I’m planning on hiking Southbound starting early July, and I only have money for one sleepingbag. I thought it would get very cold at night when I get into Georgia, so I’m thinking of getting a 10 degree Lark from Feathered Friends. Before I commit, I would like to know how many nights are actually going to be below 20 degrees on the trail.
ALBS
A lot of SoBos finish in Nov- Dec time frame. Pretty cold in NC and GA during this time. I took a twenty degree on my NoBo last year and only really got cold a couple of times. 10 degree will probably weigh more. I would go 20 degree and mail some fleece down south. My opinion
White Blaze- Pack on Back
Virginian
hey albs- i’ll be heading sobo about a month ahead of you. i’m taking a 15 deg bag which i think will work well for me. a 10 i think would be too hot in the summer months, even when left unzipped… but the 20 would be chilly in the winter- i think a 15 is perfect compromise. wise words from virginian as well- you could take a 20 and get a fleece liner or blanket when & if you need it… i personally haven’t had much luck with them, but i know many people that it works well for. your bag is quite a personal thing so it’s hard to say what will or will not work for someone else. in any case don’t sweat it- once you’re out there it’ll all be good :girl happy hiking
LarsyParsy
I agree that a 15-20deg bag would be fine. I have TNF Cat’s Meow and it works good at 20deg wearing Patagonia Fleece. You can also look at a GoLite bag that’s convertible between a 0 deg and 30 deg. A friend of mine has one and likes it really well. I’ve seen other convertible bag designs but can’t remember which ones they were…
Nooga
I’d get the 10 degree bag cause you’re going to need it in TN/NC/GA in December. It will get PLENTY COLD at times that time of year, and you’ll regret it if you’re shivering in a 20 degree bag. But it will be too hot to use when you start in July and won’t want to carry it then. Just get a cheap, light summer bag for the summer months for under $100. Get it used if you’re really short on bucks. If you spend $300-$400 for a good FF winter bag you certainly can part with $50 more to a summer rag. Then when the nights start getting cold in the fall, have someone send the winter bag to you in VA/NC/TN.
Blue Stone
Dear Albs,
Take the 10 degree bag; you’ll need it and appreciate it.
As for warmer weather, if economics are an issue, you can use the same bag as a blanket, half-on, half-off, with your legs sticking out,and be fine. The only aggravation, in the warmer weather, will be this sense that you’re carrying more weight than you have to (ie, the extra weight of a lower temperature bag); but, even there, if you get the ultralight versions of a 10 degree bag from Feathered Friends or Marmot, it won’t be all that much weight anyway, regardless of what season it is.
Sincerely–Paul English.
Paul English
If you have money for a feathered friends down bag then you can afford several synthetic bags. I would check out the kelty light top 55 degree bag for the summer weighs 2 lbs. and will cost you $40.00 at campmor but you won’t regret you choice when everyone else is sweating in their winter bags. There are also several light weight synthetic bags available. You will need at least a 20 dgree bag down south but you can make up for the temp rating by taking en extra layer of clothing.
I also need an extra layer because I seem to get cold in my sleeping bag no matter what the temperature rating. I find I get cold spots so I sleep in Capiliene bottoms and tops.
When I started south bound from Maine in 1999 I hit tmeps in the 90’s at monsoon and it just kept getting warmer. Keep this in mind as you plan.
Darth Pacman MeGA '99
Darth Pacman
Just a note of caution. If you use the bag all summer by the time you get to the last 500 miles it will be very dirty and loose a considerable amount of loft. You will need to wash it before the cold weather to return its loft so you can get your cold rating back up. Otherwise your 10 degree bag will be a 30 degree bag by TN/NC.
Papa Smurf
I used a 30 degree bag in GA in April. I froze until I got to Walasi and bought a silk liner. It was light weight, cheap and did the trick for me. On hot summer nights I slept in the liner on top of the bag.
Big B
From March till the third week of May I had an old heavy 20 degree polarguard bag and a polartec liner. Combimed weight over 4 lbs. Not good. I sent the bag home, turns out about 2 weeks to early, in MAY. But I hiked all summer and did not get my bag back until Manchester Ctr VT just before Labor Day.
Chef
Question(s). Does it matter where the warmth is placed when sleeping? What I mean is if the ground is cold should the insulation be on the bottom of the bag or is it necessary to have the insulation on the top of the bag? Is a closed cell pad sufficient to provide enough insulation on the bottom? Does an air mattress conduct too much heat from the body or does the air in the air mattress stay warm? If one uses a cover over the top of the sleeping bag will that be sufficient to provide additional warmth? How much? If a sleeping bag liner is used how much does that increase the insulation of a bag? If a liner is used in combination with a cover can that increase the warmth in extreme cold weather? Will a thin cover of cotton or fleece or wool be efficient as a heat retainer and which is better? Which weighs less?
Just a few of many questions.
Jack
:nerd Yes, both, yes, the air stays warm, yes, depends on the cover, depends on the liner, yes, wool, fleece, size 13.
Blue Jay