Sleeping bag question!

[Py11]

So, I've never had a good sleeping bag. They've always come from thrift shops and aren't particularly warm, don't have particularly, what you would call functional zippers and are generally all around crap. I am thinking about changing this, but have a couple questions about those 80-100 dollar bags before i off and go waste money on something I don't want.
So here's the issue: I see all these bags that are supposedly able to keep you warm in i duno, lets say negative 20 degree weather. What does this mean if its like 70 degrees? Will you be boiling in a bag that is that insulated? I just want to know if a really cold enduring sleeping bag will still be bearable in warmer weather. Thanks ya'll!

 

[wartomods]

well it will be warmer than a cheap bag in the summer, but as long as you dont stand in the sun ( lol sleeping in daylight) you wont have much problem cause what isolates from cold isolates from heat...in the summer you can open a little bit to let air circulate, cause the heat produced alone by your body can be irritating
You wont boil, and you will be able to sleep, but you will carry extra weight and wont be as confortable as sleeping in a cheap summer bag in the summer

 

[bobNkamille]

i like my bag its a good bag for 35 degrees it's a colman and on the inside it has a fleece blanket so in the summer if it does get to warm i just unzip it and lay under that it's like three pounds at max really light and is worth the world to me. But i got it for free out of salt lake

 

[Angela]

I have some problems with overheating in my zero degree bag during the summer. But I don't rightly know if this is typical or not since mine is a cheap $40 wal-mart bag. But when it gets too hot I just unzip it or lay on top of it. I'd much rather be too warm though since you can always unzip, than be too cold in the winter.

 

[veggieguy12]

You can use a sleeping-bag liner, too. Those aren't hot in summer, they're just like a mummy-shaped sheet, and in the cold they add 10 degrees of warmth when used inside your bag.

 

[Poe Boy]

I use an old GI Intermediate Cold Weather bag. Got it for like $20 or so. Supposed to be good to 15 deg.

For warmer weather I use a poncho liner. You tie it in a GI poncho, snap the side closed and fold over the foot area, and you have a nice, warm weather bag.

 

[stove]

So sleeping bags can be funny; you want to stay warm, but you don't want to melt. That said, if it gets really too hop, just unzip the bag and lay it half-on, half-off of you. That usually works for me...

 

[Shoestring]

I've got an "REI" mummy-bag that I'm selling now.
(I'm only asking $25.00 too)! It is all in working order, (zippers, no holes). Only used four times too. At first I was skeptical when I first seen it, being it only weighs 8oz!!! (I sware to God)!!! It only weighs 8oz!!! This is why I was skeptical at first, but when I first gave it a true, coldweather test, I was in the "Murray Yards" in North Kansas City waiting on my next train heading north. After I finally caught-out, the temperatures then were in the single-digits, then they dropped down to 12 degrees below zero by the time I reached near Lincoln, Nebraska!!! (While the temperatures were down around zero, I kept comfortable, but once they dropped below zero, I started becoming a bit uncomfortable). Not uncomfortably bad, but just enough discomfort to where it took about an extra 20 to 30 minutes to get to sleep. Soooooo, I'd say this "REI" mummy-bag is roughly a "Zero-Bag"! (Good down to around zero)! As well as this bag keeping you snug and comfy, it breathes good too, thus in the warm months of the summer, you'll have no issues at all with sweating or condensation. It is just plain-and-simply a nice mummy-bag!!!
It's black and has a small dark purple stripe going down the side alongside the zipper area.
PM me if you're interested in it.

I know without a doubt, I could squeeze it down into a box no bigger than five inches by five inches square all the way around and send it in the mail this way!
Go to www.rei.com then scroll down until you see on the left hand side under title "Top Gear Categories" where it says "Sleeping Bags". (Click on "Sleeping Bags"). Check their mummy-bags out if you're curious as to what it looks like........(The black and purple mummy-bag they have in the one photo, is exactly like the one I'm talking about here now!

~~~"Shoestring"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, I've never had a good sleeping bag. They've always come from thrift shops and aren't particularly warm, don't have particularly, what you would call functional zippers and are generally all around crap. I am thinking about changing this, but have a couple questions about those 80-100 dollar bags before i off and go waste money on something I don't want.
So here's the issue: I see all these bags that are supposedly able to keep you warm in i duno, lets say negative 20 degree weather. What does this mean if its like 70 degrees? Will you be boiling in a bag that is that insulated? I just want to know if a really cold enduring sleeping bag will still be bearable in warmer weather. Thanks ya'll!

 

[Beegod Santana]

Personally I use a 20 degree mummy bag (thats really more like a 45 degree bag) and one of those salvation army wool blankets. If the temps get below 40 or so I use the wool blanket as a liner and then I'm good all the way down to about zero. All in all this set up is a little lighter than the old ll bean down bag I used to carry, and in the rain I can use the wool blanket to keep the moisture from building up inside my tarp. It all looks a little home bum but it keeps me happy.

 

[Shoestring]

Man! Those Salvation Army blankets that are made from wool are warm eh?!
(A lot of people don't know this about those wool blankets either)! They truely are a good warm blankie !!!

Personally I use a 20 degree mummy bag (thats really more like a 45 degree bag) and one of those salvation army wool blankets. If the temps get below 40 or so I use the wool blanket as a liner and then I'm good all the way down to about zero. All in all this set up is a little lighter than the old ll bean down bag I used to carry, and in the rain I can use the wool blanket to keep the moisture from building up inside my tarp. It all lots a little home bum but it keeps me happy.

 

[Poe Boy]

Poor wool blankets suck. If you get the good ones -- like true surplus ones (that weigh about 5 pounds, LOL) -- they are extremely warm. This is because wool is naturally hollow in the fibers, so there's always trapped air. This is why, even when wet, wool still insulates.

 

[L.C.]

i use the wal-mart sleep-cell bags for about 20$. they are good below freezing,but they also have 2 vents,one on either side. the vents have mesh to keep the creepy-crawlys out.

 

[fourthirtyAM]

military sleeping bags are too dogdamned heavy, down bags suck if they get wet the feathers clump together and you get gnarly cold spots (and theyre too fucking expensive anyways) and synthetic ones tend to be fucking huge.

but. if you can get a bivy sack (they're pricey so free.99 is a good option) yer set. ive got a -5 (celsius) down sleeping bag that smushes to like 1 litre a friend gave me. just gotta "aqquire" a bivy sack and you can sleep in the torrential downpour bone dry.

 

[Poking Victim]

I have a 0 degree REI Polar Pod, and it is uncomfortably warm in the summer. I recently purchased a 45 degree Lafuma bag for $30 because I'd rather carry 23 ounces than the heavy 0 degree. I tested the Lafuma in below freezing temps the other night and it was a little chilly at contact points, mostly in the legs, because it is so thin.

 

[Eatgarlic]

Yeah. I never traveled with a bag before, but I also mainly traveled in the summer, in the south, and usually just used a tarp and a blanket or sheet.

I have been wanting a really nice sleeping bag for a while, though, so after making enough money a few months ago I decided to just buy one. it's really tiny and light, and although its only 40 degrees, I don't really travel much when it's super cold so I think I'll be good. mine is also a Lafuma.

the only downside is that I didn't realize the outside was BRIGHT FUCKING GREEN.

guess i'll turn it inside out or dye it somehow?

 

[connerR]

You can use a sleeping-bag liner, too. Those aren't hot in summer, they're just like a mummy-shaped sheet, and in the cold they add 10 degrees of warmth when used inside your bag.

I just picked up a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor bag liner. It's stated to add 14 degrees to the bag. I'll be giving this a try soon and I'll post a review on it when I can.

 

[christianarchy]

I just picked up a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor bag liner. It's stated to add 14 degrees to the bag. I'll be giving this a try soon and I'll post a review on it when I can.

Please do! What did you get it for? A quick google makes them seem to go for pretty steep..
Are sleeping bag degree ratings in fahrenheit unless otherwise noted? Or if their a US product?
Online, it says my "zero degree bag" will keep you comfortable as low as 15o F.
Is this rating system not as simple as I thought it was or is that just a flaw on the site?

 

[connerR]

Well this thing claims that it will make your sleeping bag up to 8C/14F warmer. It was around $50. It's a very thin liner. So far, it seems pretty good, though. I'll let you know soon.

 

[sprout]

I am having a hell of a time finding a good sleeping bag right now. I have this monstrous 8 pound military arctic down bag that I got from a free box. It's good for 40 below which will be nice for winter traveling in the north but hauling that thing around last summer was a major pain in my neck. And back and shoulders.
I didn't think it would be so tough to find a happy median in my price range but it seems like compact, lightweight, warm sleeping bags (especially in my price range) are diamonds in the rough.

 

[christianarchy]

I am having a hell of a time finding a good sleeping bag right now. I have this monstrous 8 pound military arctic down bag that I got from a free box. It's good for 40 below which will be nice for winter traveling in the north but hauling that thing around last summer was a major pain in my neck. And back and shoulders.
I didn't think it would be so tough to find a happy median in my price range but it seems like compact, lightweight, warm sleeping bags (especially in my price range) are diamonds in the rough.

Forty below would be nice to have, I think, just in case you know? Anyways, my Coleman 0 degree was 50 bones, which wasn't awful, but is 3-6 lbs and not super compact. Still, for me that was good enough since I didn't wanna shell out too much cash.
Amazon.com: Coleman North Rim 0-Degree Mummy Bag: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HjxI6ojdL.@@AMEPARAM@@51HjxI6ojdL In case you wanna check it out. I haven't traveled with it yet, I just got it, but it seems to be pretty solid, but not super lightweight or anything.