Sleeping Bags

[Saddleboy]

I bought this bag this spring. https://www.amazon.com/Big-Agnes-Spike-DownTek-Sleeping/dp/B07M65F4JP

Packs down to nothing, only weighs 2.5 lbs and is the best price I could find for a bag that light. I was comfortable in the low 30’s this spring. I’m hoping that by sleeping in base layers I can get below 30. I haven’t go to test that yet though.

I have the same bag, can’t beat the value. Paired with a light BA synthetic overbag you can get down in the teens comfortably.

 

[hokiehunter373]

I would hope so! Lol


Thanks for everyone's input! I like the Wiggy's bags but I don't want mine to be 5+ pounds. Yes, this hunt will be next to the truck. If my plan for the next decade or two was to only truck hunt, I'd pull the trigger. I don't want to buy a bag now that I can't/don't want to take backpacking. I also don't want to spend 8-900 or I'd just buy a Western Mountaineering bag and call it a day. Right now I'm between a Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 0 and a Sierra Designs Nitro 0. I found a Nitro for $250 that seems like a screaming deal I probably can't pass up.

As for pads, same thing goes for weight. @gcr0003 I appreciate the heads up on that pad and Amazon had one for sale for $65. That's cheap enough I almost don't care if I buy a different one in the future so I'm still debating it. Update: that sale's gone. Otherwise, I'll probably get a XTherm NXT. Still researching but you guys made it pretty clear a 0 degree bag is the way to go, while our opinions may vary on weight and brand.

Ended up buying the SD Nitro 0 for $265 after tax and shipping. 800 down and 2.5 pounds I couldn't find anything else that could match that at that price. I also got a Sea to Summit Reactor liner mainly for keeping the bag clean but it'll help if I need to get a few more degrees out of the bag or if it's unseasonably warm I can just use the liner. I ended up finding an Exped Ultra 7R for $150 which is $100 off on closeout. It's half a pound heavier than the NXT but the cost savings seemed worth it for the same R value.

At a slight weight penalty, you may want to look at the big Agnes lost ranger 3 in 1 (this is what I have in 0 degree) or the zenbivy systems. Gives some decent flexibility for temp range, and I find mine to be super comfortable paired with a good pad-mines and exped. It's not completely minimalist/ ideal for backpacking, but that's ok by me.

Or a 15 degree bag and a quilt and/or liner. There's a bunch of different ways to skin this cat.

Dutch, I researched the quilts a bunch more and reeeeallyy wanted to go that direction but they get so much more expensive. I figured for this trip I'll try the mummy bag. If I hate it I'll sell it and recoup a decent bit of my cost and save up for years following.

Thanks to everyone for your input! I did pass on a Wiggy's recommendation to a buddy who only camps next to his truck. Great looking bags.

 

[Camelcluch]

Get the flextail pump. It’s an awesome addition to pump up your pad.

 

[gcr0003]

Ended up buying the SD Nitro 0 for $265 after tax and shipping. 800 down and 2.5 pounds I couldn't find anything else that could match that at that price. I also got a Sea to Summit Reactor liner mainly for keeping the bag clean but it'll help if I need to get a few more degrees out of the bag or if it's unseasonably warm I can just use the liner. I ended up finding an Exped Ultra 7R for $150 which is $100 off on closeout. It's half a pound heavier than the NXT but the cost savings seemed worth it for the same R value.



Dutch, I researched the quilts a bunch more and reeeeallyy wanted to go that direction but they get so much more expensive. I figured for this trip I'll try the mummy bag. If I hate it I'll sell it and recoup a decent bit of my cost and save up for years following.

Thanks to everyone for your input! I did pass on a Wiggy's recommendation to a buddy who only camps next to his truck. Great looking bags.

I know you already chose a bag but that doesn’t mean you gotta keep it. If you haven’t slept in a sleeping bag much lately or recently then I would also consider what type of sleeping you do. If you only sleep on your back then you might be fine but if you like to sleep on your side or want some flexibility with your feet you might not love that bag. The foot box seems super tight. That’s one thing I like about the NEMO bags is they go a little wider on the foot box as well as the mid section which gives you a lot of flexibility if you want to turn in the bag at all. The Nemo bags also feature vents to help regulate temperature if you’re not in extremely cold weather. I’m sure the bag you got will do great, just throwing some more options out there since youre spending the kind of money you’re spending on bags and stuff. Not saying NEMO is the best, and I’m not knocking the brand you got, just mentioning other features. Either way, glad you got some new gear, enjoy! You’ll have to let us know how it does for you.

 

[bowhunthard88]

I will second a Flextail pump, and I have all three versions lol. For myself, I prefer the dependability of synthetic at the sacrifice of weight/packability (buy a good compression sack and stow on the outside, or stuff it loose into your bag). I like the BA Rapide SL pad for comfort, but the XTherm NXT wins without question for warmth. I currently am running a BA Lost Dog sleeping bag, and I have various bags and quilts, but the Lost Dog gets the nod more often than not if it's below 50 with any chance of humidity or getting wet. I also always sleep with at least a full lightweight set of base layers on and I keep a beanie or an EE insulated hood at hand. I have a few bag liners as well, but I tend to use them more as a bag by themselves for super warm weather than inside a bag. Another tip would be fairly loose fitting warm wool or synthetic socks or booties!

 

[hokiehunter373]

I know you already chose a bag but that doesn’t mean you gotta keep it. If you haven’t slept in a sleeping bag much lately or recently then I would also consider what type of sleeping you do. If you only sleep on your back then you might be fine but if you like to sleep on your side or want some flexibility with your feet you might not love that bag. The foot box seems super tight. That’s one thing I like about the NEMO bags is they go a little wider on the foot box as well as the mid section which gives you a lot of flexibility if you want to turn in the bag at all. The Nemo bags also feature vents to help regulate temperature if you’re not in extremely cold weather. I’m sure the bag you got will do great, just throwing some more options out there since youre spending the kind of money you’re spending on bags and stuff. Not saying NEMO is the best, and I’m not knocking the brand you got, just mentioning other features. Either way, glad you got some new gear, enjoy! You’ll have to let us know how it does for you.

Yup, I'll be giving everything a bunch of testing to make sure I like the decision I made. If I don't I'll be switching things up before my trip gets here