Sleeping system for a big guy

I’m a big guy too – also 6′ and running at around 280 lbs.  I’m most comfortable in a hammock with a top quilt and underquilt.  Before that I found the Montbell sleeping bags (in a long) to be really comfortable.  They’re pretty reasonable and light and he can get the appropriate temperature rating.

For a pad I preferred a full-length pad over a torso-sized pad.  Site selection also makes a big difference.  My last time sleeping on the ground I used a Z-Rest and it was fine.

I hope that helps a little…

@ Jennifer

On the subject of a person tossing in his/her sleep and the advantage of a quilt vs bag, I think it all depends on the person’s ability to learn to manage the small drafts.  I turn a lot at night from left to right to back and then start all over again. I also sleep with two pillows: one under my head and another between my knees when I am on my side.  I transitioned from a bag to a quilt as the last step on my journey toward lightness. Since I camp a lot on the Pacific Coast Range where there is a lot of rain and fog and I was worried about the expense I got a synthetic quilt from MLD.

The best way to check girth would be go into your local backpacking store with a measuring tape and have the person lie in the bag and try tossing and turning. Measure the total girth of the bag that seems to have enough room. In my opinion 1/2 of that total, should be about what you need for a quilt. You want enough to tuck around your body or down the sides of your pad. There is a contrary view that that the wider the quilt is the more drafts you might get.

Many people have had great experience with the EE line of synthetic quilts that are sold at a good price point. Alan Dixon who used to write a lot for BPL did a roundup of lower cost quilt offerings even with 800 down here: http://www.adventurealan.com/best-lightweight-backpacking-quilts-sleeping-bag/

He also has an article on cheap, light backpacking.  Ryan Jordan also published in BPL an article and lightweight gear you could buy at REI.

You might want to make the quilt the last purchase, The problem with a cheap bag is that they are heavy although Marmot and Mountain HW are bringing out new synthetic bags that are lighter.

At the end of summer, Big Agnes and other vendors like Marmot and Mtn HW put bags on sale.  There is also the used down bag route.  You occasionally see the Western Mountaineering or Marmot Hydogen bags sold used here which are 800 down or higher. You could wash it yourself or have it professionally cleaned by Rainy Pass Repair. I and over 6 feet and 215 lbs and found the WM bags too constricting.

Hi Jennifer,

I also toss and turn … a lot.

When I was well north of 250lb (at 6″) I never found a moderate weight mummy sleeping bag that was not extremely confining.  So I started using a std width bag like a quilt.  It did not take long to become a confirmed quilter.

When I managed to get down to 240-250 I found a regular length and width EE Revelation quilt to be perfect for me … but a lot of folks go for a wide.

After last year’s big scare I’m safely below 200 and getting ready to reward myself with a 40 degree EE quilt for MN summers. I can probably squeeze  into a slim width but am going to stick with regular so I can .mate it with another quilt for colder trips.

For best EE prices look at their “warehouse” section on Mondays about 1:30pm central time.

EE’s enigma is their lightest line but the zipper on the Revelation lets it open up flat as a blanket.

I got by with a 20″ wide pad for a long time but I won’t recommend that for a large person.  The weight penalty for a wide pad is not huge.

Jennifer, you guys will have to check prices and see if these are acceptable, but there are a couple of options in the “traditional” (i.e. non-quilt) sleeping bag world.  You might look at Nemo’s “spoon-shaped” bags and some of Big Agnes’ offerings, specifically the Park series bags.  Some companies also offer long-wide versions of their mummy bags.  All of these bags are available in either down or synthetic fills, with down of course being the lightest and most compressible.  Hope you find something!

I am 6’1 in the high 230’s with broad shoulders. I have never used a mummy bag I love but a Western Mountaineer Alpinlite was the best I tried. Once I switched to a quilt I never look back. I love Katabatic. That being said the one time I saw a EE I was also impressed.

Thanks for all of your suggestions! We decided to get the Big Agnes Buffalo Park 40° https://www.bigagnes.com/Buffalo-Park-40-Thermolite-Extra-LONG for now. Its not too expensive, and will do the job for now. This way we can afford to get other equipment that we need. Its synthetic, but still pretty light.

Then we will keep our eyes open for a 0 degree or 20 degree bag or quilt, like Nemo, Enlightened Equipment, FF, WM, or the like that is down (so if he sweats it’ll be in the synthetic in the summer, not the down which will be for colder weather.) That way I can watch for sales, and maybe ask for it as a Christmas gift or something.

He’s gonna test out a ThermaRest pad we are getting for my daughter (coming any minute!!) and will decide on a pad after that.

Thanks for your help!!  Hearing your individual experiences really had me thinking a lot, and the extra tips like Rainy Pass Repair, not getting a torso pad, and when EE has its sales was really appreciated.  Wish us luck!

Jennifer

Let us know how it works out. I recently bought one of Big Agnes 40 degree synthetic quilts as an experiment, and to have an insulation layer in our earthquake kit, but have no experience with BA sleeping bags.

I’m 6′ 5″, 215 lbs, and know what it’s like finding gear that works well for larger people.

He’ll be much more comfortable on a sleeping pad that’s at least 25″ wide. I’d recommend an insulated inflatable pad like the REI Flash or Thermarest NeoAir (multiple models).

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-sleeping-pad/ratings

For a sleeping bag, he’ll probably have a hard time finding one wide enough for him to sleep comfortably. You may try a rectangular down bag from LL Bean, Kelty, TNF, Big Agnes.

As a restless sleeper and quilt convert, I’ll never go back to a confining sleeping bag. I’ve got 2 Enlightened Equipment quilts, both Long/Wide. EE makes great quilts at unbeatable prices (especially if you can grab one second-hand on this forum). This may be your most desirable option.