Best lightweight sleeping bag for minus 10c

Most folks love this bag. After endless research 3 years ago it was my pick.

Derrick

A Megalite is rated for +30*F.

How is it going to keep anybody warm to -20*F?

–B.G.–

This could use some clarification, as -20F is about -28C, so I'm guessing you meant +20°F/-7°C?

Hi Liz,

Will you be carrying your kit?

I just got a Feathered Friends Egret UL (20F) bag. Gorgeously made, woman-shaped (god knows, I love my WM Megalite, but the wide shoulders can get a little drafty).

Affordable? Hmmmmmmmm — for USD 60 less (and 3oz more weight) you can get the Egret Nano (same temp rating).

Ahh yes 20f and -7c, I was brought up in centigrade and missed the absence of a minus sign! So, to answer other queries, gear will be going in a land rover out of Ulaanbator for five days of travel overland. I'll be carrying it until then – I have good rucksacks and other gear – and will either arrive on the Trans-Mongolian or by plane, it depends if I am going on to another dig in Russia or in Ireland after wards.

Western Mountaineering aren't cheap, but they are more conservatively rated than many other brands. Between the three of us we have five of their bags. They don't make gender-specific bags, but the rule of thumb I have heard is to subtract 10F off the rating of their bags for women. My wife sleeps cold but the 20F slim-cut Ultralite in 5'6" length has kept her toasty down to around 35F. If expect to go down to 20F, then perhaps the 10F/-12C Versalite might be wise. It is cut more generously than the Ultralite, but it's narrower than the 20F Alpinlite / 30F Megalite. The 5F/-15C Antelope is the next colder model and is cut the same as the Versalite, but weighs about 7oz/200g. Most of that is additional down. The shell is slightly more durable on the Antelope.

Another tip for Western Mountaineering bags — Places like Hermits Hut, sell them with free overfill. I got my Alpinelite with 5 oz of extra down which helps extend the use to less than 20F. This might give you more options than just selecting a Versalite.

Cliff

Lizz,
You'll be living out of your bag and need one that will not absorb your perspiration and accumulate it night after night.

You may not always be able to dry your bag in the moring due to weather or lack of time.

I'd seriously look into a Sierra Designs or LL Bean down bag with down DWR of Dri-Down.

Again? Any first hand experience there Eric? If it so wonderful why haven't WM or FF jumped on the wagon?

Bag is 239.00 on REI outlet, is woman specific, smaller in the shoulders, wider in the hips, and to satisfy Eric's insatiable obsession for the mythological water resistant properties of dri down it meets that requirement too. Everybody wins.

Mountain Equipment always did great bags. Light line should be about that rating I think.

I meant bags not nags.

Yes I'm in the UK – one of my challenges is that I'm just over 5' 9" which is taller than most women's bags cater for. I've just used a go lite quilt for a cold weekend here in the UK. It dipped down to 4 c for the coldest bit of the night and a silk liner covered that. So I'm beginning to think that the thermarest, plus a silk liner plus a platypus hot water bottle, plus a yeti down blanket, and a fleece bag and a good tent (maybe a terra nova laser competition) will do the trick. And I'll take a Patagonia puffy and fleece hoody and fleece trousers and silk thermals just in case. I don't have to hike with it all so it's just a nice full rucksack to go on the back of the land rover.

A bit later in the summer I'll be in the UK camping on another dig in southern England and I bet that turns out to be colder and wetter than Mongolia!

Lizz…always get the best you can afford. It will prevent future regret. In the UK you should have fairly easy access to Valandre bags.

Get a Bloody Mary and call it a day. Don't buy into the dri-down bs; the coating just allows them to use crappier down and label it a higher fill-power.

Swap collars as needed, and enjoy your sweet dreams when the temps undoubtedly dip below what you expect…

"Don't buy into the dri-down bs; the coating just allows them to use crappier down and label it a higher fill-power. "

Source/citation on this claim?

…instead of derailing this thread with an argument.

I'm not going to clog up Lizz's thread. But I'd start with the extensive research our own Richard Nisley has posted here on BPL, were I looking to prove my view.

"…instead of derailing this thread with an argument.

I'm not going to clog up Lizz's thread. But I'd start with the extensive research our own Richard Nisley has posted here on BPL, were I looking to prove my view."

I don't see where he cited manufacturers that increase the FP value based on a treatment…I just hate spreading misinformation….and I would happily be corrected if any companies are doing this dirty tactic

I'm a huge fan of the Sea to Summit Spark series of bags. They are as good as it gets for large manufactures. 10d Pertex quantum and 850+ fill dry down, and non of the frivolous weight adding features you'll never use. I believe they sell a 25 F (around -5 C) version that is just over a pound, but it is pricey.

Also, for what its worth, I handle down on a regular basis. The current crop of hydrophobic treatments on down is fantastic from my experience. Highly recommend it. No impact on loft characteristics and certainly do help with keeping loft when wet and speedy dry times. Combined with a proper DWR treated ripstop nylon shell it makes for a brilliantly designed bag. Worth the extra money.