Hi, I am looking for the lightest warmest bag for my upcoming AT thruhike. I have been looking at 20 deg. bags like the FF Humingbird, WM Ultralite, and Nunatak Back Country Blanket. What are some of your opinions and experiences? Will 20 deg. bag be warm enough for Springer in early March? Has anyone had problems with condensation using bags with Epic or Event fabric? Which one is better, Epic or Event? Thanks for your help.
boleweevel
Making some gear from Nextec’s Pertex 4, same as our Mountain Hardware Universe SL bag’s shell. Super suff. The Epic is from Nextec I think. You can get samples from Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics. Paper thin, strong as hell. I dragged a screw driver over it and it didn’t even snag.
Warmer then better, you can always unzip. Or one of these new two piece bags “systems”?
Bushwhack
Each of those quality manufacturers have very conservative temp ratings on their products, I think you’ll be good with one of their 20* bags in early march although a liner and bivy may add some insurance on the brutally cold nights.
Those are some great bags on the list, consider also the nunatak arc-alpinist over the back country blanket. But, keep in mind that a quilt/bottomless bag is not going to be as warm as a fully insulated bag like the WM ultralight. If you go with a quilt/bottomless, consider using it in conjunction with a bivy…
Epic is a great fabric, but I would advise that you not get a bag made with it if you want the lightest bag. I have used Nunatak gear with epic and it is great, but not always necessary to have and does tag on some ounces and $ when considering ultralight .85 and microlight fabric options. You can always get an ultralight epic bivy or make your own from fabric, both sold at owareusa.com. The bivy will add warmth and protection from spindrift/mist/bugs under a tarp or in shelters and can always be sent home when felt unneccessary.
Sweeper
Sweeper, I checked out the epic bivy and it looks really cool but at 10.5 oz I am wondering if the epic bag would be lighter. I have planned on taking a silk liner and also planned on tarping. I am leaning toward the FF Hummingbird but still indecisive.
By the way, you are in Chapel Hill, aren’t you? My brother in law ,who is my thru hike partner and a CH student, said you worked at the Trail Shop.
boleweevel
Yep! I think I recall talking to your brother in law at the shop a while back. You make a good point about the oware bivy. Although I believe you could make a hoodless epic bivy weighing 7-8 oz. fairly easily, I’ve done so with another type of water-resistant fabric. You’re right that there are advantages for epic shell on a bag, particularly if you decide on the FF. For quilts and such, the bivy makes more sense.
Sweeoer
I got my GF (now wife) a FF for the hike. We found that it really wasn’t that great. Here are our complaints
We saw the WM ultralites on trail. I got one. Love it! Definitely a conservative temp rating and very down proof. Fabric looks flimsy, but has stood up well. I got my wife the mating bag to mine. We are both very happy.
Gravity Man
PS Anyone want a FF Ibis (I think that is the model…)? Gotta sell it someday…
Gravity Man
Boleweevel, I purchased a 20* WM Ultralite and was cold at 35*. I am a cold sleeper though. I’ve now ordered a WM 0* Puma and will use that for my start out bag in March, switching to the 20* bag for summer~Journey
Journey
I hiked the AT this past season and did the entire trip with a 20 deg. FF Swallow, Epic shell, with a silk liner. I started in mid February and experienced some very cold nights. I tented to sleep warmer at times. The silk liner made a big difference on the really cold nights though. I also slept with my fleece jacket on those nights. But I did not swap out this bag for the warmer weather. I considered swapping out to a fleece or something but weight wise the FF was too light not to carry. I tented a lot so I left the bag open some on warm nights or I used just the silk liner on top of the bag. The liner also doubled as a sheet in those heated hostels. The Epic shell is great. It repels water well and is tough stuff. But my tent had little condensation and mostly in the last of the trip. It is single wall and just got dirty. As far as FF’s bag ratings, I don’t know. Everyone sleeps so different but I have no complaints. FF makes a good bag but take care of it. Keep it out of the dirt and off of the shelter floors. I used my tent ground cloth under my pad in shelters for those times when I came off the pad a little. I would suggest you try and wash your down bag a little before you settle back into winter again the second time. That made a big difference. Just mail yourself some downwash. It can be hard to find on the trail up north. Turn the bag inside out and zip it up to wash. The Epic shell will hold water in the down like crazy if you don’t. It becomes an Epic water bag. My bag looks like it did when I started other than a little discoloration on the inner shell from me being in it. Feathers will come out period but the Epic holds them well. Oh yea, I went for 800 down. It isn’t much extra considering you’re buying a three-bill bag.
Two Scoops