Warmest bag VS Realistic sitiuations

[skaldugwas]

I have finally decided to invest in a quality sleeping bag and im trying to figure out the best temp rating for all around use or as close as I can get with one bag. Since this will be a big purchase for me it seems like going for a 0 degree bag might give me the most range and bang for my buck from early season high country bowhunting in Washington to late season chukar camp.


is it worth dragging around the extra weight of a zero degree bag and sweating out the nights for those few occasions when you really need something that warm or does it make more sense to just pack some warmer duds and an emergency blanket as back up?

 

[ianpadron]

0 degree quilt. Best of both worlds. Mine weighs 1lb 14oz. Use it as a blanket in the summer, batten down the hatches in the winter.

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[mlob1one]

I tried for the one bag solution and went with a 15 degree (montbell #1 800) bag. Early season was way too hot for me in early season and scouting trips. So I picked up a 30 degree bag.
That said, if you have warm gear, a bivy, or a stove for your tent, you could get by with a 15 degree bag instead of a zero. The other factor is what percentage of your nights outdoors are in close to 0 temps. Quilts are an acquired taste, one that I have not yet developed.

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[wyodan]

I use a 0 degree bag 95% of the time. I only use my 30 degree a little in the summer. That said, I would look hard at a 0 degree quilt like the other guy said.

 

[TheCougar]

Get a 0 degree bag and never worry about being cold. I have a marmot lithium which is uber hot and very light for a 0 degree bag. Granted it costs and arm and a leg.

 

[castandblast]

I sleep better cool than hot, and have woken up drenched with sweat in my 0 and 15 degree bags when temps stayed around 30.

I use a WM Megalite with overfill for everything lately, but my late season chukar trips aren't overnighters. For that I would want more bag so my thought is you are trying to span too much temperature variation with one bag. Maybe invest in a quality down bag for most of what you do and a warmer less expensive synthetic like my TNF Snowshoe zero degree bag for your winter trips?

 

[mrbillbrown]

I went with a 20* Slick bag as my "all around" bag. Granted, it doesn't pack as small as some bags and weighs more than a comparable down bag but..... it's shell is tough enough to sit in glass in, synthetic will keep me warm if it gets wet, and I can slide my woobie in it if temps are gonna be 0 or colder. I'll need it more often at 30*+ weather than I will at 0*. So the woobie acts as my super cold temp warmth booster. YMMV


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[mtwarden]

a 0 degree bag in 40 degree weather isn't very pleasant; another option to consider is a 20-ish degree bag/quilt that gets you by 90%+ time and then add a 40-ish degree Climashield quilt to push the bag to below 0. Use it on it's own in warm weather. The price of the two will likely be the same as one 0 degree bag and adds a ton of flexibility.

a synthetic quilt layered over a down bag/quilt has the additional value of keeping your primary down bag dry from body moisture (moisture moves outward to the synthetic quilt)

 

[duchntr]

A 0 degree bag does work for all seasons but certainly wouldn't be my first choice, I use to use this setup for a number of years though. My suggestion would be to buy a 10 - 20deg bag and a good sleeping pad, when temps get lower double your pad with a z-lite. I consider myself a cold sleeper and my 20 deg bag with a good pad gets me down to around 30 comfortably.

 

[yardwork]

If you think you can get by 80% of the time with a 15 or 20 then that is what I'd get. It will save you bag volume, cash and better comfort in warmer weather. I have a semi-decent 20 deg synthetic that I'd like to upgrade but I think I'm going to stay in that same temp rating. I built a 40 degree-ish quilt and it works well for summer camping. My winter trips are shorter in mileage and time so I can stuff my quilt and my bag in my pack or pulk and use both for winter camping. The same could be done with a cheaper 30 degree bag combined with a good 20 degree bag.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mtnman84]

I run a western mountaneering mega lite with an overfill rated to 20 degrees with my down pants and jacket on I can sleep comfortably down to single digits and use that bag year round without complaints

 

[Tag_Soup]

I run a 15 degree Sierra Designs backcountry bed 800. Last season I used it august through late october. In some sub zero nights I wore my puffy jacket and insulated pants, but it worked well throughout. The ability to just pull the quilt off to vent is huge, but it also seals up unlike a typical quilt. My legs did get a bit warm during the august hunts. I definitely would not have wanted to go any warmer. If I had it to do again I may get the 30 degree version and get a bag liner for colder hunts. It would be nice if the quilt section was cut a bit lower into the bag. I am currently working on a home built version with 7.5 oz climashield in the body and down in the quilt. This will allow me to be confident in some pretty inclement weather when paired with a Wooby style blanket and running an open tarp type shelter.

EDIT: It is worth mentioning that I used this setup with the Xtherm Max Large. The bag is also a the Men's Long.