advice on warm sleeping bag

[SA Friday]

If you are hiking into the camp or going to use the bag for hiking at other times, your best bet is a well made goose down bag. If it's just going to be used in camp and you have pack animals or vehicles to get there, then get a recently made military sleeping bag. The military bags are heavier and won't compress as small in comparison to the goose down bags, but comparible in comfort. The price is the big difference. The goose down is going to cost. I have both, and if I'm walking I take the goose down.

[kpp80202]

I think the -20/USGI advice is sound. My lighter bag is the one I'd carry (because I'm not hiking when it is that cold). The cold weather bag I'm looking for need only be carried 50' from the Jeep to the tent, so weight is not a factor. Bulk either, since I don't take the whole brood with me in low temps. I'm gonna go to the surplus store on Broadway and Hampden and see what they have.

[KFinn]

a friend let me take the picture... (joke)

Ya, he must work out!

[theGinsue]

Thanks all for the advice so far. Ginsue--that Cabelas bag is $100; that's a pretty good price.

When I got my two, they were still being sold from Gander Mountain (yeah, used to be Gander Mtns brand - Cabelas bought 'em out), they were $150/ea. Cabelas has reduced the priced over the last couple of years.

[sniper_tim]

Have an extreme weather GI bag (made of down), stayed very toasty in it last season, camel pack in my tent froze solid over night, so it was quite cold! I think they are expensive to clean, so my wife made me a fleece insert that increases the comfort/warmth and convienence. Not much room though. I don't like nylon, so also have a cheap $30 canvas/flannel bag i generally use in camp and throw a couple GI wool blankets over it and stay warm too. I packed the GI bag in and that was bad idea, 10+ pounds, but can't seem to bring myself to spend $200+ for lightweight down hiking bag.

If i had to buy a bag for this season, i would buy a "7 in 1". Have a buddy who has it and it has layers that can be zipped out for varying temp, including a down insert. Don't know how much or where to get one though.

Cheers,
Tim

[Mtn.man]

carry a heater......

[kpp80202]

carry a heater......

Already doing that. I just don't want to freeze if it dies.

[TennVol]

I was fortunate enough to be issued a bag system made by Wiggys in Grand Junction. My system is very similar to this one:
http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Produ...TOKEN=38261974

I also have at least one of the USGI Extreme Cold Weather bags and several GORE-TEX bivy sacks. The bag is heavy, but warm. I would be more than willing to sell it if anyone needs one. The USAF was very good to me when it came time to issue cold weather gear (I spent four winters in Grand Forks, ND). Now that I'm retired, that gear just takes up a lot of room in my basement.

My best advice is whatever bag you end up with, use a GORE-TEX or similar waterproof & breathable bivy sack. It will keep you dry and warm.

[VinceU1]

Cabela's has these mummy bags on sale for $40 plus shipping. Ordered one and the total came to about $48. The website says that they're out of stock, but give em a call, who knows.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...144&hasJS=true

[theGinsue]

I wonder what's up with the sale on the Trekker bags? Those prices are fantastic.

As I stated in my earlier post about the rectangular bag ( I really don't like mummy bags - too restraining), I have two of these bags and they are really warm.