~*~ Sleeping Bags ~*~
Get
down. No…don’t dance. I mean goose down sleeping bags. Once you go down, you
will never go back. Synthetics are heavier, and although they dry faster when
wet, they just aren’t as comfortable. There’s nothing like a 900 fill goose
down bag on a cold winter night. As long as you are careful to keep your bag
dry, you should not have a problem. I’ve always had down bags and have never
had a problem with moisture or getting it wet. I usually wrap it in a garbage
bag for added protection.
Temp. Rating: 20* down
Weight:
Zips: Right
Review: While it is not the absolute lightest down
bag out there, it has rapidly become one of my favorites. I tend to sleep warm
but I have had this bag in temps below the teens without the slightest chill.
I’ve never needed more than this bag, even on cold winter nights.
Alternatively, I have used it in temps up to 50* without sweating bullets. In
colder weather, I do wear a Smartwool beanie, fleece
socks, and mid-weight long underwear to sleep in as well which certainly adds
to the rating.
Sierra Designs
Temp. Rating: 30* down
Weight:
Zips: Right
Review: I have only used this bag for car camping so far but it’s
comfortable and the rating is actually (for me) a little on the high side. I
think I would be comfortable in this bag down to 20*. I tend to be a warm
sleeper, so as always, YMMV.
Sierra Designs Fastbag Summer
Temp. Rating: 50* down
Weight: 1 lb 3 oz
Zips: Left & Right
Review: For those not familiar with this design, it is a convertible
down lid with the bottom of the bag being just a sheet of nylon. The idea being
that the down under your body will be compressed anyway, and therefore
“useless”. I love this bag! It compresses to smaller than a loaf of bread and
is incredibly warm (I think the temp rating of 45* is understated by almost
10*). The zipper goes completely around so that you can take off the bottom
part and then use the lid to attach to my
Temp. Rating: 50* synthetic
Weight: 15 oz
Zips: Right
Review: This is my one and only synthetic bag and I use it only in
the summer months as my only bag. I have never used it as a liner, so I have
yet to discover how much it will increase the temp rating. This is something I
will be doing as I start the AT, so I can report back at the end of my hike on
how it worked. I like the rectangular design for use in camp on chilly
evenings. I can easily unzip the bottom, stick my feet through it, and be able
to move around without shuffling. It is very roomy inside, making it easy to
move around in. I have used it multiple times as just a blanket and that has
worked equally well for me in warmer temps.
TNF Down Bag
Temp. Rating: 10* down
Weight: 3 lbs’ish
Zips: Left
Review:
Caribou Down Bag
Temp. Rating: 20* down
Weight: heavy!
Zips:
Right
Review: I have had this bag for almost 20 years and despite the fact
that it is incredibly heavy, I am very fond of it. The temp rating has never
failed me and although I have since retired this bag for car camping only, it
has held up amazingly well for the last two decades. It was originally
purchased by my mother for me to take on my first backpacking trip on the Chilkoot Trail when I was 13 years old. It replaced the
giant, rectangular, flannel-lined bag that I so treasured. To be honest, I
don’t know if Caribou still exists as a manufacturer but I wouldn’t hesitate to
buy another bag from them in the future if the need were to arise.
Marmot Teton Down Bag
Temp. Rating: 0*
Weight: 3 lbs 8 oz
Zips: Left
Review: A woman’s bag that I love! I have the long, because I like
to be able to put extra clothes and gear in the bottom of my bag when I sleep.
There is plenty of room in this bag for both. The collar around the neck is a
great feature that I thought initially would make me feel claustrophobic.
However, it is quite comfortable and can be cinched accordingly. I like the
option of keeping the cold air from drifting down into the bag without being
totally closed up inside. I don’t like having my face buried because a) I can’t
breathe and b) the condensation on the inside of the bag adds weight and is
colder when cooled off. I have yet to use it in below freezing temps but have
gotten down to around 5*. I can sleep comfortable in long underwear and a hat
at this temp.
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