Summer sleeping setup help

EE Conundrum for closed footbox and EE Convert for open would also be good options, as you can tailor width and length to suit your needs.

Well, in summer, you can likely get away with a quilt. In fact, as you know, most sleeping bags have a hood. At around 22-24oz in the size you need, these work well in summer. For the occasional night below 40F, you can supplement with clothing getting your max lower temp range down to about 30F. They also require a good pad, and, head covering (hat/balaclava.) As I remember Tim at EE had his quilts tested and they were a couple degrees optimistic, Around 22F for a 20F rating, etc…not enough to be a problem. I would expect the 40F quilts to perform similarly.

Low fill downs (in the 500-600 range) are about equivalent to synthetics, except they last a lot longer.

I’m really liking my 30F Zpacks bag. The rating seems about right, with all your clothes/down sweater/hat on. Light as a quilt, but you can zip it up if needed. They have many sizes, I have the Xtra wide, which I love. It is not for everybody, though, a tighter fit would be way warmer. They make a 40F version too. I initially ordered the 20F, but it was too warm at 49F. I used to live in Oregon and  down worked fine for me, though I am a fair-weather hiker.

I am tempted to try a quilt, but unsure if I want to commit 100% which is why I am leaning towards the middle ground of one that can unzip fully or most of the way. The EE options look pretty good too!

Well Cole, speaking as an elder of the tribe, I highly recommend a down bag with some sort of recognized down DWR treatment like Dri-Down or Down Tech. Beyond that electronically “welded” seams are better than sewn seams in damp climates where you may get a lot of tent condensation.

LL Bean has some very good bags for the money with Down Tech treatment. I have their excellent -20 F. winter bag and it is designed far better than the Eddie Bauer bag I sent back (due to a horribly designed neck collar).

I’d recommend ONLY 3 season EB bags that have no neck collar B/C they have Dri-Down  treatment and are otherwise high quality.

6’3″ 200+ here too. I use a quilt in summer and am quite happy. I love that there is no tight footbox that are always sized for size ten feet. I have snaps on mine if I want to close it up. Down will be fine, even untreated. You can purchase EE without worry. Good product.

Summer gear gives you the perfect opportunity to try a quilt, because you have a greater chance of liking it even if “user error” results in more drafts.

Treated down has its drawbacks, specifically increased clumping, and isn’t really needed with WP fabrics and a little carefulness in the field.

Lots of good cottage manufacturers for quilts, including EE, UGQ, Hammock Gear, Katabatic, etc.

I was hesitant to try them at first, but I’ve slept comfortably in my quilt below the freezing point, and they are far more comfy than any bag available.

“Treated down has its drawbacks, specifically increased clumping, and isn’t really needed with WP fabrics and a little carefulness in the field.”

Really?

I’ve been actively using treated down since 2014 and never had issues with clumping. All year round. On the contrary, I have only had issues with clumpiness after washing “non-treated” down bags, and that was only due to not putting enough tennis balls in the dryer.

In the PNW, I would probably be looking at something that is as vapor permeable as possible, due to the average humidity levels in the Spring/Summer. Sleeping in warm & clammy weather is a challenge. But if I had a quilt which “added” to the clamminess, than I’d get even less sleep. That’s why down is so good: as far as I’m concerned, no synthetic can compete with the “breathability” of down. Just don’t constrict the down with a wp fabric. Leave the rain/condensation protection to an entirely separate system.

But no matter what, don’t skimp on descent ground insulation just because the air temp is warm. The ground temp may be 65/70 degrees or so – and probably moist.

Cole – where do you hike mostly in the PNW? There’s a big difference in humidity and temperature between the Olympics, the West side of the Cascades, the East side of the Cascades, the coast, and other areas. But regardless of where you hike around here, a 30F down quilt from EE is a great way to go for summer – they make different kinds of quilts depending on your needs.

Over the last 2+ years using and EE Enigma 20F with treated down in the PNW and California, there’s never been a problem with clumping. I went with 20F as this is my shoulder quilt as well, not just summer. For dedicated summer quilt, I’d go with 30F. If you do get condensation at night, it’s usually quick and easy to dry out gear most of the summer around here (set it out to dry at lunch).

The key to avoiding condensation in summer where it’s humid is campsite selection. I almost never get condensation in summer if I’m camped under some tree limb cover on dry ground. If camping under the stars, I just expect to get a little condensation on the quilt on half of the nights, but it’s never been a big deal to dry out later in the day (at least in summer months). For shoulder season, especially if camping out of tree cover, I take a light VBL and/or an inner net tent with partial solid walls to put under the tarp – both help with condensation in cold and/or damp weather.

“I was glancing at the Marmot micron 50 degree, light, inexpensive at $120 or so (650 fill), but don’t know how accurate their temperature ratings are or if 650 fill down is worth it. ”

Marmot supplies an EN rating with their bags so it should be close to accurate. Seems like I saw where this one was comfort rated at 47F.

Also, Sierra Trading Post has the Micron(long) for $99.  It is a cosmetic 2nds bag though.

Ryan

Lester, I am on the Wet side, generally around St. Helens. That is great info!

Ryan, I saw that on there too, and I think I have a 25% off code too putting it at $75 and can pick up locally to save shipping.

You guys have given me a lot to ponder! Thank you!