Can any one suggest a quality light weight sleeping bag that retails between $100 and $150? I’ve checked out Marmot and Western Mountaneering and their bags start at $250 and climb to $500. I really can’t justify spending more on my bag than my tent. ($200 tarptent)
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Nomad
Have you checked out www.golite.com? I really still love my GoLite Breeze that I used on our thru-hike, which weighs a mere 14 oz and costs only $69. GoLite makes other beefier packs too, but most are less than $130. Good deals!
Also, my husband really liked using his Gregory G-Pack, which weighs under 2 lbs if you take out the metal stays and the plastic back support. It costs $149 and has a bit more padding than the GoLite packs. You can find it at www.rei.com
Budder Ball
Nomad,
A good approach for finding equipment is to visit www.rei.com and www.campmor.com. These sites are easy to navigate and have large selections.
See you at Dot’s.
Bum
damascus bum
eBay as well often has great deals on new equipment, just have to keep looking and watching. If it’s new w/ tags warranties are probably in effect as well.
frankcornbread
Backpacker.com has a GREAT gear page. You can compare a crapload of bags, all side-by-side. Just click on the features you are looking for.
I looked a little at the Lafuma Warm n Light. I think that was a $100 bucks and weighed somewhere under 2lbs. But I can’t say enough about my Western Mountaineering Highlight. 16 ozs for only $220. I am not sure if 40 deg is 3-season enough for you. Otherwise, yeah, over $250 for WM stuff. But they are the coolest. Mountain Hardware sells some good lightweight bags too.
Although its very hard to shell out high money for gear at the onset, there is a solid chance you will be replacing that piece of gear. By paying for quality you will (in most cases) save money by not replacing the gear later on, or as often. I think.
Officer Taco
for the AT I will deff. ned something warmer than 40 deg. I found this http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=226&memberId=12500226&productId=20946919
Marmot bag, 15 degs., 1lb 8 oz., long enough for my 6’3 frame, $160. Will 15 deg’s be too warm in the summer?
Nomad
I carried a 20 degree North Face Cat’s Meow in 03, I’m going to carry it again in 05. Even on mornings where it was near 0 or below, I never got cold. It’s 2 pounds 14 ounces. Taco I agree with you about buying good quality equipment, But depending on a start date a 40 degree bag would be pushing it. We had one morning in 03 that pushed towards 10 below, an extra pound or so for added security in cold weather is always a good call.:happy
Bearkat
Nomad,
I would recommend you check the weight of the Marmot bag again. The fill-weight is 1lb 8oz, but the total weight of that bag is a bit over 3lbs.
You will probably be able to get away with a 30degree rated bag for the AT, however, in the earlier days of your trip you will likely need to utilize a sleep system approach that uses your sleeping bag, plus clothing, plus tent, to keep you at an optimal temperature. As the temperature heats up you can always unzip and use the bag more as a blanket.
Friends hiking the PCT this year found Campmoor brand down bags for approximately $150 that I believe are rated at 32 degrees that they have been happy with. In the Sierras they layered up and were fine.
Jeff Singewald
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=28774983&memberId=12500226
20 Deg North Face Long Bag, weighs 3 lbs. $80!!!
Is there any reason why this bag would be a bad choice?
Nomad
That is almost identical to mine, only dif is I have a regular. I would recomend measuring across your shoulders, My regular is 30 inches at the shoulders and although i’m comfortable there isn’t much fidget room, your 5 inches taller than I am. I’m 23 inches across the back at the shoulders, if you within 3 or 4 of that you’ll be fine. By the way do you have a Pad yet? Everybody seems to have one or two items they refuse to do without, my therm-a-rest is my is my achillies heel.
BearKat
No i don’t have a pad yet. That was going to be my next round of questions. What are the pros and cons of a pad vs. a self-inflating matress?
Here are the dimensions of the Blaze:
Shoulder Circumference: 64"
Hip Circumference: 60"
Foot Circumference: 40"
So I should have plenty of room.
Nomad
Hmm, sounds like the classic gear tradeoff; Features, weight, price. Pick any two :). Look around for a used high quality bag, probably a down one as synthetics seem to loose loft (insulation) pretty bad over time. Look for a 0-20 degree bag depending on preference/plans, then use a couple yards of fleece during the hotter weather (<$10.) As far as pads go, closed cells are lighter, cheaper, more durable, less comfortable, and bulkier than inflatable type pads. The Z-Lites are nice closed cell pads IMO. Have fun!
Skittles
Nomad,
The bag you referenced in your last post is a synthetic fill bag. You can go with item # 40066 on the Campmoor website and get a down bag that in long size that is lighter and still very much in your price range. Or you can go with item # 68543 and find a higher quality down bag still under the $150.00 tag you were shooting for and still under 3lbs. I would agree with Skittles though that it is all about tradeoffs and how you plan to use the equipment. good luck. I just went through the same decision making process and went with a Western Mountaineering Ultralight for the PCT. Lighter but definitely more money.
Jeff Singewald
Nomad- GO to Campmor.com NOW!! Their own 20 degree bag is on sale for 109 bucks and only weighs 2 lbs 4 oz for a regular. I can’t imagine you getting a better overall deal than this. As Skittles says its almost impossible to satisfy price, rating and weight, but this is as good as it gets for all 3. My buddy Java used this bag most of the way in 03’ starting march 2nd and seemed to like it very much. Never heard a complaint. Campmor brand is quality.
A-Train
It was only $80. I realize the compromise I’m making with synthetic vs. down, but I think it suits me better. Down is too high maintenance for my tastes. If the feathers shift, you get cold spots. Once wet it offers no heat. Plus it will take forever to dry but the feathers will clump as well and be impossible to smooth out.
I don’t want to be worried about a fragile bag the whole time on the trail.
If you baby a down bag it can alst you 20 years, but I know myself better than that… I’d ruin it before the end.
Nomad
I got really tired of freezing and not sleeping in all my Mummys and trying to convince other King Tuts, Its all gooood. Did you ever think its all a big lie, I did. Those ratings are all a lie.
Big Agnas Lost Rangers from here on out for me.You got my word the ratings are pretty close on a new bag. Check out that Big Agnas site they talk our language Nomad. Lost Dog is better than yours. And you can just chatter you teeth about it King Tut. Quick Nomad go to Big Agnas site before you get the same way, and I have to feel sorry for you to waking me up all nite at the crowded shelter,huhhh? And after you give me your big 8:00pm shelter speaches above from their outdated books. Then in the middle of the nite they keep you up freezing. Unless their rich, then I act stupid to for the fun of it, cause you can’t hire me. Go to the big Agnas Site. The experts all know the deal.
Right now till Sept chills I use a $60 Marmot Venture I got from campmor out of synthetic, blanket constuction.Yup, 21 oz without the stuff sack,and I not mummified in the summer, ok? I can wear it over my head for my jacket and headnet sitting and walking around camp cause of the full zipper to.And I just throw in in my backpack, no time to stuff. know what I mean?
Still even if its rainning it never takes on the weight of down. I would like to weight your down bag out there today and show you way to the light. In this damp weather down is off the charts in weight from just high humidity no rain, up to a pound more. Its funny for me to carry down now of any make over my $60 Venture I can’t seen to wreck it like down cause it has 0 baffles and warmer that way Newtons. Like I said it has a full zipper so you can use it for a hostel blanket is what they advertise. Hope you understand $60 is alot of money for a Sleeping bag I can only use Two maybe three months max then I use my Lost Ranger you should buy for that little over $150 mark you said.
I’m more than impressed as you can see and have to jump in here before fashion puts the Big Agnas concept out of business for another 30 years. What’s with these racing strips sewn into sleeping bags today? I must have gotten out of touch over the years.
Greg
Nope to late. Just what I said, all ratings are a lie cept Big Agnas. You could be just as warm in a Big Agnas Yampa on sale the same 20%.
Now you just another cute king tut sardine S$M like the rest.
You could have slept. Now you might not enjoy camping out at nite.
What I meant, “you can’t hire me,” is all wrong. I mean, I won’t tell you crap on the trail one way or the other like I do at this webpage, its your hike at that point of the game. Like its my job to baby sit you and explain rating are a lie to your face without hurting your feelings. nope, I’m all ears on the trail ya see.
Anyway now you won’t be able to move at all when your freezing at 35. And synthetic bags ratings are a joke in 90 days if you don’t care. Instead, no, its that guy Greg, on the internets falt with his lost ranger bag out there, everytime. Just want you to know why I’m always smiling for.
Greg
I too have heard great things about the Campmor down bag. Light (2# 4oz), cheap and warm. It is not quite the high quality of say a FF or a WM bag, but at $110 it is great price/weight/warmth bag.
Know a few thru-hikers who’ve used it and been happy with it.
If you are on a budget, why not use that one?
Mags
I used the Campmor 20 degree down sleeping bag for four winter hikes and was well pleased until this past March when I finally started getting cold in it. It’s now been replaced with another 20 degree down bag. I’ve hiked and slept in all kinds of wet weather and have never had a problem with my down bag getting wet. You just have to remember to protect it from the weather. I use a trash compactor bag to line my backpack and this takes care of the problem. In warm weather I use the Marmot Venture. For less than $200 you can have two bags that should meet all your needs for the weather changes you find on the AT.
Chief