Sleeping Bag

[Mr T]

Asking the wife for a sleeping bag for Christmas.  Any suggestions?  I find myself sleeping in a tent and the back of my truck for turkey season in the NE corner of the state.  Also use it for backpacking in the summer and backpacking into the early high bcuk hunt every couple of years.  I always seem to freeze my you know what during the high buck hunt.  So.............looking for an econimical, lightweight, warm sleeping bag.....not sure if that is even possible but appreciate any feedback/advice.

[ICEMAN]

From the sounds of it, you may need two bags.

A camp/truck bag could be a bit bigger than your desire for a backpacking bag. ...

[Mr T]

Yes you ar right....primarly looking for advice for the backpacking bag.

[Hunterman]

Have you looked into the old military style mummy bag??

Hunterman(Tony)

[halflife65]

Marmot Helium: 15 degree bag, 2 pounds.  Expensive but found mine on sale...

I also have a 20 degree (probably should be more like a 30 degree rating) Kelty Lightyear - this one is inexpensive.  I think about $120 if you look around.

You can buy the big, heavy oversized bags for the truck for not much money (over $100 but less than $200, I think).  Cabelas has a bunch of them. 

Unfortunately, decent sleeping bags are expensive items. 

[MtnMuley]

From the sounds of it, you may need two bags.

A camp/truck bag could be a bit bigger than your desire for a backpacking bag. ...

I agree.  I use a king size Slumberjack when camping from a road, and an ultralight Marmot when packing in.  There isn't a happy-medium in my opinion, and I want all the room I can get in a sleeping bag, yet need the most lightweight mummy bag for packing in.

[Wacenturion]

The best possible tip I could ever give folks here..........

If you can locate one somewhere on line, or by searching military surplus stores, look for an U.S. Army Arctic Causality Evacuation bag.  Long, wide and trimmed in coyote, wolf fur....on the bag it says...."For Causalities Only".  Vintage...late 40's and early 50's.  Loaded with down....I mean loaded.

You will never need another hunting bag in your lifetime.  They pack into a bag about half a full duffel in size...weigh about 8 1/2 lbs.  Cold is something you will never experience in one of these.  Zips completely up with just part of your face showing if you want.  Zips across top sideways as well.   In fact you will not want to leave it in the a.m.  

Plenty of room...even for two.  Even when warmer, can zip down and open partially.  I have had one since I was a kid...father got one while in the service in Alaska.  Have purchased 3 more over the years.  Nothing out there compares for warmth and comfort and room especially for bigger guys.  Might be hard to locate on....but believe me you will never ever regret it.

Just don't leave it in site....someone will steal it.


Oops....didn't see the reference to backpacking bags.  Oh well....I'll leave reply if someone just wants to find a lifetime camp bag.  Iceman, you're always out there in the cold....

Found a link..........$299  Check out the dimensions.

http://www.armynavysales.com/products/casualty-evacuation-sleeping-bag-/

Another......

http://go-armynavy.com/index.php/outdoor-gear/sleeping-bags/u.s.-military-casualty-evacuation-bag.html


Here's an historical statement from an Arctic health article back then....

"One technique used by the Snow Hawk Brigade to keep casualties warm is to place them in military evacuation bags. Lined with 13 pounds of insulating material, the military evacuation bags were designed for moving injured soldiers in an extreme cold weather environment. Double zipper openings allow easy entry and exit of casualties."

By moving they are referring to like on the legs of a helicopter while flying them out.

[wilywin]

Cabelas .44magnum.....Zero degrees!  Cant beat it!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Sleeping-Bags%7C/pc/104795280/c/104770080/Cabelas-Magnum-44-Sleeping-Bag/715304.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcamping-sleeping-bags%2F_%2FN-1100675%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104770080

[MikeWalking]

You can get a good enough Truck camping bag for $150 or less, but it will only pack down to Keg size.  I swear by down for backpacking with the written stone rule; Keep it dry.  I'd go better than 15. My winter bag is a now 12+yo  -5 650fill down bag with a Dryloft shell, 3.5lbs one step back from Gortex. (Goretex bags are no longer made)  $280 marked down from 300something...  Been caught in winter storms at 10-15 degrees with winds over 50mph gusting to 120+mph. Slept snug and warm in my tent.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Well the only advice I will give you is find one that is waterproof, a lot of good insights on the old military sleeping bags, I have had one in my ruck for @ least 15 years when i was in. Trust me if they get wet you will leave it in the woodline. I have had mine weigh an extra 20 pounds because of that.

If you are going to look into the military sleeping bags look into the modular system It is three pieces, gortex outer shell, lite weight green bag for not to cold, black bag for a lil colder, put green bag into black for extreme weather.

I spent plenty of nights buried in a snow pile for ambushes in Alaska and never got cold. Just remember with this kind of system you really want to be done to the bare minimum in clothes, you sweat in your bag means you will get cold.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.net/ZWB155-1.html

Joe

[boneaddict]

I picked the coldest rated mummy I could find at cabelas.  It wasn't cheap.   I slept out in it the other night when it was -20. (I believe my bag is rated to -30.  It depends when you plan to be on the mountain.  If its Sept through November, I'd look at temp rating more than weight.  Summer backpacking, a blanket works, you really don't need a bag and then weight would be more of a factor. 

[swanny]

Marmot Helium: 15 degree bag, 2 pounds.  Expensive but found mine on sale...

 

[Bob33]

Marmot Helium: 15 degree bag, 2 pounds.  Expensive but found mine on sale...

 

+2

[WDFW-SUX]

Ive got a marmot never summer that I like its 4lbs.


I also have an old Patagonia that is 2lbs doesn't keep you warm like the marmot but I can compress it to the size of a Nerf football.

[Bofire]

or an outfitter type cover bag, that your sleeping bag fits inside of.
Carl

[hookr88]

I would look into the new style military bag. It is a three piece system. Inner light weight bag, heavy middle bag and a goretex outer bivy bag. They're not cheap but at least you will have one modular systems for all your needs. You might find a decent deal down at one of the surplus stores near Joint Base Lewis- McChord.

[RubblesPH]

Bought a browning -30 from Cableas this year before my Alaskan Yukon moose trip.  Stayed warm with room to store clothes and boots in over night. 

Here's a picture for testimony.  It's the empty bag with the tarp pulled off of it and the frozen gun beside it.  It has vents you can open for warmer weather.  Great bag, I'd highly recommend it.

[boneaddict]

Yep, thats what I got I think.  Use the tarp the same way too.   Whats nice is that it fits me at 6 5

[RubblesPH]

I'm only 6'00, but that extra room at the bottom stored my boots.  Wasn't happy when I woke up the first morning and had to put on rock solid frozen boots because I left them out of the bag....couldn't believe I forgot.  Shoulder room is generous too.  Can't stand feeling confined in a bag.  Definitely not a backpack bag though. 

[ICEMAN]

Tarps are too damned noisy. We use this weird product called a "Neat Sheet".  It is a quiet, "waterproof" groundcloth that breaths a bit like a goretex material....  No more waking up to all that crunching noise when someome or something moves. Drawback: the mice can sneak up on ya...

[Bean Counter]

Shouldn't this be in the "Gear" thread? 

[ICEMAN]

Shouldn't this be in the "Gear" thread? 

Thank you! Done.

[high country]

I have two bags that see more time in the field then any of the other umpteen that I own. for my high country hunts I use a western mountaineering badger. it weighs about 2lbs and packs down to the size of a pack of bagels.....tested to 11 above and stayed cozy. my other is a wiggy's ultimate thule.....this is not a backpacking bag. it weighs 5lbs and packs down to the size of 2 gallon jugs. it is big heavy and I have spent nights in it w/o a tarp to 15 below and stayed plenty warm. I would add that both of these are made right here in the USA and have great warranties. you would need to find them on ebay or used to meet your price, but if you buy a qualty 850 filll bag it will blow a 650 out of the water in warmth and compressability. the wiggys bag says right in the warranty that it is guarenteed against compression even if it is stored like that for its whole life......don't do that with a down bag!

[ICEMAN]

I have heard good things about the Wiggys bags...

My problem with most any bag, if you are a bigger guy, and your bag is even slightly snug, not tight but just snug, what happens with me is that the motion of my chest rising and falling as I sleep keeps pumping air into and out of the bag (draft guards be-damned!). I hate this! This is why I overdrape the bag with the neat sheet.... It keeps a bit of my warmed air around my bag so that I am not pumping cold air in all night...

[high country]

ice, my bag is a long/wide and it is big enough for me at 6' 250lbs. It would be tall enough for a 7 foot dude. I could have gone with a regular/regular....but wanted penty of room to keep my gear warm. they are a good bag for the $$ and a lifetime warranty helps seal the deal. jerry wigitow, the owner is a total tool, but he makes a great bag for a fair price.

[ICEMAN]

Yeah, I have read alot of reviews about them on a few hiking forums and they sound like the real deal. I am over 300lbs, have wide shoulders and a bit of a barrel chest, so I appreciate a large bag.

[high country]

I wear a size 54 jacket.......you should have plenty of room.

[halflife65]

Hard to beat WM except for price.  One of these days, I'll own a -30 (or so) WM bag.  In the meantime, I've been seriously looking at the Titanium Goat bivy sack to put over my Marmot Helium.  Should add another 10 degrees of heat rating, the new ones that are just coming out are supposed to be able to let you fit your pad inside and will work great under a tarp and they are really light and supposed to breath well.

The other bag that I have that I forgot to mention is a North Face Snowshoe 0 degree bag.  Ok, but doesn't compress very well.  I use it on shorter trips or when I don't want to use my giant camp bag.

I've heard that about the owner of Wiggy's.  Funny.

[archery288]

I have the Marmot Helium bag.. It's good down to 15 degrees and is extremely light at just over 2 lbs.  I wouldn't buy another bag - period!  It has a ton of loft as well which adds a little comfort when sleeping on the ground.  It is a little on the expensive side, but you can find deals on ebay or other mountaineering stores out there.

[high country]

my advice for adding a few degrees is to run a mylar backed buble wrap pad....it weighs about 6oz and there is NO question when you slide off of it when the ground is cold.....cheap and works.

I run a cabelas bivy sometimes and for the 16oz it weighs the bigger benefit to me is knowing if I encounter heinous weather I am still good to go. I can't say if it helped on the temp because 11* was the coldest I have endured and it was still going strong.

[boneaddict]

Idabooner had a custom made bivy out of canvas I believe made for his bedroll.  He'd carry it horseback (wouldn't want to backpack it) and he could just about unroll under whatever tree he wanted.  its something I'd like to have done sometime.  Wrangling horses you really don't have time for a camp or survival.    The last wet adventure I had I just put the tarp over me.  Problem I had was the condensation from my breathing was almost as bad as the rain.