What to use for fall/winter in California?

[psychofoamer]

You only need a 40 degree bag. Just put some cardboard between youandthe ground.UOTE="Pope Fnordarious V, post: 183869, member: 13459"]I have two sleeping bags. A bulky 0F synthetic and a tiny/minimalist 40F synthetic. I'm gonna be all over California this fall and winter and mostly near the coast--SD, LA, SF, Santa Monica, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, etc. so I don't plan on going up into the mountains.

Do you think I could get away with a 40F synthetic + a fleece liner, or should I just bring the big ass 0F just in case?

y[/QUOTE]

There are times when it definetly gets below 40, even in Cali. Why not be prepared for the worst.

I think the OP should compromise here and maybe get a 20degree bag. I've had a 20 degree bag my entire time on the road and have definitely survived some pretty cold freezing nights...im usually north for the winter as well.

 

[Gabriel Pullman]

Been there done it.i would go 40degree , liner , bivy .
Or 0degree , bivy. Tarp small. If you go inland or on a frieght . 0degree for sure.
And by the way military surplus And get the extreme weather thermals and both options above are good.
No thermals if you take 0degree with 40degree.just underwear for night
any more north than Sf take 0degree
Actually take 0degree anyways so you limit your travels as much,

 

[Deleted member 23824]

You only need a 40 degree bag. Just put some cardboard between youandthe ground.UOTE="Pope Fnordarious V, post: 183869, member: 13459"]I have two sleeping bags. A bulky 0F synthetic and a tiny/minimalist 40F synthetic. I'm gonna be all over California this fall and winter and mostly near the coast--SD, LA, SF, Santa Monica, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, etc. so I don't plan on going up into the mountains.

Do you think I could get away with a 40F synthetic + a fleece liner, or should I just bring the big ass 0F just in case?

y[/QUOTE]
This, I realize, is an old thread. Please take my advice, as I live on the Central Cali Coast, or rather 10 miles from it, in a small mountain town.In Dec, ,Jan, Feb, we regularly have nighttime temps hovering just above freezing, with occasional temps down into the 20’s. I scrape frost off my windshield lots of mornings, I am near Santa Cruz , and we get -usually- lots of rain. It is cold, windy, misty on the beach, normally.

Carry a 0 degree bag, and unless you can afford the newer treated down that repels water and dries out relatively faster than traditional down - make sure it’s a synthetic one, accepting its greater weight and size penalty.