Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting best sleeping bag?

They make down bags now? I have a synthetic and like it.

Thanks everyone.

I'm 6'1" and 180 pounds, so need a relatively long bag. I have never been real comfortable in mummy bags...I guess I roll around a lot.

I will use this bag in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho mainly, but do wander up to Alaska for hunts every few years.

Mont Bell makes an EXP Long, super stretch, ultra light down Bag that has gotten me through a few cold Montana nights.

I'm 6'-4" and 235 lbs... it's snug, warm and the stretch feature made it comfortable.

I bought a Northface Furnace 20 'long bag' a couple of years ago from Cabela's. I've been happy with it so far. I'm about your size and can sleep comfortably on my side in it. Only downfall is the snaggy zipper. Can't zip up super fast.

The trick is to not roll inside the bag like you are home under your covers.

*Wear* the bag and have it move with you. Works for me.

Become one with the bag?

I'd check out a kifaru synthetic fill bag if wet weather is on the menu. They are vastly improved over the earlier versions.

Yeah, more or less like a garment.

yanno wut I mean Vern?

A mere garment? Not very zen-like, I'm disappointed.

I move around when I sleep. A good quilt took back-country sleeping from "tolerable" to "enjoyable" for me.

Thanks everyone. I ordered a Kifaru slick +20 and a compression sack. I didn't see any down sleeping bags on their website, and they really only have one bag...the slick...so I am not sure where folks are finding their down bag. I decided to go synthetic because of my Alaskan hunts I do every few years (including this year).

I came really close to ordering a WM alpenlite but just haven't had luck with mummys...I still may order one though for ultralight elk hunts and golden trout trips.

I don't see the need for the 0 degree and less bags...even snowcock hunting in 3 feet of snow my old, cheaper 20+ bag was fine when kept dry and I had a good pair of socks on.

You will really like the slick bag. I have had several. Good call on the compression sack too. They are, in my opinion, quite ingenious and they are very effective at compressing those bags.

I took my family of four to the Armijo Springs gathering outside Quemado, NM last week. We had intermittent rain all three days, which turned out great, because it kept the dust down and moistened the splendid forest enough that the shooting events could proceed without fear of brush fires.

Being a former Boy Scout, I brought a 12x12 Cabelas Extreme Weather Tent with both the pitch kit extra floor and yet another big Harbor Freight tarp (11x19) below that. We were completely dry in there.

Armijo Springs is at roughly 7500 feet altitude. I did not take that into account, as it was cooler than expected. My wife, who had never camped or spent the night in a tent, noted that she was cold in our summer sleeping bags, and I was too. Extra clothing would have helped.

With that heavy tent, I simply figure that some extra blankets or even better, light quilts, would provide the extra warmth needed for camping around here.

Lots of folks into camping are praising the Costco $20 "Double Black Diamond Packable Down Throw" which sells in packs of two. In fact, there are several videos on You Tube reviewing them and showing how to sew them up for various purposes. Now, they are cheap, with thin battens, cheap sewing and duck down, made in China, but each comes with a stuff sack and 400 gauge fabric.

I bought four from Costco.com online, since I could not find them in the Albuquerque stores. For less than 100 bucks including the shipping, I figure this is a cheap way to serve my purpose. Other cheap people evidently feel the same way.

Cheap is great for car camping in summertime.

Check the Norsens Camping Backpacking https://goo.gl/bjLMzS what I love is 100%cotton inside and outside 100% water-proof, very light to carry

After using Enlightened Equipments quilts, I don't think I'll be going back to a traditional sleeping bag anytime soon. My son and I use the convert which can be zipped up into a bag if you want. With an insulated pad of R5 or so it is almost better than sleeping at home.

Because I'm an idjit and wrote Kifaru when I meant Kuiu.............sorry to confuse......


Casey

Marmot Helium 15 down. I own two of them, both around 8 to 10 years old. Not sure it's the "best" bag, but they've sure worked great for me. Light weight, pack down really small and are accurate to the temp rating, at least on a good inflatable insulated pad. The shells have lasted really well over the years, but I don't abuse them and they are usually inside a bivy sack as well. The down has kept its loft, I hang them in the closet in the off season and do not wash them unless I have to, the. I use some sort of tech wash used for down in a large front lid washer, and throw a couple tennis balls in my large dryer. I've probably only washed them a couple of times. They are holding up well. I think I payed $350+ for hem back when I bought them.

+1 on the Montbell bags.... the stretch is fantastic, especially if your a big guy who likes to turn/move ..... and they're light. (watch out for wet down).

I have an older UL SS Downhugger #1 (Long.... I'm 6'1 and 230#) and use it with a thermarest NeoAir Xtherm pad.... Been down to the single digit temps in a tent and didn't get cold.

The stretch was the main reason I bought it... and I have no regrets. I woudn't say the montbells are the most durable bags, but I've always had a tipi or waterproof bivvy to sleep in, so mine has held up.

I would love to try a quilt sometime, just to see.

Cheers,
A