Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Recommendations on a zero degree bag?

805, mine is an ancient Chouinard / Zero Point model. But if I were getting a new one I'd probably go with Western Mountaineering. Seems like it's about the lightest out there, and everything they do is well thought out...

David,

I picked up a Nemo Riff earlier last year. I believe that's the 15 degree version. Used it up elk hunting in early September so it didn't get real cold but did get to the mid 20's a couple of nights. This is the first down bag I've ever tried and it was different. Definitely see why you need a good pad to go along with it. I did get kind of warm a few times and just used it like a blanket. But the shape of the bag is very roomy in the right spots. I didn't like the traditional mummy bags I tried on as they were a bit too restrictive for my liking. I'm 5'-9" and run a bit over 165 and this is a very comfortable bag.

Kurt

FWIW, I've got a group of friends that Climb Hood and the likes in the Cascades at not very friendly times of the year and they all like Sierra Designs bags. My son has one that's been very solid performer. All synthetic's so they tend to be a lil on the heavy side. We both love our Sea to Summit Cocoon silk liners which can add about 9* of warmth. Take lots of Pics I hope your trip goes well!!!

I have a North Face Inferno -20F that I use for winter bivi hunts. I have been happy with it. Also, it wasn’t as expensive as some competing brands.

If I were in the buy once cry once mode for a zero degree bag it would come down to two brands

Western Mountaineering - Antelope
This is actually a five degree bag but for approx $35 extra you can get them to do an overfill which will add some additional warmth.

Marmot - Lithium
I have spent some miserable nights in Marmot bags just because I was too warm.
I have owned two different Marmot bags. I have a 15 degree Marmot Pinnacle (the model has been discontinued). I have had it in the mid 20s and had to keep it almost completely unzipped. I remember once I was backpacked in and came back to camp cold and tired. I ate a quick dinner and crawled in the bag. I was really cold so I zipped it all the way up and went promptly to sleep (temp was in the low 30s). I woke up a couple of hours later bathed in sweat and was overheated so bad that I was nauseated. I crawled out of the bag and went and stood outside in my underwear in 33 degree weather just to cool down.

I also owned a zero degree Marmot bag that l foolishly sold. I used that bag in November at 8400 ft elevation with my tent pitched on top of the snow. I still had to sleep with it completely unzipped and draped over me like a blanket.

If you want to stay warm invest in a good pad. In cold temps I use two (full length foam pad with a 3/4 length Thermarest).
Also, you will stay warmer if you eat carbs right before bedtime. A Hershey bar is a guilty pleasure and will help to keep you warm.

I promise you that you climb into a Western Mountaineering Kodiak and you will fall in love.

I’m leaning heavily toward the WM Versalite 10* bag, because I like a roomy shoulder area and a roomy foot box.

Does Marmot make anything like that?

David, I have a Versalite. It’s a good bag. I have a WM Superlite for summer.

The closest bag Marmot makes to the Versalite is the Helium.

If you get a Western Mountaineering bag get it from Hermits Hut. They offer free overfill, something I’d recommend.

https://hermitshut.com/products/western-mountaineering-versalite-sleeping-bag

Thanks, Brad.

I found this: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-sleeping-bag-down-cold-weather

Lots of WM bags on that list.

David at our house, since1992, we’ve had total of 7 Western Mountaineering bags... we’re presently down to 3

For me, there’s no other I’d own, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other good bags out there, including Marmot.

I have had great luck with Feathered Friends, but WM and Valandre seem to be maybe just a bit loftier. All 3 make terrific bags. Marmot offers 95%+ of the performance and you can actually find them on sale once in a while...

I would go WM if I could swing it or Marmot if not.
Can’t think of much worse than a vapor barrier between me and the bag. Yuk.

When it's below zero it's critical in a down bag... but you've got to have synthetics on over the skin.

I have used VBLs, and hate sleeping in the things. For me for tips of 4 or less nights Id rather have a bag that enough loft to function even after several nights use and forgo the VBL. Much more than 4 nights or so and you will need a VBL unless you can air or dry the bag during the day.

i stopped buying cheap bags, for me its western mountaineering all the way.

You're not talking about below zero temps obviously as "air drying" a bag at -5F is not going to get you anything, unless you have strong sunlight, then a bit of solar action will help break down ice crystals.

Again, when most people say they don't like a VBL, they're usually talking about using it in temps above 0*F, but below 32*F... that's the temp range where I DON'T use a VBL.

I have enough nights well below 0 to know I would rather not use the VBL unless I needed it to maintain a dry bag. Back in my 20's and early 30's I hung out with a bunch of folks who did quite a bit of winter stuff in the Adirondacks, NH and CO with a trip Denali and one to South America. ( I did the did the Denali trip, but not the SA trip) In the Adirondacks or NH nights below -10 were the the norm. Maybe it was just our group but none of them used a VBL except when we thought we needed it for moisture management. Its possible that our group was unusual in our equipment choices, or times have changed.

My original winter bag back in the day was a marmot cwm (with the Gore dry something shell), I followed it with a WM Puma which I still have and now I also have a Marmot Col which came from a friends estate. The CWM and Puma will keep me warm even after several nights out without a VBL.

I don't do as much of that stuff as I used to, my old friends have moved onto other activities and I am not in the shape I was at 30. Its possible the equipment tech has changed. back in the day we all bought super warm bags ( or so we thought) even if they were heavy, in fact a lot of our winter gear was pretty heavy. Perhaps a lighter bag with a VBL is more the norm now. Its also true that the weather has moderated. 30 years ago overnight lows in the NE mountains of -20 to -30 were not uncommon. in my last few winter trips its been above zero, heck least year I did a couple of the Adirondack peaks and I took a quilt not a bag.

Yeah, I came of age doing winter trips in the Presidentials and ADK in the 1970’s, before I moved West. I got a NF Ibex bag in 1976, which was the state of the art in that era for a -15* bag. My first week long trip saw temps -15/-20* at night, no higher than zero during the day. I lost insulation rapidly and by day five had essentially a +15 bag. By 1978 I switched to a synthetic bag rated to -20* and never had an issue. Later in the early 80’s I switched back to a down USA made Marmot w/ Goretex shell, and that’s when I went to a VBL. But that early trip of losing loft seared in my consciousness the need for a VBL, and I’d never contemplate an extended winter trip without one. But I’ve never been a “heavy sweater”, and will only use the VBL with capilene-type synthetIcs on... I don’t find VBL’s obnoxious, but everyone’s experience is uniquely their own.

I agree. Unless wood heat is somehow part of the trip plan, I always bring my ID VBL on any trips longer than a couple nights. From Oct on up here.

I'm wondering about your destination and a possible differences in culture/translation. The guides on Killamanjaro suggest a 0° rated bag. Are you sure that 0° is Fahrenheit? all the discussion I've seen on this thread assumes Fahrenheit degrees. Nobody in the world except the USA uses °F anymore. Is it possible the they meant 0° Celsius? That would change the bag required considerably. You might want to confirm the units of measurement before you buy.