Newbie: How To Choose A Sleeping Bag?

It depends on what you coldest "warm" trips will be and what your coldest "cold" trips will be. It also depends on stuff like your girth, whether you want a full mummy bag versus quilt versus top bag, with full zip versus half zip versus no zip…are you a cold sleeper or warm sleeper, etc…

Coldest: 0-30ish. Mountain camping in late fall.
Warmer trips: 30-50?

Assume in warmer temps I could just lay on top of the bag if I get too hot, or leave it unzipped to regulate temp?

I think I'm a cold sleeper. I'm a tall, skinny guy. I'd been kind of looking at the mummy bags.

I always tell a beginner to buy a sleeping bag that is 10 degrees F better than the weather they think they will run into. So, if you thought that you would see +20 F weather, buy a +10 F bag.

Like you say, you can simply open up a bag that is too warm. When I had a bag that was way too warm, I would simply lay on the foam mattress and lay the bag over me.

If your bag is 10 degrees warmer than what you need, you won't suffer. But if the bag is 10 degrees colder (worse) than what you need, you will shivver all night long.

–B.G.–

It also depends on if you plan on using any insulated clothing as part of your sleep system. For instance, if you expect lows 0f 10F but plan on also wearing a down jacket and pants to bed, then you may get away with a 10-20F bag. You might find something like a Western Mountaineering UltraLite would work year round in this case. Just use it unzipped as a quilt in warm weather, or zip it up and add down clothing for winter.

I have agree wih the advice you've received. It's more expensive to get a bag and down jacket but you get much more utility out of the system.

If you're a side sleeper, you might need to consider the girth and design of the bag. Some allow you to move and roam (Big Agnes, Montbell, some wider quilts), others do not (reportedly Western Mountaineering's mummies).

You can pretty much make a quilt of any bag if temperature is warmer than bag, but 10F bags are heavy, and you can get away with much less bag in the height of summer. Maybe a compromise between the two extremes with supplementary down clothing to push the envelope when needed would be "be$t".

It's a big purchase, so whatever you do, make sure to check out reviews here, (search google site:www.backpackinglight.com) and on trailspace, REI, etc., to make sure others liked their selection before you hit "order".

Yes, watch those girth measurements. Measure your shoulder, hip and foot girth–over your arms, and while wearing your insulated jacket (in case it's a really cold night and you want to bundle up inside the sleeping bag). Western Mountaineering has at least two widths of sleeping bag for each temperature rating, so you can usually find the one you need.

"I'm a tall, skinny guy."

Pretty sure he can get away with the narrower mummies, but always a good idea to measure. Even better is to cut a piece of fabric to the dimensions of the mummy you are considering and try to sleep in it for a night.

Is there an REI near you? Even if there is not you can join and then order a bag, if it is not to your liking send it back and get a different bag.

REI carries some decent main line manufacturer bags, Marmot, REI's own brand, Sierra Designs, Mountain Hardwear etc. It all depends on how light you want the bag to be, which depends on your budget:) I am partial to Big Agnes because I am a side sleeper and like to be really comfortable when camping.

make sure to get an insulated pad for the mountain winter camping. Anything short of R4 and your bag won't keep you warm since the ground will suck the heat out of you.

Thanks for the info everyone. I hadn't thought about the side sleeping or wearing a down coat. Both things I'll definitely have to consider.

I want my gear to be very light. Weight is more important to me than budget because I'll have heavy camera gear in my pack, so I want the other components as light as possible.

I'm looking at the Thermarest Neoair for a pad.

Closest REI is 4 hours away, but I am a member. Hadn't really thought of ordering one and then shipping it back if it doesn't work for me, good idea.

I'll definitely check out the reviews on this site.

I'm assuming this is a stupid question, but if I were to find a 0 degree bag I liked, wouldn't I be ahead just to get the lowest temp I'd ever use, and then regulate temperature by using the zippers, layers, or using it as a quilt?

I’m assuming this is a stupid question, but if I were to find a 0 degree bag I liked, wouldn’t I be ahead just to get the lowest temp I’d ever use, and then regulate temperature by using the zippers, layers, or using it as a quilt?

There are no stupid questions, no worries. What you suggested is a viable option. Although, it is one thing to purchase and pack a bag that is 10-15F below your expected temperatures for any given trip, but an appropriately rated 0F bag is going to be ‘heavier’ than necessary and excessively warm when used on a trip in the summer where you mentioned evening temperatures reaching the 50’s. I think finding a happy medium, perhaps somewhere near a 20F bag and supplementing that bag with additional insulation when needed is going to stretch out your use through 3-4 seasons. A 20F bag opened up and used like a quilt would work well in temps in the 40’s. A true 20F bag used in conjunction with a lightweight bivy and additional insulation and proper shelter for the conditions could also work quite well at temps nearing 0F.

This is a good place to start in acquiring info regarding design, features and different models available to you:

Ultralight Three-Season Down Mummy-Style Sleeping Bags: State of the Market Report 2010

I'm a fan of using at least two bags. If you use a 0 or 10 F bag in the summer, you are carrying a lot of extra weight. A 20 F bag is a pretty good all around compromise for 3 seasons, including the early Spring and late Fall. The early Spring and late Fall could also be covered by a lower degree winter bag (like 0 or 10 F), while using the 30-40 F bag for the summer.

I personally would start with the summer bag with extra clothes possibility, then buy a warmer bag if I found it became necessary. Maybe you'll find you don't go out when it's colder (unless you somehow know up front that you will), and so will be fine with one bag only.

Yep, definitely makes sense to start with a summer bag since summer is nearly upon us. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to find a great deal on a winter bag before the weather gets cold again.

A Neoair wouldn't work for 0F unless you supplemented with a foam pad or two. Consider some type of down-filled mat for this cold. I use an Exped Downmat 7, but Kooka Bay is lighter.

"I'm assuming this is a stupid question, but if I were to find a 0 degree bag I liked, wouldn't I be ahead just to get the lowest temp I'd ever use, and then regulate temperature by using the zippers, layers, or using it as a quilt?"

This wouldn't work for me. Uncovered areas would be too cold while other areas would be sweating. I even have this issue when I use a 40F bag or quilt at around 55-65F.

Well…if budget isn't an issue, I'm sure the fine people at Nunatak can whip up a custom bag for you no problem.

Just saying…

The NeoAir is definitely a summer pad, and probably not for summer in the high Rockies (where a lot of nights are below freezing), either. It depends on how warm you sleep, of course. I got cold below 40F, and with a 1/8" CCF pad supplement I was shivering most of the night when it got below freezing. For winter, the NeoAir plus a thick enough CCF pad won't be any lighter than a Downmat or Warmlite, and probably heavier than a down-filled Kooka Bay. I took my NeoAir back to REI.

You've had many great recommendations above, so I'll only comment on two points. I wouldn't get a 0 F bag for all seasons. Unnecessary weight for summer, and also uncomfortably hot no matter how much you open it up. Second, before making a big purchase cadge a bag or two or three from your friends, or rent from REI, to see what you like: quilt, mummy, semi-rec, and also to see if one bag fits your sleeping style. Feathered Friends has a rental fleet – call them, tell them you are looking for a bag, listen to their suggestions, and rent a bag or two before you buy.

Thanks for all the great info everyone. Looks like I have a lot more research to do.

Thanks for the head's up on the Neoair. Glad I found this site.

Rather than get a NEOAIR, I nabbed a BA Air Core for $30. Its only 7 ounces heavier, but a hell of a lot cheaper.

It stuffs down smaller than a nalgene, comes with stuff sack AND repair kid. Booya

Consider exchanging the Air Core for the insulated version. The Air Core has even less insulation than a NeoAir (the latter has those heat-reflecting baffles) and will get cold at about 40-45* F. The insulated version will go to about 25*F (or lower depending on whether you're a warm or cold sleeper).

I can't take my Insulated Air Core to freezing. Just too cold on my back. Tried a night of -2 Celcius with it and a 3/8" CC foam on top. Didn't sleep a wink I was still too cold. I find the insulation really lacking in it.