What degree sleeping bag to take

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#1

If I start the AT on March 15 at springer MT. What degree bag would keep me warm in the early days and then on thru the trip… Is there a recomendation for a bag that would work for the whole trip… I just can’t make up my mind … Warm in the begining then to hot the rest of the time??? Or would it be ok… I have no clue… My first thought is a 15 degree for maxium comfort in the begining then as it gets warmer simply just leave it unzipped and use it more like a blanket… I’ll take as much advice as possible on this one… " please"…

Steve

#2

Unfortunately, its best to have two bags. A 15 or 20 degree bag and a summer bag. It gets real hot in the summer (at least it did in 02) and anything more than neccessary is going to keep you up at night as you try to keep covered from the insects that will invaribly find thier way into what ever shelter you have and yet stay cool enough not to boil. Fortunately, the difference between a quality and budget summer bag is not much, so go cheap on the summer bag. I used an old qualofill bag and still use the same one with good results. Buy quality on the winter bag though as the difference between budget and quality is much greater.
You will boil in a 15 degree bag when the lows get down to 80 degrees, so at least plan on switching to a fleece blanket. I would recomend switching later than sooner (I did in Atkins but the James river would work too) and plan on getting your winter bag back before the Whites.
TB

TurkeyBacon02

#3

I used one bag the whole way during 2006. A 30 degree 900 fill down. A little chilly in the smokies but not bad as I sleep “warm”. The luxury was that the bag weighed only 1 lb. 4 oz. When it’s hot and buggy I slept more often in the tent. The bag cost 250 bucks, but I only had to buy one. Also did not have to logistically switch it out, or switch back in the new england autumn. I suggest that you start with just owning one quality bag. I think a 15 degree bag would be a fine choice if your worried about being cold in the smokies. You can always have REI send you a summer bag anywhere along the trail that has a post office. Or buy a liner along the way. Why buy two now? Wait and see what you want once you’re a trail eating monster. Gear is easy to get on the trail, and you’ll have the luxury of many other opinions and outfitters.
Although many makers have fine products, I recommend the following brands in no order:
Western Moutaineering(very popular), Montbell(stretchy snug fit), Mountain Hardwear(rugged), Moonstone(odd sizes), Marmot(my choice), REI(inexpensive quality), blah, blah, blah. Make sure it fits and it’s cool! Just get one and go have fun.

Ablejack

#4

I also used just one bag for the whole hike. I had a 15 degree bag and a liner. I was glad for the 15 degree bag since I started on March 6 and had lots for snow and cold. When it got warmer I just unzipped it and used it like a comforter or slept with the liner only. I did sleep in the tent in the warmer weather to keep the bugs away when I used it as a comforter. Planning the same for my PCT hike.

Richard

#5

I think you have to consider how cold you get at night and what your budget is. If you have cash to blow, by all means buy the lightest bag for each season. That wasn’t the case with me. I got a 15 REI synthetic bag along with a silk liner. I was chilly at the beginning, but I’m generally colder than most folks. I kept the liner all summer, even in the awful heat, so my bag didn’t get grimy. It’s really easy to wash the liner in town once a week and it keeps things fresh (as well as limits spread of poison ivy and other unpleasant things). Lots of folks use just a fleece liner as their bag in the summer. I tried that for a few days, but we hit a weird cold spell and I decided I’d carry the extra weight for “just in case” situations.

I have to conclude with reassuring you that no decision is irreversible, and though people talk about shaving down weight… I was perfectly fine carrying a 15 synthetic bag the whole way. Getting the lightest gear is expensive, and truthfully a lot of the cheaper stuff will work just fine. If I did it, then you can too :slight_smile:

Chardonnay

#6

I think you have to consider how cold you get at night and what your budget is. If you have cash to blow, by all means buy the lightest bag for each season. That wasn’t the case with me. I got a 15 REI synthetic bag along with a silk liner. I was chilly at the beginning, but I’m generally colder than most folks. I kept the liner all summer, even in the awful heat, so my bag didn’t get grimy. It’s really easy to wash the liner in town once a week and it keeps things fresh (as well as limits spread of poison ivy and other unpleasant things). Lots of folks use just a fleece liner as their bag in the summer. I tried that for a few days, but we hit a weird cold spell and I decided I’d carry the extra weight for “just in case” situations.

I have to conclude with reassuring you that no decision is irreversible, and though people talk about shaving down weight… I was perfectly fine carrying a 15 synthetic bag the whole way. Getting the lightest gear is expensive, and truthfully a lot of the cheaper stuff will work just fine. If I did it, then you can too :slight_smile:

Chardonnay

#7

I left Springer March 17th in 02 and carried a synthetic 20 degree mummy. It got a little cold in Ga we had two 9 degree nites back to back around blood mountain,But I had also packed some military weight(med weight)polypro and some hand warmers to throw in the bottom of the bag. I made it fine. I bought a summer bag around Damascus(40 dgree plus but really didnt use it much. Id rather have the loft of a thicker bag. I just left it unzipped on hot nites.

Virginian

#8

I have a lightweight Lafuma summer bag that I will sell for $35 plus shipping. Send me an email if interested. I used a WM 20 degree bag until Parisburg VA and got it back in Hanover. I used a silk liner with both. I washed the liner every week and that did help keep the bags cleaner during the hike. It also made a light cover for those really hot nights. The summer bag is a synthetic and washes easily.

sleeveless

#9

i had a 15 degree synthetic bag w/out liner the whole trip. i washed the bag in Duncannon once. there were a couple cold nights in march and the smokies, but nothing that kept me from sleepin’. Brown baggin’ it didn’tmake me any warmer, but made me feel warmer which in not so desperate times is just as good. when hot, i just unzipped and used it as a blanket like you said you were going to do. Worked fine. if i could do it over again, i would have done the same but, gotten a lightweight down 15 instead of a synthetic. That extra pound - pound and a half really helps in the long run, plus a lot of down bags will compress smaller than synthetic, which will save room in your pack.

Slick B

#10

I know…seems silly, but I have a narrow temperature range, I am usually too hot or too cold. I started @ Springer 4/18/02 with my 15 degree MH down bag. I sweat in that thing almost every night, but this was a hot year (as Turkey Bacon - you’re the T/Ds talent show winner right? and Virginian mention), hot hot year.

I was able to zip it in the Smokies and had my old synthetic (I consider it a 30-35 degree bag now) sent to Damascus, it didn’t make it, so I bumped it to Marion. I could have gone to something lighter already, since it was early June.

In Waynesboro I finally found an outfitter with the Marmot Trails ($80 for basically a DriClime bag) and used that all the way to Cheshire MA and was only starting to get cold the last two days. I switched back to the synthetic from there to Hanover and then back into the down bag til the end 10/13.

Everyone does this differently, that summer most were using fleece bags only as it really was that hot. Sleeping was a challenge. Shelter and brave the no-see-ums or warmer tent and lay on top of my bag sweating still?

Some will tell you keep your “winter” bag (relative term, I have a true -20 winter bag for Northeastern winter camping) past the Smokies, past Mt Rogers, past some arbitrary benchmark. Keep it til you’re too hot for a week. It depends on your start date, that’s something no one seems to factor in. I started late and never had the GA cold temps. I wasn’t truly cold til the last days in the Wilderness and then I reveled in it. Walked into Glencliff that Sept with a record 96 degrees!! reee—dickk—ulous!

It is truly easy to switch this stuff from home or buy along the way, I had the first two bags already, so I didn’t have to go buy something ahead of time. I’ve now added another bag to the Sleeping Quiver and own an REI Sub Kilo (15 degree down) and that would probably suffice for a longer stretch. I’m a petite woman and sleep cold btw.

Bluebearee

#11

I think most people use two bags on the AT. A warm bag from Springer to Perrisburg (or Atkins) and then again from Manchester/Hanover to Katahdin. A lighter summer bag can be used in between those sections.

I have heard many stories of hikers switching to a summer bag in Damascus. Unless you are in Damascus in June, this is a bad idea. The trail goes up to 6,000 over Mt. Rogers and it can get very cold in May. In 2002 the summit of Mt. Rogers was covered in ice the weekend of Trail Days (May 18th).

Similarly, you don’t want to enter the White Mountains in NH with a summer bag. It can snow at anytime of the year on Mount Washington.

Radar

#12

Because I like to simplify my life (and that of whoever is helping me with mail back home) I prefer to only hike with a single bag for a whole trail. On the AT and PCT that meant a 20 degree bag. On my first CDT hike I used a 10 degree bag. If it’s hot, I sleep on top of the bag or with the zippers open. I sleep in a tent, so bugs aren’t a problem. If it’s cold, I wear more clothes and zip up to my eyeballs. Simplicity is good - and for me it works.

Ginny

#13

I am doing my first major hike this next year, and am glad this discussion came up…I am looking at sticking with just a 15 degree down bag, just because of money. Has anyone tried switching out the liners rather than the bags. I am thinking that using a 15 degree bag with a flannel or heavy cotton liner during the colder parts, and than switching to a silk liner, or light cotton one for the cold areas. Has anybody tried that? Does the liner itself make that much difference in the keeping you warm/cool? Just curious…

Jeff

#14

I meant to say a silk liner, or light cotton one for the WARM areas. That makes more sense :slight_smile:

Jeff

#15

I thru’d in a 30-degree bag in 05 and I also had a liner. (I’m also a cold sleeper.) In the summer I went to just my nylon liner (very similar to a silk one), and I would get a little chilly on a cloudless night or when cold fronts came through. Not chilly enough to keep me awake, but not totally comfortable. I kinda wished I had a summer bag. But aren’t those El Cheapo summer bags just like $30? Or heck, you could always get some cheap fleece blankets that would work great.

Although what helped is through the summer I still carried a medium-weight long-sleeve with me and I’d wear that at night. I also kept my winter hat throughout, and that helped the most.

If you switch to just a liner, though, be sure to get your regular bag back sooner than you think you should. take my word for that one.

0101

#16

Hey Jeff,
Liners might make a difference but what you wear will probably make more of a difference. Avoid cotton, period. It holds moister which can come from you or bad luck and rain. If you have access to a sewing machine then make one or multiple liners. Look at the end of hte fabric, it will say the content. Polyester or uncoated nylon is what you need. If you have a fleece or down jacket and pants, all your long underwear, etc, wear it to sleep in and it will make you warmer (that naked myth is no good). You could make a fleece liner and swicth it out with a silk weight liner but fleece clothing will be more versitile and probably weigh less.
Hey Blueberry,
I don’t remember winning the talent show, but did place high enough to get a kick arse day bag and sleeping pad which I still use both.
TB

TurkeyBacon02

#17

yeah, you’ll be fine in a 15-degree bag throughout the hike. Having it as an underquilt or blanket would be plenty warm and pretty comfortable.
But still you’ll want to keep long sleeves and long pants throughout the summer also, because bugs will chew you up in a shelter if you’re not covered.

0101