I’m looking for some advice on a winter sleeping bag for my son (11 years old, 4’9”, 95#). Here are the details of the trip/conditions/gear:
Location: High elevation crosscountry ski trip in the Colorado backcountry in early March. Sleeping on snow in a 2 man dome tent (with bath tub floor) shared with another boy scout. No bivy.
Expected temps: The average lows are reported to be between 0 to 10 degrees (F). Record lows are -15 F. I would like for the bag to keep him comfortable down to zero (for this and other winter trips)
Sleeping pad system (the combination of the following):
Full length closed-cell pad (5/8 inch thick, R=2.6)
Full length evazote pad (3/8 inch thick, =1.42)
Montbell 90 inflatable pad (1 inch thick, r=??)
Montbell inflatable pillow (not sure if this will make his head cold since its 4" of inflated air?)
Clothing:
Dedicated for sleeping only: Mid weight fleece pant and shirt, 2 layers of merino wool socks
Other clothing to be worn: Fleece mitts and balaclava. Can add a Patagonia Micro Puff if needed.
He currently owns a Montbell #2 UL SS bag which will not be sufficient for these temps. He can get the bag down to the mid 20’s F (in the above clothing) so I’d consider him a normal sleeper. He takes good care of his gear so I’m willing to spend some money on a quality bag that will last him a while and keep him warm. I’d also like to keep the weight below 50 ounces (~3#) to keep his pack light. I want him to have a regular size bag so he can keep his day time clothes and shoes at the bottom of the bag and be able to use the bag as he grows.
Here are the options I’m considering:
1) Montbell UL SS # 0 (0*F rating, ??” loft, weighs 49oz, cost $410)
2) Golite Adrenaline (0*F rating, 6-7” loft, weighs 44oz, cost $300 – on sale)
3) Using a Golite Ultra (20*F rating, 4-5”loft, weighs 19oz, cost $180 – on sale) inside his Montbell UL SS # 2 (28oz, 5” loft) for an approximated total of 7-8”of loft on top of him and 47 ounces of total weight.
Which option would you suggest, or do you have an alternative suggestion? Thanks!
