Best ultralight bag for the tosser and turner?

[MtnMuley]

Looking to upgrade my bag. I'm a horrible backcountry sleeper and currently am back to my Marmot down mummy bag. I tried an EE quilt last year and hiked it back to the rig after one night. I'm looking for opinions on the best bags that are ultralight and rated at around 20*. I'm a side/belly sleeper with a leg jack knifed and at least one arm under my head. Ideas?

 

[darcytribe]

Me too and I love my EE quilt with a wide pad

 

[mallacootasmoothie]

I sleep the same, and my EE quilt has made a huge difference to the quality of sleep I get.

 

[SHTF]

No offense and am hoping this may help you out... but you'd be surprised at how many people try out the quilts and don't set it up right. If you did then disregard this post but did you use the straps to run it around your mat? Did you also cinch up the foot box? you can leave the mat out of your foot box so it doesn't tie you down to the mat to bad. But the straps are the key to keeping drafts out. I use a 25 inch wide pad and the EE Quilt 20 degree but I also use a Long/wide quilt. It works perfect.

Setup video on using a quilt with a mat here. Again disregard if you did all this and still hated it.

UGQ TOP QUILT PAD USE - YouTube

 

[MtnMuley]

No offense taken at all. My initial reasoning for a quilt was just that. I had it set up correctly, slept in my merino's, yet still felt old in 15* weather. Pad wasn't the best R value either. With all the tossing and turning, I still slept better my mummy. I was sure the EE would solve my problems, but now have just decided on a bag which has worked the best for me over the years. I find myself reading every article I can find and it seems that Kifaru, WM, and EB bags keep popping up. Just need a little help making the choice that I won't regret.

 

[5MilesBack]

I had it set up correctly, slept in my merino's, yet still felt old in 15* weather. Pad wasn't the best R value either.

Pad insulation makes a world of difference. What temp rating was the quilt? I use a 0 degree EE quilt on an Xtherm for Aug and Sept archery hunting and it's fine. In 15 degree weather I'd probably want even lower rating.

 

[Cory Arola]

Montbell Down Hugger

 

[bates]

how big of a guy are you?

 

[SHTF]

No offense taken at all. My initial reasoning for a quilt was just that. I had it set up correctly, slept in my merino's, yet still felt old in 15* weather. Pad wasn't the best R value either. With all the tossing and turning, I still slept better my mummy. I was sure the EE would solve my problems, but now have just decided on a bag which has worked the best for me over the years. I find myself reading every article I can find and it seems that Kifaru, WM, and EB bags keep popping up. Just need a little help making the choice that I won't regret.

Yep your Pad R Value with a quilt couldn't be more important. Its the key to staying warm along with using the straps to make sure you get no drafts. Im using the Big Agnes 5R value pad wide and its toasty warm.
Back to your original though Kifaru Slick Bags although heavier are super roomy if you get a wide center zip. I have one also and it works really well.
I use them both, if I know Im going to be in pretty wet weather I will take the Slick bag since it still stays warm even if it gets wet. I also use a Bivy when Im using my quilt which also helps keep the Quilt dry but adds a bit of degree rating depending on the Bivy you use.

Good luck with your search though. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find that sweet spot. My biggest recommendation though is definitely get a quality pad. It will make your night much more pleasant weather you use a Bag or a quilt.

 

[Shrek]

Pad insulation is critical but my experience with a quilt was the same as yours. I strapped it down to my UL9 synmat and froze ! I had plenty of pad insulation but when I tossed and turned I got little drafts that kept me cold. The colder I got the more I tossed so it was a downward spiral. I love my Western Mountaineering Kodiak although it's too warm most of the time and I have to unzip it some. For an all around bag for fall I think the Badger is the best compromise. It's roomy so you can toss and turn easily and with some clothes on you can take it to zero if needed. I'll eventually buy another cooler WM bag to go with my Kodiak but I bought a house in need of rehab this week so I'm not buying chit for the rest of this year .

 

[dotman]

Pad insulation is critical but my experience with a quilt was the same as yours. I strapped it down to my UL9 synmat and froze ! I had plenty of pad insulation but when I tossed and turned I got little drafts that kept me cold. The colder I got the more I tossed so it was a downward spiral. I love my Western Mountaineering Kodiak although it's too warm most of the time and I have to unzip it some. For an all around bag for fall I think the Badger is the best compromise. It's roomy so you can toss and turn easily and with some clothes on you can take it to zero if needed. I'll eventually buy another cooler WM bag to go with my Kodiak but I bought a house in need of rehab this week so I'm not buying chit for the rest of this year .

Yeah but your from FL and get cold way too easy

 

[MtnMuley]

Pad insulation makes a world of difference. What temp rating was the quilt? I use a 0 degree EE quilt on an Xtherm for Aug and Sept archery hunting and it's fine. In 15 degree weather I'd probably want even lower rating.

My quilt was an Enigma 20* wide/long. I totally agree that the pad was a big part of the issue.

 

[MtnMuley]

I'm 5'11 180. Thanks for the replies. A while back I upgraded to an Xtherm maxx pad with a 5.7 R value. Thinking that will make a huge difference.

 

[BULLBLASTER]

I picked up a nemo salsa 15 degree down bag and although I haven't actually used it backpacking it is very roomy. And seems warm on the living room floor. It's a spoon shape so extra space at shoulders and legs and feet.
Again I haven't camped with it yet but the idea seems good.

 

[Kenai]

I also toss and turn and sleep on my side. I have never slept well in a mummy. Before I switched to a quilt (which I love) I used a semi rec western bag. I used the alder but it's only a 25 degree bag so you may want to take a look at the ponderosa.

 

[camping1601]

Montbell Down Hugger

What he said.

 

[jm1607]

I sleep 100% the same, on stomach with leg jack knifed or on my side.. Toss and turn alot.. One arm under/behind head.. Realized I needed a straight up old school rectangular bag..

I have an FF Condor 20, but they custom made it out of ultralight materials which shaved off 6-7oz

Best/lightest true rectangular bag I could find

 

[slow]

Take a look at the WM terralite.

 

[Rockchuck]

I would second the Montbell bags. the UL super stretch line is great, I have a #1(15degree) and a #3 (30 degree). I am a tosser and turner too and do the leg up thing as well. Montbell #2 fits the 20 degree niche and it is by far the most roomy one I could find.

 

[Shawn Hultquist]

I sleep the same, and my EE quilt has made a huge difference to the quality of sleep I get.

X 2. This helped me tremendously


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