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

Be sure to wax your legs and inner thighs. Nobody wants to see bush Jman 😂😎

I ran a quilt last year, and while this is my experience only, I’m not using a quilt in cold weather again! I bought a Katabatic Flex 15 which is a high quality quilt and while it was great during early season in September, but in 15 deg weather in Oct constantly trying to tuck chit underneath to combat drafts was a pain in the ass. I’m a side sleeper and it did afford me the ability to move around more , but when it was cold I just wanted to be warm more than anything. I’ll use a quilt in early season but for colder weather hunts I’m using a quality down bag.

Cub, you'd have been fine in a 0 with an average pad?

The EE headloom is amazing and I suspect lifts a quilt rating up a bit, especially when your head is sweating. Get it for the add-on price when you buy a quilt. I stuff it in my quilt bag....

It wasn’t the temp of my quilt that was the problem once I got it all sucked up I’d be fine, I move around a lot when I’m sleeping and the ritual of constantly making sure there were no drafts just annoyed me. Or waking up after I had moved in my sleep and realizing I had cold air coming in. It might be ok for guys that don’t twist and turn, but for me it was a pain.

How wide is your quilt? I'm also a side sleeper. I went with a 65" one and have no problems keeping it tucked in. I use a strap on the back side and just tuck the other side under me.

Yeah...

Especially when I'm hunting in the mountains backpacking, my sleep is not as good as my own bed. I turn. A lot. If you set the quilt up with your pad properly, it's a non issue in my experiences.

I bought the wide which is 67”, I had straps too. Hey like I said this was just my experience , if a quilt works for you great. I just won’t be using one during late season when the temps drop. I think it’s just how much I move around that was my problem, if I could just curl up on my side and sleep all night in that position with everything tucked in just right then I’d be fine, but that’s not the case for me.

+1

I got mine wider and longer than I thought I needed. I definitely don’t regret it. On the cold nights I cinch the strap around my Xtherm Max
Large pad. I also use a Borah SnowyEvent bivy unless I’m in an enclosed tent. Being a side sleeper that tosses and turns is what drove me to the quilt in the first place. Best sleeping system change I ever made.

Just now reading this thread. Would you expand on your comments. I'm curious as to your reasons. Thanks -tnscouter

Mine is a 10 degree quilt. A couple years ago, I bought a very light weight down blanket from Costco, 60x70". I've never used it so I rigged it to go inside the quilt. It added about 10 degrees. I just sewed across the bottom and up the side about a foot. Then I added a couple buckles to attach it to the strap. It works great. It'll actually make the quilt better in warm weather as I can pull 1 or the other over me as the temp dictates. It's as light as a bag liner and more versatile.

The quilt is a UGQ. They have a strap with toggles that are less than convenient. EE uses small buckles that work better so I got some from them and converted mine to those.

My EE Revelation is actually a 10 deg quilt, but I wish I would have gotten the 0 deg. Funny thing, I also picked up a couple of Costco down quilts, and I pack one with me when it’s really cold (sub 0) as a backup addition to go under my EE.

Western Mountaineering Kodiak.




End of story.

oh go on now............

I'm late here, but disagree. I've used quite a few times way below zero with no vapor barrier. I would guess 95% of subzero usage of down bags is without a VB. This by folks who know what they are doing. I have never used a down bag with treated down, or one of the new wonder fabrics like GoreTex. But these barriers are "one-way-permeable", and not vapor barriers.

My experience is finite, but includes temps from -20 to 0 in a dry environment, as well as 0 to 32 in a varied environment. In all cases I was fortunate to keep my bag completely free of atmospheric dampness, so all moisture came from my body only.This is no small thing, as 200 lbs of human looses a lot of vapor. Also, I usually have at least some time to let the bag air or even sit in the sun, even if cold out. I have used vapor barriers on my feet with boots, and they suck maximally, but work. Haven't needed them in a bag.

I agree that a down bag, once wet, is very tough to manage and may be a deal-ender.

Last night it was 10 where we camped. It was the 1st time I've used my new 10 degree quilt. As I mentioned before, I put a Costco down blanket inside it plus I wore milsurp wool long underwear. I slept just fine.

Just received my Western Mountaineering MF Sequoia from Hermit’s Hut yesterday. Looks great, got free overfill. Highly recommend Hermit’s Hut.

I’m hearing interesting things about the ‘new’ treated down.
Down bags just feel so darned good!

Westetn Mountaineering has not failed me.