Going Cheap

[MUDDYCRICK]

Could a guy get away on a September elk hunt with a $50 dollar 30-40 degree lightweight sleeping bag if you slept in all your hunting clothes?

 

[power54]

Truck camping or backpacking?

 

[MUDDYCRICK]

Both I suppose. I'm planning on truck camping but maybe 1 or 2 nights out of the bag

 

[power54]

If you're truck camping, no big deal. Bring some extra blankets. Backpacking could go either way. You would, of course, be better off with a decent bag but if you're okay with the possibility of having a less-than-ideal nights sleep, you could probably get by. I've spent a few nights with inappropriate gear and its not the end of the world. Anything more than a night or 2 in the backcountry though and I'd get a decent bag.

 

[Ross]

Depending on state, altitude and weather pattern for the year........mayyyyybe

 

[5MilesBack]

Would I survive? Yes. Would I enjoy it? NO!

I was barely warm enough with my 20 degree quilt on my xtherm pad a week ago in the high country. No doubt the 0 degree will be going with me during September.

 

[weaver]

One of the guys I hunted with last year was doing pushups in his sleeping bag one night to stay warm during archery season in Idaho.

If your going to be doing this every year I'd definitely suck it up and spend the money on a better bag.

 

[Tony Trietch]

It Depends on on if you're a hot or cold sleeper and where you'll be hunting.
I run hot and can get away with a 30 till it gets into the teens. 5MB is a cold sleeper and needs a 0 in September. We are all different and you need to to figure out what you are.

 

[realunlucky]

Problem with wearing all your clothes in your bag is in the morning when you shed your bag is you have nothing to put on and your going to be instant cold. Guess you could over come that by eating something hot as soon as you exit your bag and getting moving to generating some heat. Knowingly makes ones self miserable makes little sense. Pack a liner or something

 

[timberland]

My brother in law slept in the cotton bag he had for thirty years. Tge zipper pulled and his feet stuck out the bottom. The next year he had a brand new bag. I would spend any amount to be comfortable.

 

[Trial153]

Can it be done? for sure. Back in the days we had limited options and we made due. Now I don't see the point in not getting a suitable bag. There are plenty of options that are fairly reasonably priced and will let you rest well. I already hate the necessary confinement of a bag, being fully dressed makes it even less appealing ....

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I've done it (accidentally neglected to pack an underquilt) in a hammock and even with every stitch of clothing I had on...sleeping was very hard. More like semi-sleep.

 

[WoodBow]

Yes you can. I spent the past 2 years using like a $30 magellan branded 30 degree mummy and a cheap blue pad. Temps were below freezing but not sure of specific temp. I could have been warmer but sleeping on my back (im a stomach sleeper generally) inhibited quality of sleep more than temperature. Thay being said. I will upgrade soon.

 

[zman]

Could a guy get away on a September elk hunt with a $50 dollar 30-40 degree lightweight sleeping bag if you slept in all your hunting clothes?

I would freeze. When it is 40, I need a 20 degree bag. All depends on the person. I've seen some guys sleep ON TOP of their bag when it is 40 degrees.

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

If you really only want to spend 50 bucks, buy one rated for 15-20 degrees. It may weigh six lbs but I would rather be warm and carry more weight.

 

[Terrapin]

I used to hunt with a guy that would bring no shelter and a cheap sleeping bag. Then he would drink a case of bud light before bed. Slept like a baby, wind, rain, below freezing temps. Then right at the crack of noon he would be back up hunting. He never killed much, but a hell of a nice guy.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I used to hunt with a guy that would bring no shelter and a cheap sleeping bag. Then he would drink a case of bud light before bed. Slept like a baby, wind, rain, below freezing temps. Then right at the crack of noon he would be back up hunting. He never killed much, but a hell of a nice guy.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

 

[COlineman78]

I have spent the night in very cold temperatures (10-20) with an inappropriately rated bag (40) and had every piece of clothing I had with me on. It certainly got me through the night and I was able to sleep, but it wasn't the most comfortable night. I am a little big of a cold sleeper, but I would suggest that if you're worried about it you just bring a blanket or some extra warm layers to sleep in. One thing that I would make sure of is to ensure you have a pad with a descent r-value. A good cheap pad that fits the bill is the Alps comfort or lightweight series. My buddy uses the comfort combined with a $25 30 bag and can be comfortable in lower temps.

Another thing that made the night uncomfortable is that I was relying on my clothes as a pillow which obviously wasn't an option.

 

[LBFowler]

$50 would more then get you a surplus MSS double bag system. Heavy as snot but a lot of bag for the money. $50 can also get you a really nice used bag if you shop around.
$50 (new price) can get you a warm bag, but not a warm light weight bag.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Could a guy get away on a September elk hunt with a $50 dollar 30-40 degree lightweight sleeping bag if you slept in all your hunting clothes?

Double your budget and you could snag a down 0F or -15F bag off the classifieds here.
I use a cheap $20 40F bag during early archery season here in Oregon, and sometime that is even too warm. Other times when weather is foul it wouldn't be enough, so I switch to a 0F. Later in the season when the frost & snow flys, I switch to a -15F.
Like the guys have said weather dictates gear choices.

But regardless, I think it wise to pack & use things like; base layers, puffy jacket, fleece beanie and socks to adjust sleep comfort.
But yes you can sleep in ALL your clothes. I've had to resort to that before. I think all of us have had a situation where weather caught us with less gear than we would have preferred. In my case we rode the mules down canyon after some elk we spotted and had left the bead rolls back at base camp. We got on the elk, made a plan for morning, and posted up for a night on saddle pads with manty tarps for bedroll. Weather rolled in and it snowed 3" over night. Of course we sleep w/ all our clothes on and it goes w/o saying it was a cold night. But we killed two bulls the next morning, the sun came out and all was right w/ the world. In fact, after dressing up the bulls, it was so warm climbing back up to the stock & our spike camp, that I stripped down to my base layer for the climb.
Hard to predict hunt conditions based on a 10day forecast, they're always subject to change.
Pack for colder and sleep on top if its too warm.
Hunt'nFish