20 Degree bag or 0 degree bag. Need opinions

Take the Nano 20 (only) and wear every piece of clothing you have if necessary.

If it was me I would go with the Kodiak, but then again I subtract 10f from my bags ratings.

I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to warmth at night, so I'd take the Kodiak…and if the winds continue, that would add to the cold… but if you DO end up in the cabin, the Kodiak would be overkill, for sure.

I'm guessing that you might be heading up to the Galiuros…have a great time!

I just read the updated weather forecast for Flagstaff and its now going to be 26 degrees tomorrow night which means its going to be 12-15 degrees colder where I am camping. Sounds like I should bring the 0 degree bag. I've had the nano down to 24 degrees at night and was perfectly comfortable. I will have wool base layers, and a down parka. I wonder if I could push the nano or if I should just suck it up and take the Kodiak.

Valerie where is this cabin you speak of? I am heading up Kendrick peak this weekend.

There are a few other variables to consider: shelter, site selection, and conditioning. If I remember, you said you have a Copper Spur, with mostly mesh walls. They will result in more evaporative cooling than a solid walled shelter. Do you know whether your site is exposed or will offer protection from the elements? How do you handle the cold? And do you feel the cold more in late fall / early winter than in February or March? Most people acclimatize to the cold over the course of the winter. But I think I saw you say something about being stationed in cold conditions for an extended period, so you may already be used to it.

The final factor is fuel. You'll stay warmer when well fed and hydrated. The candle lantern may help mitigate condensation in the shelter, but it's unlikely to offer any significant source of heat.

Yes I have a copper spur. The site is not exposed, it is surrounded by pine forest. I handle the cold quite well even though I live in Phoenix. I have all the appropriate winter gear as I am beginning to do more mountaineering. One of the many reasons I have chosen ultralight backpacking is so that I can bring better food. We are going to be eating very well. We are talking Arizona in the fall there won't be much condensation even from my breath. Its quite dry here. We are most likely going to be in the cabin barring there being tremendous amounts of mouse droppings (Don't want to get hantavirus).

Knowing where you're headed, I would take the 0 degree bag so that I could ditch the tent. The stars at 10,000 feet will be awesome. It looks like generally light winds (although of course they'll be stronger up high) and there won't be much chance of dew. Zero percent chance of rain.

The wonderful Flagstaff forecast discussion currently says:

LOOK FOR SEASONABLY MILD AND DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG WITH LIGHT WINDS
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. A GREAT WEEK FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND
CHORES BEFORE WINTER INEVITABLY SETS IN.

Of course, you're talking to a die-hard cowboy-camper here, I don't bring a tent unless I'm absolutely forced to.

Nick
I am about 90% positive I am leaving my tent in the car. I haven't cowboy camped since highschool which was the only way we did it back then, we are shooting for the cabin. It should be cold enough that no critters are crawling on us. I am not worried about the weather I know there is ZERO chance of precipitation. Looks like I need to head to REI to get a compression sack as this Kodiak came with a bag that's too big for my liking.

is where I was thinking — there's an old cabin there that many folks have stayed in (I think it has a wood stove, too!).

If you have a double wall tent, it will add a few degrees.

The parka will actually make your legs and feet cold, by keeping the interior of the bag colder, trapping more heat around torso.

I'd take the lighter bag with down pants and booties. Without them, no.

No down pants or booties here. Its looking more and more like the 0 is the winner. One more question do I bring the Montbell Ex Light anorak down jacket with 2.2 ounces of down or do I bring the Montbell Frost line parka with 6.7 ounces of down? I'll have a Montbell fleece as well with Icebreaker t and I'll be wearing Smartwool PHd's during the day and I have a pair of heavy wool socks for at night. Oh and marmot scree pants they are pretty well insulated.

My exlight is warm in camp, to maybe 40 f not moving around much. I'd bring a heavier jacket. Being warm is more fun than shivering while making dinner. But it all depends on the person. Some will opt for minimal, then quickly get into a heavy bag.

Sounds like you've got some good feedback here, Heath. I'd agree with most – if you're expecting temps around 10F or dipping into the single digits, the Kodiak is going to give you that extra bit of comfort as you get into winter camping.

I have a similar sleeping bag setup to you – WM Alpinlite 20F and Kodiak 0F – and camp mostly above 11000ft in the high desert in Colorado. I've had nights when my Alpinlite didn't feel warm at 35F, and I've had a night where it was toasty at 5F with no more than a Cap 2 baselayer. Hence the variables comment.

Enjoy your trip and let us know what worked and what you'd tweak next time around.

Thanks everyone I decided to pick up a bivy sack at REI tonight and I am either sleeping in an old forest service cabin or cowboy camping in a bivy. I should be fine either way with the O degree.

We ended up sleeping in the cabin it was a few degrees warmer than outside but not by much. I estimate it was around 15-18 degrees at night. I slept in the 20 degree bag with an x therm and the whole thing was in an REI bivy sack. I was quite warm every night, so warm that I had to unzip the bag halfway down. I am a warm sleeper. I also only brought the Ex Light down anorak and wore that over an icebreaker t and a montbell fleece. We had a nice large fire so I stayed warm with this combo and a pair of thin gloves. My toes got cold but I suspect that was from my socks being damp with sweat from earlier in the day. I should have changed them upon arriving in camp. It was a beautiful weekend though.