Go-to temp rating for Oct/early nov backpack hunting (plus summer backpacking?)

[Macintosh]

I am looking at getting a new bag to replace 2 very old ones (and becasue my wife has claimed my other nice bag), and just looking for a reality check on temp rating--in the past I've had both a 25* bag and a 10* bag so was able to choose depending on the forecast, so I havent really had to make due with 1 bag before. Now really looking to get one replacement bag to cover everything. Weight is important so I dont want to just err on the side of warmer... If you were going to own one really nice down sleeping bag for fall hunting, what temp rating would you get? Please assume you DONT have other bags already. For me this is October-November (also with occasional summer use), for backpack hunting, we generally are in an enclosed tent, and could be anywhere in the country from northern new england where I live, to wyoming, colorado or other mountain areas in the West. What temp rating have you been happiest with?

I'm having trouble thinking I want anything other than your standard 20* bag, even though I sometimes see temps down into the teens or single digits. Figuring for those "special" occasions I can sleep in puffy/pants, hot water bottle, etc. interested in whats worked best for others for a 1-bag quiver.

 

[WeiserBucks]

That's a really loaded question given the variety of temps and people's cold tolerance. I've been in negative temps more than a few times and I would have froze in a 20 degree bag with all my layers on.

I've gone to two bags. A 20 covers almost every scenario and a zero covers the coldest hunts that I'll ever do.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Going to start with forget using the same bag for summer and fall/winter. You are not going to find a single bag that will keep you toasty at 5* F and comfy when it is 80* F or hotter (even when used as blanket). Nor is the bag that keeps you comfy at 80* F (or hotter) going to keep you warm at 5* F, even with puffies.

Grab a quality high R value pad (ex: XTherm) and pair it with a quality T Comfort rated 0-15* F bag (ex: WM Antelope). It is very common to see low 20s here in September in the mountains and low 20s in late October to early November in our southern deserts. Should be cooler further north you go as well as higher up in elevation than down here.

I have my WM Antelope for when I'm in AK or expected lows will be under 30* F and my WM MegaLite for when expected lows will be 30-60* F. This gives me about a 10* F buffer for unexpected cold snaps and leaves my puffy jacket (and potentially puffy pants) as a reserve in case it gets much colder than expected (which does happen from time to time).

 

[Macintosh]

Thanks guys. I have a 40-degree bag that covers most summer stuff, so I dont need true hot wx crossover, just the ability to use it for a crisp window in September or May weather or up really high when it occasionally dips into the 30’s or even freezes at night.
Really looking for the temp rating to cover 95% of what I’d encounter October midway into November. So it has to be cool-enough and light enough to not be a burden under most of those conditions, while allowing me to bundle up and not freeze on “typical” colder conditions. I havent run into too many nights below 10* that time of year, and for sure Id be in an enclosed tent with a really good pad, plus hat, baselayer, puffy, hot water bottle, etc. You think a 20* bag is too minimal for that? Just seems like Id be too hot and lugging around extra weight 98% of the time otherwise. But thats why I asked, its been a realllly long time since I actually tried that. Thoughts?

 

[WeiserBucks]

The weather dictates the bag. If it's -17 a 20 isn't going to cut it. I've hunted CO 2nd and 3rd season several times and it's been sub zero every night I've ever spent there.

 

[Macintosh]

Ok, fair enough. I used to bivy in rmnp around 12000’ in October and never ran into anything even close to that, but that was many, many years ago so maybe my memory is dulled. The only time I spent in co the last few years was during 1st rifle pretty high in the sangre de christos, and it was quite warm. So if -17 is typical thats different, I was expecting more normal temps through the period to be 10-25* nighttime temps, and only occasionally getting too much colder. If Im just wrong about what typical temps are that time of year I may need to reevaluate.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I like my two bag, two pad setup.

30* quilt (EE Revelation, ability to open foot box) and 0* quilt (EE Enigma, closed foot box).

3.2 R-Value S2S Ether Light and 7+ R-Value pad, currently a Xtherm.

I can use the Ether Light pad and 30* bag in the summer, mix and match bag/pad in the 30's-40's (usually Xtherm and 30* bag), then the Xtherm and 0* bag in colder conditions.

If I had to have one setup, I'd probably go 20* quilt/bag with a mid-5 range R-Value pad like the Nemo Tensor All-Season. Pitch the tent real high in the summer for a draft and if it's really hot skip the bag. Winter, layer up with puffies.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Thanks guys. I have a 40-degree bag that covers most summer stuff, so I dont need true hot wx crossover, just the ability to use it for a crisp window in September or May weather or up really high when it occasionally dips into the 30’s or even freezes at night.
Really looking for the temp rating to cover 95% of what I’d encounter October midway into November. So it has to be cool-enough and light enough to not be a burden under most of those conditions, while allowing me to bundle up and not freeze on “typical” colder conditions. I havent run into too many nights below 10* that time of year, and for sure Id be in an enclosed tent with a really good pad, plus hat, baselayer, puffy, hot water bottle, etc. You think a 20* bag is too minimal for that? Just seems like Id be too hot and lugging around extra weight 98% of the time otherwise. But thats why I asked, its been a realllly long time since I actually tried that. Thoughts?

At what number of ounces does a bag become a burden? This is an honest question.

Bags are for demonstration purposes only...
Is the WM Antelope (13* F Comfort/-1* F Limit) at 39 ounces too much of a burden? Is the WM VersaLite (21* F Comfort/9* Limit) at 32 ounces too much of a burden? Is the WM UltraLite (25* F Comfort/14* F Limit) at 29 ounces too much of a burden? A few ounces one way or the other can potentially mean the difference between a night of sleep vs shivering.

Figure out what makes the most sense for you.

 

[Poser]

I use a 20 degree quilt for summer backpacking (Colorado high country) through November with an XTherm. I do usually add a bag liner for Oct and November.

Granted the CO high country can fairly cool in the summer months with the first frost often in August.

 

[peterk123]

If I had to go with one it would be a high quality, like feathered friends, 0 degree.

I use a 20 now and I will sleep on it or just totally unzip it if in our wall tent. But I've also been comfortable down to around 18 degrees. A silk liner adds warmth. And a knitted hat is a game changer. I probably could get away with a zero in the same conditions but with the ability to be safe in the single digits.

But.... a quality 20 degree probably has you covered if you are willing to sleep in some merino wool and keep an eye on weather before going.

I've hunted in a foot of snow and 8 degree temps in October in Montana. You just never know.

Also, new England is very different from Wyoming. I'm originally from Mass. The moisture is brutal. I rather be in 7 degree temps out west than 40 degrees out east. I only used synthetic in new England. Now it's only down. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[WeiserBucks]

You need to look at fill when shopping too. If bag A is rated at 10 degrees and has 30 oz of 850 fill and bag B is also rated at 10 degrees but has 24 oz of 650 fill, bag A is going to be waaaaaay warmer than bag B with the exact same temp rating.

 

[Macintosh]

You need to look at fill when shopping too. If bag A is rated at 10 degrees and has 30 oz of 850 fill and bag B is also rated at 10 degrees but has 24 oz of 650 fill, bag A is going to be waaaaaay warmer than bag B with the exact same temp rating.

Mainly looking at FF, theyre all 900 or 950 fill. Bag size/length affects the weight too, so fill weight its not a perfect comparison from brand to brand, but Im confident none of the bags im looking at are stretching their temp ratings.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Mainly looking at FF, theyre all 900 or 950 fill. Bag size/length affects the weight too, so fill weight its not a perfect comparison from brand to brand, but Im confident none of the bags im looking at are stretching their temp ratings.

I use FF exclusively, I've got a Ibis 0 and a Swallow 20. Swallow 20 does 95% of what I need but it's not even comparable to the Ibis if it's actually really cold.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I absolutely hate sleeping cold so I bring the zero bag if it looks like sub 10 degree weather.

 

[Crews]

Just went on a backpacking trip a few weeks ago. Temps got down into the upper 30’s at night. I was as warm as I could be under a 40 degree JacksRBetter summer quilt and merino base layers. One of my hiking buddies had a 32degree Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and a high r value pad. He froze his butt off.

Point is…. This is just too subjective a question. Gonna have to figure it out through trial and error. I suggest doing it on your back porch.