Any thoughts on sleeping bags for the high country??

[MR5x5]

Other things to consider...

The clear night sky is a -100 deg C heat sink.  Make sure wherever you sleep you are obstructed from the sky - and the nylon ceiling of a tent barely counts, a fly certainly helps...Under a tree is better.

Ground insulation - Thermorest or equivalent is a must. Th "R" value only applies to the "lofted fill".  Between your body and the ground it goes to zero pretty quickly...

Chance are you will have long johns and a hat with you.  These greatly increase the effective temp range for your bag.

I use a 50 deg bag with no problems for high elk in September.  Weighs 1.5 lbs. 

I use a 20 deg bag  down to about 20 deg and can manage temps no problem.

You start talking 0 deg F, you better go well prepared, or you'll be dead.

[hirshey]

Sval didn't say anything about EN ratings...  He just said 0* bags are really 32* bags.   

And to use his words, anyone who "knows anything about sleeping bags" would/should be familiar with the EN rating system.

And, really, they used to be; a 0 degree bag was rated for supposed lowest temperature for comfort, but who's comfort? The EN rating has still not completely become the US standard.. many places (REI included) started making sure there were EN ratings for the bags they sell just two years ago, but it may not be the advertised degree rating... for example, my advertised 0 degree Mountain Hardware bag has an EN rating for women around 8 degrees. You don't have to be a mathmatician to know 8 is not equal to 0.   Bags manufactured before 2009 may not be EN rated; something to consider if you're going to purchase a used bag. Before this last Mountain Hardware bag I purchased, I didn't have an EN-rated bag.

[losdaddy7]

Other things to consider...

The clear night sky is a -100 deg C heat sink.  Make sure wherever you sleep you are obstructed from the sky - and the nylon ceiling of a tent barely counts, a fly certainly helps...Under a tree is better.

Ground insulation - Thermorest or equivalent is a must. Th "R" value only applies to the "lofted fill".  Between your body and the ground it goes to zero pretty quickly...

Chance are you will have long johns and a hat with you.  These greatly increase the effective temp range for your bag.

I use a 50 deg bag with no problems for high elk in September.  Weighs 1.5 lbs. 

I use a 20 deg bag  down to about 20 deg and can manage temps no problem.

You start talking 0 deg F, you better go well prepared, or you'll be dead.

All great info.  I have a few pads, older ridgrest foam, a ultralight self inflating thermarest too....probably go with the foam ridgrest (less weight).  Will be sleeping in my mid weight patagonia long undies and a beenie so that should add a few degrees.. I had a cats meow mummy years ago but I froze my butt off in 20 degree temps and got rid of it.

Sounds like a 15 degree EU rated bag should be enough to keep me warm and will also keep the weight down in the pack...  Time to start tracking the deals on the web.
Great comments from everyone.   

[Miles]

Ground insulation - Thermorest or equivalent is a must. Th "R" value only applies to the "lofted fill".  Between your body and the ground it goes to zero pretty quickly...

You may be confused a little about the R-value of pads.  R-value is the pads ability to insulate or "resist heat flow".   The higher the number, the less heat you will loose from your body to the ground.  "Lofted fill" sounds like you may be confusing it with down products? 

Anyway, there is a nice diagram here that lists R-values of certain pads. (you have to scroll down a little to see it)

http://sectionhiker.com/sleeping-pad-r-values/

[jeepster]

one of the best sleeping bags ive ever owned was the goose down main bag to a us army cold weather/subartic sleeping system... its good to like -20 and you can get them relatively cheap (mine were handmedown, so i dont have a price). only drawback is its goose down, and its just the liner, so, zero water resistance what so ever, but i am pretty sure they make a camo gore-tex outter bag for it.

paired with a polar fleece inner liner and the goretex outter layer... there isnt many place i woudnt sleep in that bag

check around military surplus sites, i doubt you would spend more than 100$ for the entire setup

toss in a thermarest and a tarp and you are good to go

[MR5x5]

These folks have screaming deals from time to time.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~sleeping-bag/

[MikeWalking]

These folks have screaming deals from time to time.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~sleeping-bag/

   Forgot about them. Good people too!  I really like the Big Agnes bags.  You can get a bag with a sleeve under it to put your sleeping pad in.  No rolling off it.  They will be my next summer/motorcycling bag.

[losdaddy7]

I found a Marmot Never Summer zero degree bag for $180...a little less than 4 pounds.  Thoughts anyone? 

[JPhelps]

If you go to basegear.com and sign up as a new member you can get the marmot sawtooth for around $200.  It is a 3 lb bag.

[MikeWalking]

I found a Marmot Never Summer zero degree bag for $180...a little less than 4 pounds.  Thoughts anyone?

I'd snap that up in a freaking heartbeat!  Get a good waterproof compression sack and take an oath to keep it dry. I've been using down bags since 1972 year-round and have never gotten one wet.

I got lucky when I bought my REI -5 600fill  it has a Dryloft Shell.  My feet or shoulder can rub the wettest tent wall all night and not get a feather wet.

[luvmystang67]

I found a Marmot Never Summer zero degree bag for $180...a little less than 4 pounds.  Thoughts anyone? 

Sounds great if you're going to be camping east of the cascades all the time.  West of the cascades you really oughta think synthetic or plan to always pay extra attention to keep your down bag dry.

Good luck.

(You can get synthetics for the same rating, with approx the same weight for far less $$$, they just pack a little larger.)

[Miles]

You won't have to worry about your down bag getting wet if you get one of these.  Regardless of down or synthetic, I've never been in a situation where I've had to crawl in to a wet sleeping bag.   A little precaution and common sense will go a long ways.   

[MikeWalking]

A word about synthetics.  Research the fill real well.  I still have the down bag my Dad bought me at REI in 1972.  I'm too tall for it now but it will still fluff up like new.  Down lasts.

Older, First, Second Generation synthetics don't have much of a life span.  After that plastic has been compressed over & over for a few years it stops lofting like new. That means less warmth.  Newer-pricier stuff is better.  If you find a really great price on a Synthetic bag look Google the filling for reviews.

[luvmystang67]

Here is a random set of reviews that might be helpful as well.

http://www.the3best.net/Reviews/Sleeping-Bags

[losdaddy7]

 
Call me a spontaneous buyer!!  I picked up my brand new Marmot Never Summer today..  $180 out the door.   3lbs 14 ozs.    Now I have to start searching for a compression sack.....  woohoo!

Thanks for all the advice.

If anyone is looking for the same bag, there is one more, a "long", for the same price...