Semi-rectangular Sleeping Bag options

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Nov 10, 2014
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Salida, COlorado
I've tried many times to do the mummy bag thing and quit honestly I hate it. I can't sleep w my legs that close.. Sounds weird I know but I get claustrophobic in them. I need rectangular or at least semi rectangular. Looking for a 15* or better bag. Done some research but would like some opinions. Thanks, Danny
 
I'm the same way. Look no further than Big Agnes. Just beware that if you are a cold sleeper like me, go with the next rating warmer as their numbers are a stretch, IMO.
 
Maybe look into one of the down quilts from Enlightened Equipment or a similar vendor. I just ordered one to try out, as I get all twisted up in mummy-bags. I'm hoping I like it!
 
Are you packing it, or carrying it on a horse or raft? I ask, because if weight isn't an issue, Marc at Wiggy's Alaska has a rectangular set of bag that you can fit you and you gear in if you wanted to. They're big and comfy...but they're like 6 lbs. They're designed for float trips so they are bigger than what I'd prefer to carry, but they're nice and toasty as hell.
 
WM has some semi-recs, but I do not know how low the temp rating goes.
 
Feathered friends penguin or puffin. I will be picking one of these up this Christmas when I swing by their store in Seattle.
 
+1 on the Wiggy's like Kodiakfly said if not packing it on your back. A couple of years ago, Mountain Hardwear made a mummy bag called the crazy legs or something like that had a stretchy section installed between roughly the calves to thighs that allowed much more room for your legs to move. The design still allowed for the weight and space savings of a muumy bag without the compactness while sleeping. I love mine. I don't know if they make them anymore, check their website. If not, probably pick one up off eBay.
 
Thanks guys. I should have been a little more descriptive. This would be for a backpacking bivy situation. I am a cold sleeper so if it's a pound heavier for more warmth I'll take it.
 
Western Mountaineering has a 5 degree semi rectangular bag (Sequoia) that is fantastic. Way warmer than my BA Stormking 0 degree and much warmer than my Kifaru slick Bag 0 degree bag. I like all three of these bags and consider them all semi rectangular bags.
 
Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends are the only options IMO. Both make semi-rectangular models. I'm the same way, cant sleep in mummy style bags, absolutely love my Feathered Friends Penguin 30. I'm a hot sleeper and I was comfortable in temps into the mid/lower 30s. I'm planning on ordering a Western Mountaineering bag for late season, also in a semi rectangular. Can't beat these companies, essentially a custom, handmade in the USA.

Big Agnes makes great stuff but when you start comparing specs like fill weight, there is now way a bag like the storm king can keep you as warm as a bag like the WM sequoia.

Storm King 0 degree - 22 oz of 650 power downtek
Sequoia 5 degree - 33 oz of 850 power with microfiber shell

I'd like to know how the storm king can say its a warmer bag than the sequoia, because going by those numbers, it is not thermally possible.

Look into the WM Ponderosa MF 15 or the Feathered Friends Penguin Nano 10

I can promise you will be a happy and warm camper for a very long time.
 
You can take the Western Mountaineering bags rating to the bank ! I may sell my Kodiak but only to buy the Sequoia. I had to unzip my Kodiak this year at 27º f because I was roasting and I'm not a warm sleeper. Good problem to have needing to unzip to keep cool. Beats being cold with a stick ! Another great thing about a roomy bag is you can get dressed inside it and take a little of the shock away from crawling out of your warm bag. Combine it with a wood stove and it's almost civilized.
 
Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends are the only options IMO. Both make semi-rectangular models. I'm the same way, cant sleep in mummy style bags, absolutely love my Feathered Friends Penguin 30. I'm a hot sleeper and I was comfortable in temps into the mid/lower 30s. I'm planning on ordering a Western Mountaineering bag for late season, also in a semi rectangular. Can't beat these companies, essentially a custom, handmade in the USA.

Big Agnes makes great stuff but when you start comparing specs like fill weight, there is now way a bag like the storm king can keep you as warm as a bag like the WM sequoia.

Storm King 0 degree - 22 oz of 650 power downtek
Sequoia 5 degree - 33 oz of 850 power with microfiber shell

I'd like to know how the storm king can say its a warmer bag than the sequoia, because going by those numbers, it is not thermally possible.

Look into the WM Ponderosa MF 15 or the Feathered Friends Penguin Nano 10

I can promise you will be a happy and warm camper for a very long time.

I would agree that western mountaineering bags are probably a step ahead of big Agnes....but remember that the big Agnes bag does not have any down in the bottom of it. The western mountaineering sequoia however does. This is probably why the fill weight is so drastically different
 
I would agree that western mountaineering bags are probably a step ahead of big Agnes....but remember that the big Agnes bag does not have any down in the bottom of it. The western mountaineering sequoia however does. This is probably why the fill weight is so drastically different

Exactly! Kinda an apples to oranges comparison. The WM is an excellent bag, but it's also twice the price too. I'd have a hard time paying $750 when half that has never let me down. If I need to be a little warmer I could buy another whole bag with a warmer rating, or put on some fleece or puffy layers.

And as I said initially, go a rating warmer as BA is a little to generous with their ratings, IMO. A trade off I can accept given the price difference.
 
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I would agree that western mountaineering bags are probably a step ahead of big Agnes....but remember that the big Agnes bag does not have any down in the bottom of it. The western mountaineering sequoia however does. This is probably why the fill weight is so drastically different

My WM kodiak has very little insulation on the bottom. They are not designed to be used without an insulated pad as far as I can tell. I had a hard time justifying the price so I bought a lesser marmot bag two years ago and it threw a monkey wrench in my hunt when I couldn't stay in my tent because I was cold. I cried again this past spring and bought the WM Kodiak and the sleeping bag was a stong point instead of a disaster. Well worth every penny I paid. I'm going to buy a Sequoia this year along with a Terralite and sell the mummy style Kodiak for more room but I'm a Western Mountaineering coolaid drinker for now on.
 
I bought the FF Puffin earlier this year as I also can't do the mummy bags. It is a very nice comfortable bag. I was planning on having them over stuff it to a 0deg bag but they said they make it but don't advertise it on their website. I also was talked into a long bag since I like to put clothes or a hot water bottle in the end of my bag. Not sure if I'd get a long again though. So far it seems like a quality bag. My .02
 
For warmth, range of motion and UL I carry the EE quilt (I have a few in varying ratings) however, for wet weather trips or multiple stream crossings i pack a big Wiggy's bag that holds heat even soaking wet. My Wiggy's is a centerline zipper for hammock camping and doubles as a Doobie Express.




Spent a night in a wet down bag once...thought I was gonna die. This video convinced me to go Wiggys.

[video=youtube;YD3wA5Wrcmc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD3wA5Wrcmc[/video]
 
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