50F sleeping ideas

I had to sleep once in a foil bivy indoors at 50f and it was very damp night.

(blizzard bag) style foul bag and it was

I actually cut the side of the Escape open so it acts more like a quilt.

I have a thin apex quilt with a poncho slot that I’ve used a couple times around 50° in a tent or hammock. These days I’d use it in a splash/bug bivy at those temps.

In Australia, specifically the subtropics, this is the majority of our camping! Have a brand new EE 50F quilt for 50F and above, used a MYOG one before that. If below 50F expected, I’d move to my 30F Revelation.

I get that, I have an old GoLite 20F one.  Nothing against EE but $255 for a 50F is a bit much for me now.  I guess I will use an old modified CostCo down quilt that has the head poncho slot.  About 9oz more but also $200 cheaper.  :)   Thanks.

I have a 50 degree MLD Apex Spirit quilt (they call it 48 :) )- I slept with it alone once, it unexpectedly dropped to 32 degree- froze my a$$ off!

What I use it for now is an additional piece layered over a down bag- it adds roughly 20 degrees to the bags rating (which jives with EE’s layering table).  I also pack during hunting season and use it glassing when it’s really cold- mine has the poncho hole as well.  Also gets packed day hiking as an emergency layer- 12 oz and low volume.

The chances of me packing it as a stand alone sleep piece are nil, but I’m still getting a lot of use out of it :)

Took a down costco quilt on a trip that had temps in low 60s. It worked fine-other than being too short for me 6’2″. I would guess mid 50’s would be lowest I would go with that. I wouldn’t use vapor barrier style system only because it’s not fun to be sweaty all night.

I have the AEGISMAX 50F down bag, at $100.00 its not a bad deal. I haven’t pushed it’s lower limits, but most reviews say its good to a little below 50.

I don’t think the claims made by the sellers are all that accurate, but the quality of the bag I received is quite good for the price. Plus the large seems big enough for me at 6’3″

At 16 oz and with a much lower volume than my Katabatic flex 15F 6’6″ wide, it allows me to use a smaller pack when conditions are favorable.

I bought three Costco quilts and had someone cut the third into two pieces and sew them onto the other two to make them long enough for me.  Had the poncho hole sewn into it also.  It is long enough for my 6’5″ self and I can tuck some of the extra under and create a foot box.  As a serape it will come to just past my knees.  Bit more weight.

I bought the AegisMax also.  It is not bad but as a side sleeper a bag does not do much for me when quilts can be more flexible.  As a quilt it does a good job.  It is quite the contender.

But thanks everyone, it has made me think about a lot of different things!

50*? I use my 20* quilt. That’s part of the advantages overall of a quilt! Their extended range in warmer temperatures.

Unless that 5 or so oz is worth it! Maybe for shorter more dialed in trips in summer!

Upwards of 35* or so, I would probably just stick with a synthetic apex 3.6. And then, the weight savings is even less.

Mike, how do you manage your spirit 48 staying on top of your other bag when the width (of the spirit) is so minimal!?!?

Brett, I’m trying to envision exactly how the 3 Costco quilts are put together.  I’m guessing that you have a double layer of extra-long quilt, maybe stitched together down both sides and ends, and that you use that as a quilt over the top of you (or as a serape)?

I’m a cold sleeper, so a single layer of Costco quilt won’t work at 50.  That sounds like a decent solution.  And I’m 5’8″, so the third quilt probably is not necessary.

At 50°F?  Assuming that I’m in a tent – and I will be, because I’m an effete weakling – just a base layer and an R3-ish pad.  Maybe a thin sheet or a stupidly-light down blanket on top in case I want that “time to go to sleep” feeling…but any layer that creates palpable warmth would be too much for me at 50°F.

Mike, how do you manage your spirit 48 staying on top of your other bag when the width (of the spirit) is so minimal!?!?

Eric- I had Ron make a strap (elastic)  that buttons into the top of the quilt and then around the bottom quilt/bag

@d k  Sorry, I made two quilts out for the three.  I just cut one in half and had it sewn to the bottom of each of the other ones.

The man problem with the Costco quilts is that they are very slick and will easily slide around. It would be nice to find another cheap qult that could be used and then a serape also.

for temps in the 50s: usually an apex 5 oz quilt. i think 3.6 oz or even 2.5 with supplemental clothing would be sufficient for 50F

I must sleep a lot warmer than most people…

AntiGravityGear Stratum 55 Top Quilt $79.99 Weight: 17.2 oz. . they go on sale several times a year for even cheaper.

Backpacked Hawaii and used an R1 fleece over my torso for ok sleep.  Still think a thin quilt is best .. especially with a neck entrance to double as camp insulation.

One problem is how a cold front could affect your sleep system.  The tropics can have pretty steady temperatures assuming there’s a way to block any wind.  Deserts on the other hand can lose heat quickly as night falls.

It’s often about 50F or so in my summertime backpacking. I just lie on top of my 20F sleeping bag and that’s enough to keep me warm. Don’t really need a top layer. But it can drop suddenly, so I bring the warm bag just in case.