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Langley, BC
Canada
243 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 08:10 AM
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| i have been looking for goose or duck down sleeping bags at a reasonable price! even if the sleeping bag is 50% down and 50% something eles. but has to be lite and warm, what do you think i can get local or on the net? 2nd question - because i live in the fraser valley and i do most of my backpacking in manning,chilliwack lake and the whistler area through out the spring and summer what is the lowest in a sleeping bag should i go alot of people say -12 but whats the minium? |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
183 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 08:58 AM
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| You could do a minus 7 with a liner and then keep some clothing layers handy. I was just up at Lower Pierce two weekends ago and did just that. I was pretty toasty warm. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
41 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 11:55 AM
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I'm a fan of the mec merlin -3. Great bag at a great price - http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/SleepingBags/DownMummyBags/PRD~5025-523/mec-merlin-df-sleeping-bag-3c.jsp
I've got the older version with different baffle design, but I assume the new version is an improvement. I've used it at 4200m in the sierras and in mid winter BC mountains - when it gets cold I just keep my down jacket on - but I do sleep kinda warm. For summer, it's perfect.
There are sometimes good deals on here, the mec grear trade, or cascade climbers forum for second hand gear.
Temperature ratings cannot be compared between brands with any reliability... |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1008 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 2:17 PM
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Well, here is your choices for sleeping bags.
It can be either cheap, light, warm. You get to pick two of those options.
What do you consider a reasonable price?
It's important to note that the ratings on most sleeping bags are survival ratings. Meaning if it is rated at -12'c you'll likely survive a -12'c night but not necessarily enjoy it.
Comfort ratings are really subjective. I have a -12'c bag and I can sleep comfortably in it down to -15'c in a base layer and on a pad with an R-Value of 4.1.
I'd recommend renting a sleeping bag from MEC and trying it out first. Even if you do buy it, MEC are usually pretty good at exchanging it for a different model if the one you bought is not comfortable.
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 5:02 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by leimrod
Comfort ratings are really subjective. I have a -12'c bag and I can sleep comfortably in it down to -15'c in a base layer and on a pad with an R-Value of 4.1.
I, on the other hand, for many years used a -12 bag (MEC Hybrid) in a base layer on a pad with an R-Value of 4.1 (Thermarest TrailLite) and slept comfortably in temperatures from about +5 to -3.
So I also strongly recommend that you rent a bag a time or two to get a baseline of your sleeping tendencies, and then buy after that. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 10:48 PM
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Edited by - DCIPHER on 04/18/2012 02:34 AM |
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65 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 6:13 PM
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Some considerations: Are you using a tent or tarp? Will humidity and condensation be a factor (down or synthetic)? What kind of mattress will be used? Do you sleep with long Johns, socks, with a hat or none at all? Do you use a bag liner? What elevation do you like to hike and camp - will you be experiencing frost and snow (even though it is summer)? How much body fat do you have? Do you have a revved up metabolism or are you a slow burner?
All of these considerations impact on how warm you will be and the kind of bag you will need. I too am a three season hiker (mostly summer) and I like the -5 down bag rating for summer hikes. I now use a tent (warmer than a tarp), an air mattress and wear long Johns, socks and a hat if it gets cold. If things get really cold I would wear a fleece or down sweater (jacket).
I typically don't camp much above tree line but sub zero temperatures seem to be the norm at alpine to subalpine elevations in the summer.
I have found that being too warm makes for a sweaty uncomfortable sleep so instead I opt for the bag with the -5 rating and add a few layers if it is a cold night. This system works well for me. If I am hiking at low elevations say in the Okanogan where it is warm at night I really don't want a bag with a rating lower than -3.
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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2542 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 7:40 PM
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I'm a down bag newbie as well - honestly, I have no clue what to buy.
Currently my wife and I both have synthetic bags - Polarguard 3D fill. Mine is a lightweight Moonstone three season I somehow stretch into 3+ for light winter camping (-7c by the "old measurements"), and my wife's is a Sierra Designs women's "stretchy" bag that I'm downright jealous of (-9c by the "old measurements").
We're happy with both bags, but I'd like to do the following:
* Reduce packing space and weight for longer trips, without sacrificing warmth
* Be usable for 3+ seasons. Fall, spring, summer, stein Valley in February. No snow camping.
* Won't be buying a bag-per-season, so looking for a good general purpose fit. Would be happy with -7 or -9 ish.
* Willing to pay, but not Western Mountaineering type prices.
I loved the construction and features of my wife's older Sierra Designs bag, but my impression is that the brand has gone downhill since - any one have any strong opinions there?
Checked out a few MontBell bags at MEC that looked alright, but a few people had concerns about the fill on CT.
People rave about the MEC bags, and I like MEC's gear, but their stuff generally doesn't have the best "fit" - good for the price, but never 100%. I'm hesitant as a result - if I'm going to pay for down, I'd rather pay a bit extra and make sure I'm completely happy with it. Store brands always leave me with a nagging doubt.
So aside from WM bags, what would be worth looking at? |
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NYC, NY
USA
156 Posts |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 11:57 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by leimrod
It's important to note that the ratings on most sleeping bags are survival ratings. Meaning if it is rated at -12'c you'll likely survive a -12'c night but not necessarily enjoy it.
Not if you believe the bag manufacturers.
Ratings in Europe are done using 4 set limits. The upper limit is the highest temperature at which a 'standard' adult man is able to have a comfortable night's sleep without excess sweating. The comfort rating is based on a 'standard' adult woman having a comfortable night's sleep. The lower limit is based on the lowest temperature at which a 'standard' adult man is deemed to be able to have a comfortable night's sleep. The extreme rating is a survival only rating for a 'standard' adult man. This is an extreme survival rating only and it is not advisable to rely on this rating for general use.
A 0°C bag could let you 'survive' a -15°C night just fine, although you probably wouldn't be very comfortable. You'd have to wear your clothes inside it, including your boots (loosened), mitts and hat. I've always found the ratings provided by reputable manufacturers, or rated under the European EN13537 codes,to be fairly accurate in terms of comfort. The rating is predicated on the assumption that you'll be using an insulating mattress, though.
For all practical purposes, insulation can be rated using loft; having let the bag fluff up, lay it out flat, as you would use it for sleeping (zipped closed). Now measure how thick it is. The minimum temperature you can use it in, without extras like a bag liner or wearing your winter clothes inside, depends on lots of things, but generally 3 inches will get you to freezing, 5 inches to the -7 to -10°C range, and 8-10 inches will get you into the -35 to -40C range.
There are other factors to consider, too, such as whether you're wearing dry clothing, and whether you're in a shelter that's appropriate for the season. If you are really fatigued, dehydrated, haven't eaten a good dinner, etc, your bag should be quite a bit warmer. It also matters in a tent if you are alone or with companions who can add to the warmth in the tent.
There is no standardized way of determining comfort levels in Canada or the US, so you have to be careful. Down bags are usually manufactured to a higher standard than a cotton fill one from Canadian Tire or Walmart, though, and I think the ratings given at places like MEC are pretty accurate.
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Edited by - peter1955 on 04/23/2012 12:01 PM |
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DOWN Sleeping Bags?
