Looking for sleeping bag advice

It sounds like you would do fine with a 32-40 degree bag for most your 3 season hiking in the sierras and the PCT in Oregon-but its really a personal issue on how warm of a sleeper you are, metabolism, etc. If you go with a 40 degree bag pair it with an UL insulated jacket like the MOntbell UL Down Inner, BPL Coccon. Then you will have more versitility within your sleep system and a camp jacket for those colder mornings and evenings!
There are many lighter and more affordable packs out there to chose from. Check out the Mariposa by Gossamer Gear (3600ci, $125, 22,3 oz)Golite Jam 2 (3100ci,$124.95, 1 1b 10oz) Golite Pinnacle (4400ci, $119.98 on sale @ Prolite, 2lb. All numbers represent size M, and you will probably need a large so the weights will be slightly higher.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Travel Lite!

I followed the advice last year that says "get a bag rated for 10 degrees lower than the lowest temps you think you'll see." For me, camping in the North Sierras, that was a 20 degree bag. It turns out, I'm a warm sleeper, an I ended up roasting all of my trips, even in the upper 30s. This year, I'm going with a 32 degree bag. Sure maybe on an early or late trip it could hit 25, but in that case I'll have a light down jacket with me for insulation, and I think that hould be enough to boost the bag in the even the temps get a little colder, plus it's dual use. It all depends on how warm/cold you sleep.

> I followed the advice last year that says "get a bag rated for 10 degrees lower than the
> lowest temps you think you'll see."
I think that advice derives from the way some American sleeping bag manufacturers used to rate their bags. There were lies, dam*n lies, and indictable fraud.

Bags rated using the new European standard are more reliable in their ratings.

Cheers

Daniel,

I have hiked the Sierra for many years. Unless I know for sure that it is going to be hot I carry a 20 F bag there. I have been surprised by waking up to ice many times in the middle of winter. I have seen it get into the teens in September.

I am heading for Yosemite in three weeks and will be bringing a SS Downhugger #1 (20 F). In June I will start using a GoLite Ultra 20 quilt.

I guess I should say that I am usually at pretty high elevations. The lower areas do not get as wild swings. And looking at my hiking log, last summer was the warmest I have ever seen. I used my Phantom 32 more last summer than the previous three years combined.

I have been using an Exos 58 all spring and really like it so far. It has a ton of space. I will have a bear canister in it this weekend.