Sleeping bag question

[MuleyFever]

Is a 20 deg bag with a XTherm pad enough for Aug-Sep in CO or WY? I have a 15 and a 35 deg bag and am thinking of consolidating to one bag. I don't elk hunt but I plan to try at one point, maybe next year as I do have some points in CO. My hunting is mainly early season (archery or ML)for deer in CO, UT, WY, or NV. Just wondering what the right bag/pad would be for me.

 

[muleman]

I would think you would be fine for any of the early season hunts for the states mentioned. It is always good to have a safety margin though, for that freak temp swing. If you sleep cold go warmer, if you sleep warm you can get away with more. It really comes down to you and how you sleep.

 

[Kevin_t]

It depends on several factors. The quality of the bag, how you sleep and what kind of condition you are in when you go to sleep. I can sleep pretty true to temp in most good bags if I am dry, fed and warm going to bed. Give me a low quality bag and I will be shivering all night likely. Even in a good bag, if I go to bed cold, wet and hungry I wont sleep true to temp.

 

[Moe.JKU]

Its different for everyone as to what they consider warm, some people with the same setup will be cold and others will be hot. Sounds like it would be a pretty good setup for the months you are talking about.

Right now i'm using the Thermarest z lite sol and -7C which is 20F, and I hunt in the Canadian rockies up to late oct with that setup. Sometimes clothes are needed in Oct when its gets cold.

 

[JDZ]

I would not sell 15- and 35-degree bags to get a 20. I have 0- and 20-degree bags. On a 35F night, with my Xtherm, my 20-degree bag is too hot. I think I'm going to look to add a 30- or 35-degree bag to my gear list.

 

[bhylton]

something like a 20 degree EE quilt would probably work well for you. when its warm you can leave the back more open for ventilation. then when its down around 0 degrees, sleep in the insulation layer you no doubt have in your hunting pack. should be a pretty light weight, warm and versatile set-up.

 

[dangerousD]

I have an inexpensive Kelty 20 degree down bag and it wasn't quite enough for last year's elk hunt in Utah in early September. It was in the low 20's and I was somewhat cold. Got used to it but not ideal. Slept in base layer with jackets over my bag. Everyone is different like has been said. I think I'm average. Not a hot or cold sleeper. Just in the middle. I'm looking at a quilt for this year in the 10 degree range.