mummy sleeping bag…center zip?

[Alex Heesch]

ok, i have a military surplus intermediate mummy sleeping bag and i love that thing so much!-my home away from home!

but, the darn thing is heavy, big, and bulky!!!

so, does anyone know of a mummy sleeping bag for a decent price…THAT HAS A CENTER ZIPPER! i want a center zipper just like my old sleeping bag…can anyone help me out?

[Brian Markey]

The feathered friends rock wren has a center zipper. I have no experience with it, however. See it here: http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Specialty.html

[John G]

Here's one solution to "big, bulky & heavy".

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/other_bags/alpinist.htm

I'm not sure it's what you'd call "reasonably priced", but the reviews of this manufacturers quilts & bags all seem to say what great quality and performance they have…

ps: Their ARC quilts are even more convenient than center zip bags if you don't thrash around in your sleep and cause drafts (or if you use a bivy to prevent the drafts).

[Alex Heesch]

well, first of all, i use a hennessy hammock…if that matters much.

and secondly and most importantly…i'm an 18 year old kid headed off to college (yeah, sob story) and i have next to nothing for money already…i bought that military surplus bag for $30! i would need one heck of a deal on a used one! maybe i'll just have to suck it up, get a compression bag and carry it?

[Steven Evans]

Go-lite makes center zips aswell.

http://www.golite.com/Product/ProductByCategory.aspx?mc=7&s=1

[Jim Colten]

Alex,

What's the coldest and warmest temp range you expect to encounter?

What are you doing for insulation under you when hammocking?

how big and how heavy is the current bag?

[Alex Heesch]

Temps- I'm in south dakota so i will be camping 3 seasons out of the year…anywhere from 10 degrees F to 80 degrees F

I'm not sure how heavy my bag is…i don't think i'd be off by saying it is over 5 pounds…

i am 6'2" tall and weigh 240lbs…so its a fairly large bag

[John G]

For hammock use on a budget, I'd suggest looking at the Ray-Way quilt, with Alpine upgrade (for 3 season use). $85 total. (http://www.ray-way.com/php/order-form.php)

Quilt are more versitile than a bag (can be ventilated easier in hot weather, plus accomidate warm clothing underneath easier in cold weather. Bag's are generally a little warmer than quilts when sleeping on the ground since bags have no breeze issues (quilt users can just add a bivy to eliminate drafts though). In a hammock, there is no problem with drafts blowing under the edges of the quilt.

Later, you could make a 2nd one to use as an underquilt for the colder shoulder seasons when you lose a lot of heat from the bottom of the hammock. Much warmer than a sleeping bag since you aren't laying on the insulation and compressing it.

The synthetic quilts don't pack as small as down, but they are easy to make yourself ! You can also buy materials at Thru-hiker.com or OWFINC.com if you don't need a kit / pattern.

[Alex Heesch]

i will keep that in mind…i guess i'm just really more comfortable having a bag

[Christopher Chupka]

Alex,
You may want to looks at an Army poncho liner. Just a thin sheet of polyester with polyester insulation quilted in.

You could also see if you could find just the inner bag of the Army ECWCS sleep system. I think it is good down to about 40 degrees by itself.

[Jaiden .]

Maybe you can hack up the bag to make it a quilt and cut a significant amount of weight and bulk from it.

[Alex Heesch]

i don't really understand these quilts…am i missing somehting here…is it really just a blanket you wrap around yourself?

[Brett .]

Alex,
I know what you mean; I spent many comfortable nights in one of those old canvas/down bags. But they are heavy..
Here's one of the modern replacements: with center zip of course:
http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/snugpak_special_forces_1_sleeping_bag/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=directory&utm_content=USA&currency=USD&country=USA

I own three models of Snugpak in pertex; and highly recommend them.

[Jason Brinkman]

– "i don't really understand these quilts…am i missing somehting here…is it really just a blanket you wrap around yourself?"

Sort of like a blanket, and sort of like cutting the handle off your toothbrush.

Actually, quilts are more like a mummy bag without the bottom. Most have sewn foot boxes like sleeping bags. Quilts are usually just missing the hood, and the fabric/insulation that you would crush under your body.

Quilt advantages include 1) lighter; and 2) easier to vent when it's warm. However, they usually require head protection for cold weather, and a bivy is nice to help manage wind.

[Rog Tallbloke]

Snugpak are great, their factory is close to where I live too. There's another synthetic bag in your temp range which offers more versatility though.

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/wallcreeper_pl.html

There is also a warmer and lighter down version.

[Alex Heesch]

hey, thanks for all the help and all the options!

i appreciate it!

[Lynn Tramper]

You might also want to check out the LuxuryLite V-bag
http://www.luxurylite.com/bagindex.html

$165 for a down bag with center zip that you can also trun over and use as a "quilt" in warmer weather. Sounds ideal for your intended uses.

[Alex Heesch]

alright…thanks for all the advice guys! this is got to be the greatest hiking site!

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