Help. Friend needs a large sleeping bag—need ideas

Montbell super stretch or whatever they call it fits big guys (I are one) really well.

I’m bigger than your buddy and fit in the Kelty Cosmic Down although it’s a much tighter fit than Montbell

What about Big Agnes?

I was gonna say Kelly Cosmic too, probably best bang for the low cost buck.

To get under $300 with a 0 degree bag, you are probably forced into the synthetic category.

You could probably find a 15 or 20 degree bag from Marmot, Big Agnes or Mountain Hardware around $300. Look at the Marmot 15 degree Helium.

If he is a big guy, he probably needs a bag with larger girth around shoulders. The lower weight bags are slimmer. You friend will need to go into bricks and mortar stores to try out the fit or measure the girth of a bag he likes, and shop the specifications posted on line. For a winter bag you might want enough girth so you can add layers to your sleeping clothes but not so much girth that you have a bunch of cold air spaces in the bag heat up.

If you friend is budget constrained, he can take his three season bag and borrow a top quilt from someone that fits over the bag.

At the end of the season, 1 degree winter down bags will be 1/3 off.

To add…

I don’t mean to be cavalier with someone else’s money, but for most people, I recommend a buy once cry once approach to sleeping bags and quilts and to buy the best one you can afford.   With that said, we own four Kelty Cosmic down sleeping bags and I think they’re a great value.   If your buddy buys one, try getting it through REI.   That way if it’s not a good fit for him, he doesn’t have to worry about returning it

Agreed. He’s looking at a BA right now but I think he should just borrow something until he can save up

^ Yes, this. If he can borrow one to get a better feel for what works for now, do that.

That way he can get the right, quality bag the first time.

I really like the Western Mountaineering Terralite for a spacious “semi mummy” bag. It can be fully opened to a quilt as well. It is rated to 25F, but I’d take it into the mid teens without hesitation.

https://www.naturehike.com/products/naturehike-mummy-high-quality-goose-down-ultralight-sleeping-bag-nh19yd001

maybe have a look at this one? 260$ for a 5degF bag, seems reasonable.

The nice thing about the Terralite is Hermits Hut will sell it to you with the overfill added for free. It adds 8-10 degs of warmth I understand. This is what I’ve been recommending to him. Appreciate the last link too, I’ll chk it out. Thanks.

Overfill will not add that much in most cases. Best to call the manufacturer about these types of things – that being said, op already said a $6-700 WM bag is not in the cards so it is a moot point

I think a lot of us take for granted or have forgotten how daunting the process is to start from nothing.  I wish your buddy well as he sorts all this out.

Enlightened Equipment might do a custom bag.