Sleeping bag

[TNsavageman]

Ok guys and gals,
I am having trouble making up my mind on a sleeping bag. I am applying for a Kodiak goat tag for next year and I am worried about having a down bag. I am hoping to buy one bag for winter hunts and this will most likely be the wettest environment that the bag will be exposed to. (If I draw, if I don't I will continue to apply lol) I also really like the idea of a quilt. So here's what I am looking at :
Zpaks Solo Bag
Kifaru Slick Bag
Wiggys Ultralight
EE Quilt
I have read through the posts on here a ton and I appreciate all the insight I have gotten. The only thing more confusing than this is boot selection. Haha.
Thanks
Eli

 

[bobhunts]

I for one would not hope I would ever put my bag in a position to get wet. IE a dry bag. Moisture will do the same over time. I used a dry down two years ago in Alaska and I could feel the moisture so a synthetic bag like the Slick will probably suit you best. That is what I would bring next time. Not into quilts yet but a warm bag sure does go a long ways.

 

[COlineman78]

Another lighter synthetic offering is the Mountain Hardware HyperLamina line: Spark(35), Flame(20) and Torch(0). Kifaru would probably be more durable and certainly better customer service, but will run you twice as much; so just another option to throw in the pile.

 

[TNsavageman]

Thanks CO,
I will definitely look into the MH line. I appreciate the advice.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Personally I wouldn't and don't have an problems with taking a down bag/quilt on Kodiak. I think that it is imperative to keep certain things dry no matter what the conditions and your sleeping bag is definitely one of those things. I've been getting down to Kodiak hunting every year now for the past 5 or 6 years (twice last year) and for the first few years I used a 32 degree MH Ultralamina bag and it worked great. Then, about 2 years ago I finally convinced myself to purchase a quilt and one of my biggest reasons was to decrease the wt. of my pack. I took the plunge and bought a EE 10 degree treated down quilt and couldn't be happier. When it's not in use it goes into a water proof (cuben fiber) dry bag and when it is in use, it's in a Ti goat breathable bivy. The only time it comes in contact with water is when I climb into it wet, which can be quite often when hunting on Kodiak. I always wear merino tops and bottoms to bed, sometimes my puffy stuff also if it's really chilly and I always dry out while I sleep and wake up toasty warm and dry in the morning. I have found condensation between my quilt and bivy, on occasion down in the foot box area, on mornings when I've gone to bed with very damp socks on. The few times that this has happened it has never presented a problem (as I would just wipe the condensation off), and my feet would still be warm and dry by the next morning. I think that if you are meticulous with your bag/quilt, maybe to the point of OCD with keeping it dry, you wont have a problem. Good luck with the draw, Kodiak goats are one of the best, most rewarding hunts to be had here IMO. I'll be down there in Sep. this year hopefully helping my 12 yo son punch his tag.

 

[arthurvino]

Mld quilt is another option...

 

[kodiakfly]

I use various Wiggy's here and just picked up a MH Extralamina because I'm fat and need the room. Haven't slept in it yet, but lighter than my 20* Wiggy's and way lighter than my 0* Wiggy's. I'm not an ounce-counter and everything gets wet eventually here, so synthetic gets my vote.

 

[TNsavageman]

Hey Kodiakfly
What size stuff sack are you using for that MH extralamina?

 

[kodiakfly]

Hey Kodiakfly
What size stuff sack are you using for that MH extralamina?

15L. 20L for the Wiggy's