warm sleeping bag without the bulk or breaking the bank

[mac87toy]

I am much like 5miles, I am a fairly big guy that has more then enough insulation. I try and keep hydrated, eat food high in proteins and fats like nuts and trail mixes and I still sleep cold. I love a little chill while i am sleeping but on the Mt. I honestly have wondered if I will be able to walk in the morning from my feet being so cold and shaking so bad my muscles ache! After a couple night sleeping or not sleeping like that it is mentally draining and two easy to find a warm nights sleep. I will also be honest, I really love being home with my family and struggle with the mental aspect of sticking it out when I am alone and the hunting is less then to be desired. Sleeping painfully cold only destroys all chance of me being able to mentally tough it out.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

You cold sleepers might find a hammock to be the perfect solution...a small cocoon of well insulated comfort is easier to keep warm than a tent.

 

[luke moffat]

Bruce...showing off with tree actually large enough to use for a hammock.

Just couldn't reliably use a hammock up here for a lot of the places I hunt. But down where treeline goes to the top of the mountain seems like a cool option. Not sure I'd prefer it to a tipi wth a wood stove if I was camping in trees large enough to hang a hammock from I'd for sure go the tipi/woodstove route instead. But for summer time and such it could be a cool option to try.

 

[JWP58]

Might want to look at Sierratradingpost. They have a brooks range 800 fill down 0 degree bag right now for 400.something...plus you can probably get 35% off of that if you sign up for the deal flyers. Plus they have other bags to choose from too.

 

[bobhunts]

The biggest factor will be what weight you want to carry! Many bags are very warm but heavier like the Kelty. Choose one that comes with good reviews. Bob.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Spend one night shivering and the value of that 100 bucks you saved dissipates to nothing. Sound sleep is priceless. You can die if you aren't able to sleep and stay warm. Not a place to cut corners. Ask for gift cards this Christmas!

 

[mtluckydan]

Check out the Kifaru bags - they are really good bags with the option of wide bags which I sleep better in. I have a WM 20 degree bag for summer camping. However, the Kifaru bags are comparable for similar weight/heat ratings with down. I could get a -20 bag for several hundred dollars less than a comparable down bag. With one of Kifaru's 5 string compression sacks, they compress quite well. I use a z-lite pad with an exped pad along with the kifaru bag. They come up for sale on the kifaru forums quite regularly. I have also been down the road of lesser quality bags and it is definitely worth the money to get the better bag. It really does make or break your trip. If you aren't resting well there is no way you will hunt at the top of your game.

 

[tenth1]

I have been using a mountain hardware ultralamina 0, happy with it for the last several years in the hills.

I am always surprised at the amount of down lovers out there.. Hella comfy when dry, but I rarely could keep one dry for the duration of a trip. between swims, condensation, rain, etc., like cotton, i will never have it in my pack. Except down is worse

I may change my mind with the new wicking down

 

[Biggs300]

I've camped and hunted deer in S. Dakota, and have camped at 11,000 ft hunting elk in the 2nd rifle season in CO. I have been quite pleased (and warm) using my Mountain Hardware Phantom 0 degree 800 fill down bag. I will add that ground cover and pad are an important part of any sleep system.

 

[rayporter]

one suggestion i did not see was to try down long underwear. i have read of others using down underwear to sleep in. good booties would help your feet also

down would be light and pack well. might be worth a shot.

 

[castandblast]

You cold sleepers might find a hammock to be the perfect solution...a small cocoon of well insulated comfort is easier to keep warm than a tent.

The "tree" on the left side looks an awful lot like a power pole to me!

 

[luke moffat]

The "tree" on the left side looks an awful lot like a power pole to me!

Well yeah!!! Then you have easy access to charge up your cell phone

 

[castandblast]

Ha!