Sleeping bag for my wife

[Asutcliffe]

My wife enjoys hunting with me and we are planning our 2nd spring bear trip to Idaho where we are packing in for a spot and stalk hunt. The last time we went she never got a good night's sleep because she was always cold. She was using a synthetic fill 20 degree bag. The temps we were hunting in ranged between 20 and 40 at night. She did sleep in her puffy but was still cold. What bags do you recommend that are light and compact enough to pack but still warm enough for her to be able to sleep.

 

[zpearo]

What is your price range?

 

[Idagnome]

Most bags list their limit temp as the selling temp (I.e. you’ll stay warm but not sleep great). You want the comfort temp rating on the bag to be the coldest you expect if you want to have a great nights sleep. Even better if you find a bag that has been ISO tested because they’re actually standards. Down bags if you can afford them are great, but checking the actual temp ratings and fill power is just as important as the marketing hype.

 

[Asutcliffe]

What is your price range?

Not really set on a price. I do believe in buy once cry once and good sleep in the back country is about as important and having enough food. Without it you aren't going to have the energy demanded by the hunt.

 

[Dennis]

My wife and I have add good luck with Western Mountaineering down bags. Wife seems to like a warmer bag than I need. Look at comfort ratings.

 

[camelcluch]

What pad and bag is she using? So many ways to go but better to know the starting point.

 

[Yung6ix]

We use a single down rectangular bag (MEC Cygnet, no longer available). I made a sheet bottom that zips to it. This saves a lot of weight and bulk, especially important on a recent backpacking trip.

In warm weather we need to keep the bag unzipped, which creates a problem because the sheet tends to bunch up on the pads. I solved this by making ties at the corners that connect to the pad coupling straps, holding the sheet in place.

In cooler weather we take a small fleece blanket to put over our heads if needed. Fleece is quite nice to sleep under in cold weather because it is quite permeable, and the blanket can be moved around for the right balance of warmth and air flow. The fleece dries quickly if it gets damp from our breath.

This works for us!

 

[Asutcliffe]

What pad and bag is she using? So many ways to go but better to know the starting point.

She's currently using an old 20 degree bag. I have no clue what brand it is with a snug pac Basecamp air pad. I don't remember the R value of the pad.

 

[The_Jim]

Get a Thermarest Xtherm pad. My wife really likes the room that the stone glacier bag has.

There are a bunch of old threads about staying warm.
- boil a nalgene of water & sleep with it
- wear layers in the bag
- eat before you go to sleep
- make sure your warm before you get in the bag

 

[shax2lex]

I think it's a bag made for a guy but those Argali bags look promising. They seem to be wider and made for a true comfort feeling.

 

[CMF]

We both use hammock gear economy 20 degree quilts, but my wife isn't a cold sleeper. If she's a cold sleeper, go 0 or 10 degree.

 

[camelcluch]

The X Therm pad is a good choice if the noise doesn’t bother her. The Exped Ultra 7,8 or 9 would be an excellent option. The WM bags offer a lot of choices. Feathered Friends does well. I’ve had good luck with SG but that bag might be too big.
A quilt or Zenbivy might do the trick if she is active.

 

[realunlucky]

Take a look at the new Argali sleeping bags. Lots of features and premium down for a bag that will last long term

Argali Alpine Sleeping Bags Review

Argali Alpine Sleeping Bag Review. Mike takes two Argali Alpine Sleeping Bags into the field to help you decide how they stack up.

www.rokslide.com

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[TaperPin]

Good ideas above.

I’d add that folks that don’t sleep on blowup pads very often will toss and turn. Heck, I even do that on the first few days. It’s simple to overcome by spending a few nights a week sleeping at home on the pad on the floor. If she can’t get comfortable at home under ideal conditions she won’t sleep well on the mountain.

 

[LongWayAround]

An old (cheap?) synthetic 20° bag almost certainly has lost loft over time and would not meet it's (probably inflated) original temperature rating. There's a good chance that bag is more like a 40° for comfort.

Look for a legit 20° bag. Pay attention to the down fill power and weight of the actual down. Cheaper bags generally weigh more and have less actual down.

If you're wife isn't doing much late season hunting, there's no reason to go down to 0°. I also probably wouldn't spring for the most expensive one you can find for an occasional trip.

If I didn't have a Stone Glacier, I would look hard at the new Argali bags. I probably wouldn't buy a SG for a regular size woman because they are a 6'6" bag.

I have also seen Sierra Designs and Nemo mentioned in these types of threads.

I got my lady a Big Agnes with a warranty return. That thing loses a fair amount of feathers and I'm not overly impressed with it's packed size.

 

[Jbehredt]

My wife calls her WM Ultralite with overfill “fluffy town”. She loves it. Fits in an XS stuff sack. Doesn’t really get any lighter/smaller for a bag. A S2S comfort plus is the only packable pad she’s been happy with.

 

[Lowedown]

I am also looking at a bag for my wife. The pad is as important as the bag. Make sure you get a good insulated pad that is thick enough to be comfortable.
My top pick right now is probably the Big Agnes Daisy Mae 15. I have the mens version Anvil Horn and it is awesome. The pad sleeve keeps you from sliding off, and all the insulation is on top of you while the pad keeps you warm underneath. I understand they are coming out with a new version this spring that will have a little fill on the bottomside and offer more color options. You can pick up the original Daisy Mae for almost $100 off right now, or wait for the new option. It looks like they are selling out fast most places but they can be found Another consideration is bag cross compatibility. Often bags from the same makers can get zipped together as a double.