30 Degree Bag for Early September in Colorado

[Sean Evans]

Looking for some input on a 30 degree bag, specifically the KUIU 30 degree bag, for an early September Colorado Elk hunt. Will be around 10,000 feet of elevation. Looking for some input for guys who us a 30 degree bag during that time of year. Has it been warm enough or should I be looking at a 15 or 20 degree bag. I have been using the Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15, just looking for something a little lighter.

 

[sneaky]

I would recommend a good quality 20 degree bag. Err on the side of safety and better sleep.

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[Sammymusi]

I picked up the rei magma 17 a few months ago on sale , its an awesome lightweight bag for certain!

 

[BigCountry49]

What date in September and what area in Colorado? A couple years ago I made the mistake of taking a 30 degree bag during early September in northern Colorado and froze my ass off. A good inflatable mattress with high r value could help..

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Here is the info on the Kuiu 30* bag. I'd bring a bag rated for a lower temperature just to have the extra margin of safety.
T Extreme: -6F
T Limit: 24F
T Comfort: 35F

 

[Northpark]

I literally only use a 0 degree bag after I froze in a 15 degree bag on September 12th at 8500’ of elevation in Colorado. The temp that night hit 10 degrees.

 

[ElkArcher918]

I would go with a 15 degree to be on the safe side here in CO. Two years ago during elk archery season I learned my lesson the hard way with a 30 degree bag. Spiked out at 10,500' in a valley and it dropped into the 20s. Slept like crap because the bag wasn't warm enough. Spent half the night shivering, didn't bring enough clothes to pile on.

 

[805Bowhunter]

I would go a 20 degree slickbag and not look back

 

[mlgc20]

I will be taking a 30 degree quilt for my September and October northern Colorado hunts. I will only be at about 7K feet though. I used the same 30 degree quilt during 1st rifle season in the same area last year and was fine. The temps got down in the high teens. I just put on some socks and my long underwear On those cooler nights. I really think the sleeping pad is more important than the bag. Make sure you bring plenty of “R” regardless of what bag you bring.

 

[justinspicher]

I use a 30* quilt all year in SW Colorado, between 8-12k. I layer up as needed for both day and night.

 

[MTForester]

I use a 30* Feathered Friends bag for this type of use. I find its rating to be very accurate and with puffy layers and a hat I've taken it into the teens.

 

[TheCougar]

I would stick with a 30 degree bag. The point is to carry as little as possible, and since you’ll already be packing wearable insulation layers, you can save weight by getting a good 30 degree bag and layering up if the temps drop. A good 30 degree bag will weigh between 1lb and 1lb 5oz, depending on fill power and weight. There are lots of options - REI, marmot, WM, FF, etc. If you bring a 0 degree bag, it is going to cost you more money and another 10oz of weight, while your insulation layers sit next to you in your backpack.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I would stick with a 30 degree bag. The point is to carry as little as possible, and since you’ll already be packing wearable insulation layers, you can save weight by getting a good 30 degree bag and layering up if the temps drop. A good 30 degree bag will weigh between 1lb and 1lb 5oz, depending on fill power and weight. There are lots of options - REI, marmot, WM, FF, etc. If you bring a 0 degree bag, it is going to cost you more money and another 10oz of weight, while your insulation layers sit next to you in your backpack.

I am in the exact same boat. I'm looking at getting either a 30 degree or 15 degree bag. One thing to note on the KUIU 30 degree is it ha 11.65oz of down for the regular and 13oz for the long. I use a Stone Glacier Grumman down jacket which has 5.3oz of down. If I wear my jacket I have about 17oz of down which is the equivlant to a 20 degree bag. In cold hunts I probably would be bringing down pants as well, so I could wear those and truly bump my 30 degree bag to a 15 or 20 degree bag.

 

[TheCougar]

I am in the exact same boat. I'm looking at getting either a 30 degree or 15 degree bag. One thing to note on the KUIU 30 degree is it ha 11.65oz of down for the regular and 13oz for the long. I use a Stone Glacier Grumman down jacket which has 5.3oz of down. If I wear my jacket I have about 17oz of down which is the equivlant to a 20 degree bag. In cold hunts I probably would be bringing down pants as well, so I could wear those and truly bump my 30 degree bag to a 15 or 20 degree bag.

Yup. That’s basically the idea. I got a steal on some UA ridge reaper down pants and a good down jacket which will take a 30 degree bag into the teens. I’ve been looking at upgrading my down bag to a lightweight 30 bag. WM and FF are too expensive for my taste, so I’ve been eyeballing the Marmot Phase and REI Magma 30. Both are just over 1lb. There are others - Nemo, Mtn Hardware, RAB, etc.

 

[mtwarden]

another possible option

a good 30 degree down bag (be sure to compare fill weights and fill quality)
AND a 50 degree Apex (synthetic) quilt- they make for an emergency bag if you're hunting out of camp, really nice for glassing in cool to cold conditions and add 20 degrees to your down bag, while also preserving the loft of your down over longer trips by allowing your body moisture to move through your down bag and into the outer quilt (which synthetic handles a lot better)

also gives you a lightweight warm weather sleep option on it's own

only a 12 oz hit for all of the above

 

[gexpro]

if you have a good set of puffy jacket and pants id say you should be good with the 30 degree bag.

I run the KUIU 30 degree bag and throw on a puffy pant and jacket when i expect temperatures to drop low. Ive ran this setup below 10 degrees at 10k and was ok. I am typically a cold sleeper as well.

PS.. drink a MNT ops slumber hot coco right before you hit the sack!

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

if you have a good set of puffy jacket and pants id say you should be good with the 30 degree bag.

I run the KUIU 30 degree bag and throw on a puffy pant and jacket when i expect weather to drop low. Ive ran this setup below 10 degrees at 10k and was ok. I am typically a cold sleeper as well.

PS.. drink a MNT ops slumber hot coco right before you hit the sack!

Thanks for the input. This is what I was hoping for.

 

[Csceagle52]

I ran my kuiu 30 degree bag for 2nd season rifle this year and archery in Colorado the year before, as well as all my late November hunts back in South Dakota. The two Colorado hunts were at 10-12k. September it was fine and I slept in base layers had no issues. 2019 2nd rifle it got down into the single digits a few nights, I simply put on my puffy pants and coat and I was good. I did run a pretty thick Nemo pad as I’m a side sleeper and it has a pretty high R value. Back home in late November it been single digits and I’ve been fine but those hunts are truck hunts so a propane heater is always close by.


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[3forks]

I would stick with a 30 degree bag. The point is to carry as little as possible, and since you’ll already be packing wearable insulation layers, you can save weight by getting a good 30 degree bag and layering up if the temps drop. A good 30 degree bag will weigh between 1lb and 1lb 5oz, depending on fill power and weight. There are lots of options - REI, marmot, WM, FF, etc. If you bring a 0 degree bag, it is going to cost you more money and another 10oz of weight, while your insulation layers sit next to you in your backpack.

I don’t think you’re wrong per se, but in my opinion adding a few ounces to your bag makes more sense to me for a hunt during archery season. Plus, a warmer bag is more versatile for more seasons.

I think you’re going to be way less likely to use down pants during the day (in fact, I don’t see down pants as being that useful during archery season. I always bring technical rain gear and will use rain pants over my pants and a base layer to cut the wind if it’s really cold). Consequently, you’ll be packing your down pants just in case you need them, or to have to wear them at night to make your bag warmer.

Anytime I’ve ever slept in layers, I end up feeling claustrophobic.

I‘ve used a WM Versalite for years and will vent it if warm, and have been warm in just base layers down to the single digits.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I don’t think you’re wrong per se, but in my opinion adding a few ounces to your bag makes more sense to me for a hunt during archery season. Plus, a warmer bag is more versatile for more seasons.

I think you’re going to be way less likely to use down pants during the day (in fact, I don’t see down pants as being that useful during archery season. I always bring technical rain gear and will use rain pants over my pants and a base layer to cut the wind if it’s really cold). Consequently, you’ll be packing your down pants just in case you need them, or to have to wear them at night to make your bag warmer.

Anytime I’ve ever slept in layers, I end up feeling claustrophobic.

I‘ve used a WM Versalite for years and will vent it if warm, and have been warm in just base layers down to the single digits.

Although I like the idea of using a 30 degree bag and using puffy pants and jacket if it gets cold, during archery season I agree I would never bring puffy pants. I always bring my puffy jacket, so I could use that, but if it got below 25 I think getting cold could be an issue.

I may just opt for a WM or Feathered Friends 20 degree bag. 20 seems like a good middle of the road.