Late September Bag Question

[JLeMieux]

Edit: I actually have the BA Mystic UL 15.

I am planning on helping my buddy on his drop camp hunt the last week of Sept this year. I have a Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15 deg bag I have used while truck camping in late Sept or backpacking earlier. I normally keep something in the truck to add to it if it's supposed to get really cold but have only seen mid to high 20s with it and it was fine.

The outfitter recommends a 0 deg for this hunt and I understand why. My questions are:

1) Would you use the BA bag and add a liner or get a 0 deg bag?

2) If you would go the liner route which one would you use? I have heard good things about the Sea to Summits, but would love to find one that zips down at least part of the way on one side. Any recommendations?

Camp will likely be between 10 and 11,000 feet.

 

[Skerhunter]

Depends on what pad and if you will have puffy pants/jacket to wear! That bag on a crappy pad with no extra layers will get chilly if it gets much below 20.

 

[JLeMieux]

I will have good insulated pad and puffy jacket but wasn't planning on pants.

 

[Skerhunter]

I will have good insulated pad and puffy jacket but wasn't planning on pants.

With a good r value pad (6-7), puffy pants and jacket for back up I wouldn't be worried using that bag down to its rating.

I’m sure the outfitter is being cautious because people show up with a low r value pad and crappy bag, then proceed to complain about the cold all night!

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

There is a 0* T Limit rating and a 0* T Comfort rating. Most published ratings are T Limit which is where an average biological male will get cold. Some published ratings are T Comfort where a biological female will be comfortable. This is the published information on your bag:



Like others have said you will need a quality high R value pad, such as an XTherm or equivalent, to stay warm.

 

[JLeMieux]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[camelcluch]

To me BA just doesn’t hit the mark with bags. Maybe you would be fine with puffy pants, puffy coat and a 7R pad, maybe.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Black Ovis still has some WM bags marked down.

 

[JLeMieux]

Well, I went and looked on the tag of my bag for a comfort/survival rating. Just the regular tags and info, but I did realize my bag is the Mystic UL 15.

 

[JLeMieux]

Black Ovis still has some WM bags marked down.

I don't think I can afford a WM, even on sale.

 

[P Carter]

Are you on a cot in a wall tent for the drop camp? If so, the 15 degree should be fine; outfitter is probably being cautious.

 

[JLeMieux]

Are you on a cot in a wall tent for the drop camp? If so, the 15 degree should be fine; outfitter is probably being cautious.

Yes we are. My buddy has done all the communicating with the outfitter and I just know cot and pad is provided, no specifics. I had the same initial thought, but the more I think about it, I want to upgrade. Especially, with that 15 deg rating not being a comfort rating.

 

[P Carter]

Yes we are. My buddy has done all the communicating with the outfitter and I just know cot and pad is provided, no specifics. I had the same initial thought, but the more I think about it, I want to upgrade. Especially, with that 15 deg rating not being a comfort rating.

What state?

Do as you will, but my guess is you’ll be fine. Cots and pads are great; odds of truly freezing weather are probably pretty low; there will be probably be a heat source in the tent; and worse case it’s easy to really layer up in a wall tent as opposed to backpacking tent.

 

[LongWayAround]

I would upgrade your bag anyway, but I would also bring my own pad.

 

[TaperPin]

You’re not packing this thing in on your back, I’d bring a huge rectangular bag rated for ski resort temps, maybe a giant bear rug to put it on, a mink fur body pillow to snuggle up with, and one of those big thick down pillows like a fancy hotel. I’d be laying on top of it complaining it’s so comfortable I don’t want to get up, and maybe they could feed me breakfast in bed.

 

[JLeMieux]

Thanks everyone. It's a drop camp in Colorado. Wall tent with wood stove. Worst case I can build a fire in the middle of the night, but I really prefer sleeping to tending a fire all night.

I'm undoubtedly making this more complicated than it needs to be. I am limited to 30 lbs for clothes/gear if I remember correctly. That doesn't include food.

I think I've decided to get a new bag, I just need to figure out what my budget is going to be.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I've seen morning temps in the single digits in late Sept in CO at 11'000 feet plus. I'm always taking a 0* or at least a woobie with my 15* bag. I swapped to an Xtherm pad to handle the ground temps with zero regrets.