On the AT, we used a spring bag and a summer bag. In Virginia, I remember sweating through my 20 degree bag at night and having to unzip it only to be consumed by mosquitoes. So, I bought a 42 degree bag and used it all the way to Maine.
I wonder what people’s experience with sleeping bags were on the PCT. What degree bag seemed optimal? Was it necessary to switch to a “summer bag” later in the season? Any advice would be awesome.
happy trails - nightfever
Nightfever
i used the western mountaineering megalite, which is a 30 degree bag, and it was too warm for me probably a good 70 percent of the time. during those times i would have loved the 40 degree highlite, which is 8oz lighter and about a good $50-70 bucks cheaper.
the only time i really appreciated the warmth of my bag was a few days in the desert and definitely in the sierras and a little in washington. one thing that you must consider though is that some folks sleep warmer than others and a cold night is definitely not fun, but of course neither is a warm one with lots of mosquitoes around, so i can relate to that too.
as far as companies, i’ll recommend western mountaineering to anyone. although i love all my gear, my bag and my flight jacket were definitely some of my favorite items. pure, lightweight warmth.
advice