adding zipper to existing sleeping bag for dummy

you’re going to cut a slit in the bag and put a zipper there?

you could sew the zipper in place, then slit the bag.

You need a zipper foot that has a foot only on one side.  A regular foot doesn’t work well because the foot is lifted up by the zipper teeth.

Or, you could sew it on each side, then cut the slit, then sew on the zipper

I was going to sew it on each side the cut the slit, then sew on the zipper. I’m just a huge novice in sewing/modifying gear and the super fragile 20D nylon seems hard to work with, so I was thinking there might be special techniques or thread that people use, also I guess some beta on the need for baffles to help with breezes.

I’ve also heard of people putting coats of stuff on zippers mainly for waterproofing but thinking that that might be less challenging than sewing baffles on, again total newb thats just wide eyed and ready to finally stop compromising on gear and making my own

Looked at the product page to be sure I understood.  And have researched paragliding just to learn about the fabric.  But the leg holes raise a whole new dimension.  Sounds like you want something to wear while paragliding and/or camping while preparing to glide.

The prior posters have covered the arm holes, a la the Wren. The leg holes raise different issues because the Wren zip only comes down to the middle of the bag, and that alone traps the legs.  And it’s tough to imagine how you will walk around wearing the bag, even with leg holes like the Wren’s arm holes.  I think it was intended to keep warm doing meals in frigid weather.

That would lead to making a whole body suit, with two legs, which would require a total mod of the bag.  But maybe I’m not getting it, or am being too pessimistic.  There was a body suit type of tent sold years ago, but it actually added quite a bit of weight due to the extra zips and seams.  Nevertheless, a good body suit might deter the cold during several different activities.  it might take a lot of browsing to find what you are looking for, though.  If you do, please post about it, with links or photos, because many would be interested in seeing one in actual use.

No thats totally fair, I kinda just assumed all the ground I covered so far was solid and just dropped yall into the middle of my whacky ideas. So the purpose of the garmet (sleeping bag/down suit) would be to sleep in and to fly in. I’ve had alot of trouble staying warm while flying in Alaska, ice forms on the outside of my gloves, and going numb frankly gets to be a safety issue when landing isn’t an option for a bit. I was going to try down pants, but then had the crackpot idea that I have two sets of down gear, one I would wear for flying and then the other for sleeping, what if i could just have one set for both, it would be warmer, lighter, and maybe just as important leave more room in my small paragliding harness for a packraft (cause landing earlier in alaska means floating out is your best option). I already wear a dry suite flying for warmth and to be able to packraft in later, so the key thought is: If I can free the legs on a sleeping bag to fit in the dry suit legs its a win win win win.

After that the Winter Wren by feathered friends looked like the least amount of work and best rated bag to convert to something that looked more like a full body sleeping bag (like a selk’bag)

I guess caveats to this would be if just a pair of down pants and jacket would add the temp difference I need for like a 40 degree quilt of something, or something else I’m not thinking of cause I’m too hyper focused on this idea.

Images are copy and paste referances of semi dry suit, Selk’bag, winter wren

Also I guess I’m chasing this cause sleeping bag seem to be rated warmer than a down coat and pants would be of similar loft, which i totally dont understand. I am also seriously considering zipping together down pants and a jacket, but if I can invent something that works better and would ultimately save me space that sounds like a lot more fun tbh. I know the zippers would make the bag weigh more, but only by 6oz I’m guessing, and the zippers would make the bag colder but I think the backpacking bag will be able to be used as a 3/4 bivy bag and would make up that warmth difference. Idk any and all help or opinions welcome, to me it just makes sense, and on one hand it seems complicated and unnecessary and the other hand its just adding one or two zippers to save weight and space and get UL clout

Hayden:  OK, I had it almost right.  It is good to know that you have experience paragliding, because I don’t.  The second of the three images you posted is what I had in mind.  However, it would probably not be waterproof.  So if you need something waterproof, that’s an issue, because a down body suit would probably not fit under your dry suit.   And I assume you have to get to and from your rig to glide, and that you would need legs for that.

So there may be an issue, because the dry suit might have to go under the down suit, and if you will be exposed to moisture, the down will get wet.  Down can be treated to be water repellent, but not water resistant, and the latter is needed to keep the down dry enough in the rain or mist to hold the heat.  Conversely, a waterproof down suit used for sleeping is going to seal the suit, and bathe most people in sweat.

So I can’t see why you would wear a dry suit unless there will be exposure to rain or mist, so am stumped.  (Also assume you cannot be changing layers when busy controlling the glider.) There are many WPB (waterproof breathable) garments, but I’ve no experience wearing them over a dry suit.  So guess more info is needed to try to come up with a solution for dual use of a single full body down garment for both gliding and sleeping.  Maybe others can be more helpful.

totally fair, I think the dry suit/semi dry suit really appeals to me for a few reasons, though as a caveat to all these I haven’t heard of any other paraglider using a dry/semi dry suit for flying. BUT I’ve read that it’s one of the warmest/lightest systems out there all be it that its not breathable at all, which is alright for me being that paragliding isn’t a strenuous sport at all.

Appealing reasons for dry suit/semi dry suit:

1. It’s warm as heck and totally wind proof

2. Sometimes to make a crossing in paragliding I’ll need extra altitude and have to fly inside of clouds, that can get very wet and a stead trickle of water can drip down my lines and onto me.

3. Can be used for a paddling suit when I land, so it’s saving pack space and weight

4. While I’m in the air I can unzip and zip up the large chest zipper on the suit to regulate vapor and warmth.

5. Onesies seem the most efficient ways to be warm.

I’m not married to the system but I do like its versatility and weight savings and in general love coming up with hair brained ideas on how to improve or try things other people aren’t which in turn could be blinding me to a better, more traveled path of warmth management. In the sense if yall are just like, why don’t I do it another obvious way, plz let me know : )

I realize that the down won’t have full loft under the suit, BUT the suit is very roomy and in my experience gives enough room for most down jackets I have to fully loft inside, and even if it’s most of it that would do :) But as of right now it’s seeming like possibly making a onesie down suit out of just a jacket and pants would be easier, and then sleep with a synthetic down quilt, I’m just nervous about how much temp that would add to my sleep system, like if I got a 35 degree quilt would that be comfy at 20 degrees with long johns down jackets and quilt? it seems like this is something that is me specific so ill just have to test it.  IDK thoughts?