but is always mistaken for Brittany. She really likes the Sierra Designs bag because of the colors, trying to convince her that a sold black or red bag is ok has not been easy. If any more info is needed, please ask.
Thanks.

womens bags are cut different than mens generally (wider hip section/etc),

any preference of down vs. synth?
total budget?

there is an 20F Kelty ignite dri-down bag for $185 ($148 after 20% off coupon)
http://www.rei.com/product/890177/kelty-ignite-20-dridown-sleeping-bag-womens-2015-closeout

I live in Minnesota, camp year around and personally believe that a 32F bag is the best "all around" temp (3 season) rating you should get, however I would also normally wear some base layers for lower temps but it wasn't an issue. I just recently moved to a 20F bag because the 2oz or so increased weight penalty of moving from 30F to 20F was less of a weight increase than say bringing an extra pair of longjohns with (7-10oz), ymmv and maybe that isn't a concern for you but I also wouldn't shy away from a good 32F bag either is what I'm saying. In all honesty the times of year I took it down below 30F wasn't very often and I generally spend 30 nights or so outside a year.

I have this sleeping bag (a few years older model) – and I love it. I sleep cold, and I have never been cold a single night in this bag (used it last Sept on the JMT, and had nights down around 20 and was toasty with this and a thermarest Xtherm).

http://www.rei.com/product/880096/mountain-hardwear-hyperlamina-flame-sleeping-bag

I've used it probably for around 40-50 nights, and it doesn't seem to have lost any of it's loft or warmth. Highly recommend it! (and it's synthetic, so it will be much more flexible for conditions she can use it).

*Erica*

My wife really likes REI's own brand Joule, I did notice that REI has stopped
using Goose down and changed to Duck down for this bag.

Down vs. Synthetic is a decision she will have to make. But for this thread lets focus on Down bags.
She is not a fan of Kelty products so that is 100% out of the question.

"She has been looking at Sierra Designs Zissou which is rated for 23*men and 34* women.
How true is the difference between the men and women? "

Most women really do sleep that much colder than men. Of course, your question is about a specific woman, so you'll have to ask her whether she's cold when you're comfortable.

so if you're focusing on fashion vs. function why not just go buy whatever she finds prettiest? doesn't seem worthwhile to waste your (or our) time here asking for legitimate answers you are going to ignore.

You have several decisions: down (most large manufacturers have now moved to duck down) vs. synthetic, M's-or W's specific cut and length, and temperature rating. AFA color, all bags are the same color in the dark!

If her 30-yr old bag is synthetic, it lost its ability to keep her warm about 20 years ago. Down has a much longer lifespan when properly cared for and will retain its warmth rating for many more years, besides being lighter weight and more compressible. Synthetic will be cheaper and will still keep her warm if soaking the bag is an issue.

Bags marketed to women tend to be cut more generously in the hips, narrower in the shoulders than mens' bags, and have more insulation. Those who study such things have determined that women sleep colder than men, so a W-specific bag rated for a given temperature will contain more insulation and be heavier than a comparable M's bag of the same length. Length is also important in a bag. I would bet money that her old bag is for a 6-ft guy and her feet get cold. If she is comfortable in a W's regular length, that would also serve to keep her warmer than a bag that is 6"+ too long.

A 20-degree temperature rating seems like a good bet. If a bag is slightly too warm, she can always unzip it.

REI's Joule and Serrana are both an excellent value. Marmot bags are always a nice choice, are sized slightly longer, and at her height she might be able to fit into a W's regular Marmot (she would need a W's long in the REI bags probably).

I still have a North Face Cat's Meow that I bought in the late '80's. Originally sold as a 20-degree bag, I can now see through it and only use it indoors as a quilt! I figure the rating on it presently at about 55 degrees!

I sent you a PM.

rule number one for buying insulation for many of not most women who are relatively skinny

get the warmest bag or poofay that makes sense

women typically run 10F or so colder than men … having a cold woman on a trip usually means the end of that trip

unless youre into the "jump into my bag with me and cuddle for warmth to survive" trick

;)

+1 for eric's observation: get the warmest bag! And I'll add, "at the lightest possible weight".

Someone mentioned the REI Joule — I think that would be a good choice, and it comes in a feminine colour. The Sierra Designs bags (like most SD products) tend to be way too heavy for their warmth.

Personally, I would steer her to the warmest/lightest bag she could possibly afford, and whatever colour it is, well… learn to love it. When you're carrying an extra 2lbs because you "liked the colour", that colour won't seem so great any more after the first 3 hours of hiking!

Every one of you have been a great help!

We are in no rush to grab a new bag with spring temps coming (Indiana).
Luckily we live close to an REI and shall make a trip in the near future so she can try out a few of their bags.

I know if you have two bags, one left hand and the other right hand, they can be "zipped" together. Is this brand specific or any ol' zipper will work?

I am still hoping to hear from some one who has the SD bag and their review of its long term use!

I've owned two SD bags – Nitro 30 and Nitro 15. They were both excellent. I think both are discontinued now though. I agree with Stephen that the REI Joule looks like a good choice from REI. Might be worth cashing in the dividend and looking elsewhere as well. A couple other online retailers are offering 20% off right now.

The Joule my wife has is from about 2.5 years ago so the design could have changed, the old one uses goose down.

Outdoorgear Lab did give it a good rating, my wife only comes on summer trips so I did not bother getting her a high end bag.

If you have two sleeping bags with the same zipper, one a left-sided opening and one a right, you can generally zip them together. The key words are "same zipper." Different manufacturers use different zippers, and that can even change over several years. The only way to guarantee two bags will zip together is to (a) physically try it, or (b) buy two current model year bags from the same vendor.

Sometimes you can get lucky with two different bags and they are compatible, but you have to try them.