Sleeping bags and pads

[Bob70]

Ok I have decided to upgrade my sleeping bag and Pad; I'm looking for something light but warm as this will need to cover the summer packing trips in the cascades to central Idaho deer hunts in late October. Any suggestions?   

[northwesthunter84]

I'm going with a BA Mystic 15 and the Q core SLX.  Did a lot of looking, I am not small so the specs for the bag are what sold me.

[Shawn Ryan]

Consider a quilt. Enlightened Equipment is a place to start. Good for side sleepers and those who toss around a lot. Less weight and cost compared to similar quality bag.  Should be plenty warm enough for what you describe. Insulated pads have upped the quality and comfort of pads. Big Agnes and ExPed are a good place to start. Compare R values and thickness. The thicker the Pad, the more give/comfort you can create by letting air out.

[Todd_ID]

Most of us likely own 30 sleeping bags for a reason: one won't do everything as well as we want. Use a 30 degree, $40 walmart bag for summer, and put the money into a bag for Idaho October. Or, you could just pack two of the Walmart bags. Both ideas work.

[high country]

I bought a western mountaineering bag and it's simply AWESOME. it rides on a ba pad.

[T-Dozzer]

I'm going with a BA Mystic 15 and the Q core SLX.  Did a lot of looking, I am not small so the specs for the bag are what sold me.

I'm looking at the lost ranger & q core.
How big are you & what size bag & pad did you go with?
I'm a bit hesitant to switch from a synthetic bag.  Wonder just how well big agnes treated down holds up with wet conditions.

[jrebel]

Tagging

[mburrows]

Kifaru slick bag is awesome. Whatever you get make sure its synthetic insulation and for october your going to want a zero degree bag.  Get a pad with a high r value (insulation).

[pd]

Most of us likely own 30 sleeping bags for a reason: one won't do everything as well as we want. Use a 30 degree, $40 walmart bag for summer, and put the money into a bag for Idaho October. Or, you could just pack two of the Walmart bags. Both ideas work.

Well, I don't own 30 bags, but I do have about 10.  Not kidding.

What Todd said.

[T-Dozzer]

I'm sticking with Big Agnes. Not sliding off my pad is a big deal for me. I just have paralysis from analysis when it comes to synthetic vs down. Than fill amount & weight. Than room to move or keep it tight. Than what dry sack.
 
I think I've listened to grittybowmen episode 110 like 3 times now.

[Sneaky]

I purchased a wiggy 0 degree for sleeping in anywhere from 10-40 degrees. These bags are made in America, lifetime warranty, and usually on special for less than comparable bags without the hassle of down.

[ian_padron]

My EE Revelation 0 degree quilt weighs 30 ounces, throw that on top of the Thermarest  Xtherm and there isn't a whole lot you can't handle in the mountains. Just open it up in the summer and use it as a blanket, cinch it down when it gets cold.

Quilts aren't for everyone, but I'll never go back to a bag!

[ghosthunter]

Keep you current bag by a good pad and a Hot Water Bottle. Save the Bucks.

[fillthefreezer]

another quilt lover here. i run a 10* and find it pretty accurate on temp. i had western mountaineering bag, and a feathered friends before that. paired with exped winterlite l/w pad, its really hard to compare anything else in terms of comfort+weight..

[northwesthunter84]

T-Dozzer,  sorry for taking so long I missed your question.  I am 6' 240 right now.  I went with the mystic because of the shoulder girth and hip girth being 72"/ 66" respectively.  I went with a Regular Long bag and a 20x78 pad as recommended by BA.  Most of the other bags I had looked at the shoulder girth was around 62" and hips around 56".  I am a side sleeper so I wanted a bit of mobility without restriction. 

[high country]

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/sleeping-bags/microfiber-series/badger-mf/

[Utah]

Ok I have decided to upgrade my sleeping bag and Pad; I'm looking for something light but warm as this will need to cover the summer packing trips in the cascades to central Idaho deer hunts in late October. Any suggestions?

Summer to C.ID in October?   A 40* degree bag for the summer and at a 10* for Central Idaho in October.   Your shelter makes a difference to.  Some tents are warm and some are cold.  That later hunt I'd put a closed cell foam pad under your inflatable.  That Closed cell like a Thermarest Ridgerest even cut in half makes an amazing heat source while laying on the ground glassing your butt off.  At night it won't let the ground suck the heat outta your body.  win win.   I've had great reliability form Big Agnes inflatable pads.  I'm sure others might disagree.   Serria Design bags are a bit heavy and Montbell no ultralight but both brands have always met their rating for me.  Love the BA design with the pad sleeve but I freeze my ass off in them. Two thumbs down. 

Best of luck and have safe trips!

[Miles]

Another vote for the Big Agnes with the sleeve for a pad.  I love being able to sleep on a slope when required and not wake up 15 times a night cause I'm sliding off a pad.

Utah,  you need a pad with a high R-value.  I have been in 15-20* temps and never been cold.

[Tbob]

I upgraded last year and ended up with a 15 degree down Mt Hardwear Ratio bag and a synmat winterlite pad. Couldn't be happier with both. I wanted the "just one" all around bag. This is definitely over kill in the summer and early fall, but I just unzip it a bit and its all good. It's super lightweight as well and I can use it for all four seasons. It has "Q-guard" so it's like a waterproof type down (so they say) if it's going to be that wet though, I just throw my ultra-lite bivy in the pack. I had a friends/fam coupon and got it at 40% off. I ordered the pad on backcountry.com for 30% off. Couldn't be happier with the set up!

[kselkhunter]

I pack a 20 degree Feathered Friends bag, with an extra liner (gains another 5-10 degree).  In hot summer months I sleep on top the bag if it's too hot at night.  Pad is just the standard NeoAir xlite from thermarest.  On longer duration trips (7-10 days) I'll pack the thermarest ultralite cot for extra comfort.

[Tbob]

Oh yep, I forgot about my ultralite cot too.. Like you, on anything longer than a weekend trip the cot is in the pack! Love that little thing, especially the older I get!