Kifaru slick bag questions

[mallacootasmoothie]

Just wondering if everyone is happy with these bags? How do you find the temp rating?
Where I live we rarely get into minus temps (Celsius). 20f is -7c do you thing this will be sufficient with a base layer?
Also does anyone have compressed dimensions of a 20deg regular slick bag in a kifaru compression sack?
I have a good down bag now but am cutting it fine for temp rating and like the idea of being able to jump into a synthetic bag damp and dry out by morning.

 

[shaun]

I love mine, I have seen some guys that sleep cold say the temperature ratings are a little off but I've got no complaints as far as dimensions if you go on Kifaru's website and look at the medium stuff sack it will give you dimensions and I know that bag fits in that sack

 

[Jay03]

I have a 20 wide slick bag made before the latest center zip model, I am 5'11 and 176 so I probably didn't need a wide. But based on recommendations to get the wide and be able to have room for a woobie when the temps fall. I think if I did it again I would get a regular width. There to much dead space around me in the bag IMO. But that's beside the point kinda.

I would consider myself a average temp sleeper, the slick bag did NOT perform to its temp rating. Not close... at 28-30 degrees I was on the line of to cold to sleep. I was waking up in the early morning reaching for my puffy. I do sleep in a wool base layer as well. I will say that it is a very roomy bag in the foot box and shoulders, and very durable. Built very well. The draft collar doesn't work for me at all though.... just a me thing maybe.

I have since purchased a western mountaineering badger, its a 15 degree rated bag. The slick bag will collect dust now. The western mountaineering bag is tops! Over this last winter coyote hunting I slept in the back of my truck and it got colder than I expected, 4 degrees according to my kestrel nv4500(which tracks weather trends over time). I was in my WM badger and stayed comfortable... that was about the limit though. But still... 10 degrees below the rating! It saved my trip. The slick bag would have been a disaster! I would not have slept at all and would have been trying to survive instead. I will keep the slick bag... for light 3 season use if I know its going to be sopping wet(happens in Oregon sometimes) and over 35-40 degrees. I might pack the slick. Otherwise its the WM in colder weather and I have a EE revX quilt for summer use.

 

[boom]

I had the same experience as Jay. I got a 20 degree alpinlite and love it. I should have bought the badger tho for just that little bit more warmth.

I got so cold in the high 30's in the slick. I couldn't sleep. I had the regular width. I was like 10lbs of sugar in a 5lb sack. Tight!

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have the 0 degr, and 20degr bags pre center zip. Both have been true to temp for me.

 

[dotman]

I have a 20* pre center zip as well, it is true to temp for me as well. I do believe the new bags have a different insulation and are supposedly warmer but i've never had an issue with mine.

 

[mallacootasmoothie]

Thanks heaps for the replies!

I have found it hard to find much info on these bags, if you search kifaru packs on here you'll be reading for days (yes I have done it) and if you search slick bag you'll be reading for 10 minutes.

Any other opinions would be much appreciated!

 

[Aron Snyder]

Thanks heaps for the replies!

I have found it hard to find much info on these bags, if you search kifaru packs on here you'll be reading for days (yes I have done it) and if you search slick bag you'll be reading for 10 minutes.

Any other opinions would be much appreciated!

Give me a call anytime and I can fill you in on the Slik bag and what changes have been made to the current model.

720-937-1418

 

[alukban]

I love my Slick bags. I have the older 20° and 0° bags. I insist on Climasheild even though I am not in a heavy-duty rainy/wet area. Bivy bags seem to like to "rain from the inside" unless you have one side zipped opened or have a big bug screen for venting and I have often awoken with a sheet of ice ON the Slick bag or simply had the outside surface of the bag wet - while in a bivy bag. The bag just seems to magically pump out moisture. I know it's my fault because I do not change to dry clothes when I turn in.

Everyone is different as far as temp rating. I find that I need more insulation depending on how far I am into the winter season AND as I get older. In late winter, I burn hot and am very acclimatized to cold - am friggin' boiling most of the time. At the same time, my tolerance for the cold has diminished as I have gotten older and balder. I have a slightly older brother who is the same size as me with the exact similar gear/bag and he will need waaaay more temp rating than I do. We have camped together and proven this time and a again. When folks say that a bag is not up to a temp rating, it is an incomplete picture that is presented. It is easy to make a bag rated to a particular temp and beyond - just friggin' add more insulation and thus add weight. Making a bag that dances at the edge of performance given a specific material for a given weight is where it becomes grey and where one really needs to simply try stuff out personally and figure out what works for them.

 

[oldskool67]

I have pre center zip 0 degree slick bag long / wide. I bought it to use for military and hunting / backpacking. Being used for military ( where I often get wet or the potential is high ) I needed synthetic. I then compared size and weight / compressibility. It excells in those ares for a synthetic. It is roomy and very comfortable for as light as it is ( Im 6-3 255 ) Overall im very happy with it. That being said for me it sleeps cold even with base layers. My Big Agnes 0 degree synthetic seems quite a bit warmer, but it also does not pack as small or light as the Slick.

 

[Weekender]

Looks like they're changing things up on the new slicks to help with the temp rating.

 

[mallacootasmoothie]

Yep I was keen on one but am not anymore.
The 20f bag went from 1kg to 1.3kg for the same temp rating.
It doesn't add up. I wanted synthetic but am now looking at 10f Zpacks XLong/wide with treated down at 700 grams.

 

[littlebuf]

You'll like that zpacks quilt

 

[rodney482]

I should have the latest vesion any day now.
its a long/wide in 0 degree

will be using it on a 10 day Back country hunt

will report back with a review

 

[Kotaman]

I've used my 0 degree, long, wide, side zip Slick Bag on a few hunts now and to me it sleeps more like a comparable 15 degree bag....In fact, I'm not so sure that my Big Agnes Mystic Lake 15 degree down bag isn't warmer and BA bags aren't always real true to their temp readings.

Overall, I like the bag, but if I was going to spend anytime at all out in the cold, I would opt for a 0 degree down bag from Western Mountaineering or even KUIU, I don't think my Slick Bag would cut it for me in the cold.

Looks like the new center zipped bags have a new and improved insulation. Would like to hear some reviews of the new/improved version.

 

[Nick Muche]

Kota, tell us a story!!!

 

[Kotaman]

Picture is on the "Dirt Nap" thread...If I find some time I will post up a story with more pics...

 

[Nick Muche]

I used my center zip, 0* Slick bag for 11 nights, ending last week. We saw temps dip into the low 20's on a few evenings and for the most part I was nice and warm but just on the border of it not being enough. I wouldn't want to take it down to 0*, likely be quite a rough night of sleep.

My buddy used a 20* wiggys that I loaned him and he never said a peep about being chilly.

 

[bcimport]

Used my twenty degree Center zip slick for 8 days on a northern BC fly in. Very humid with night time temps down to 30 or so. Any colder than that and you will have to layer up to stay warm. Loved the Center zip, moisture management and quality.

 

[Dan Russell]

20 degree side zip slick here- I know I'd struggle in it at 20 degrees. If it gets below the mid 30's I'm pretty darn cold in that thing. Low thirtys/ upper 20's and I need to be wearing all my clothes and a puffy.