Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Summer bag?

Well, the post break-up plywood rush is on, and I'll be working enough OT the next 3 months to afford a cocaine and hooker hobby.

So lets just say that your favorite bag ever is a WM Badger, but you're looking for a 40 degree bag that's lighter and less bulkier. It doesn't have to be a downie... It doesn't have to be expensive either...

I figure you guys spend more time poring over specs an' [bleep] than I ever will.

You picked the brand and temp range already: my favorite summer bag is a WM "MityLite" semi-rectangular.

Second up is a thermarest fitted sheet and "Alpine Down Blanket" to fit a NeoAir which is rated at 35 degrees.

Before buying those, I used a (Slumberjack, I think) "Everest Elite" bag which was listed at 5 degrees .. yeah, 5 degrees my ass, it was comfortable to about 35-40 degrees. I still use it for couch-camping but those other two are enough lighter I'm not likely to pack this one very far.

I was searching for somethin' on the net the other day and came across a semi-rectangular rated at 50 degrees that was lighter yet and I thought that'd be awesome with a poncho liner for really warm mid-summer use but I can't find it anymore.

Tom

I'd go with a quilt myself. Then you can use the quilt along with the WM if it's really cold

WM Caribou is my spring/summer choice.

Heck I do that most of the time when I can spare the weight...just so nice crawling into a sleeping bag/quilt mound of down.

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+1 on the WM Mitylite ,i'm 6-2 200lbs and it fits just right.
Moutain Laurel Design quilt is nice too ,both together and a down coat is good to 10*.

+1

If I wasn't so fat I'd shag this in a heart beat! Pun intended

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___44162

I knew I should have paid attention in previous threads... Now there's a quiz

Educate me on quilts. Who makes them?

I really like the idea of doubling up a quilt with the Badger in the winter. I could see that happening.

Never used one of these but they look interesting:

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=133

Actually I want a summer quilt like the JRB Stealth/No Sniveler that has a head-hole, except in synthetic. Honorable mention goes to the Hill Bros for their design but, IMO, it falls short. The hood needs to be on the garment, not made into a Serape/blanket. A synthetic quilt with a synthetic vest that has a hood that can be attatched to either the vest or the quilt's head hole is the ticket, IMO. Only problem is you'll have to make it yourself

I really like my HPG mountain serape but I don't know that it would get down to 40 without some puffy clothes.

Several make quilts. Seek Outside even have a draft dodger quilt that is produced by enlightened equipment.

Dan, the Revelation X by Enlightened Equipment is very well regarded in hammock camping and in UL backpacking. I've got Kevin's Draft Dodger version, which adds a draft collar around the neck to help seal out drafts better. It's really a good value.

I've also got a 45� Montbell stretch spiral bag that is really nice. It's a synthetic and wasn't terribly expensive. The spiral stretchy bags montbell has out are really comfortable, and their stuff is high quality.

Kevin,

Was that the quilt you had at Winter Rondy? I was going to ask you about your whole sleep system you had there. I liked that bivy sack you had too...

I'm such a backcountry badass that I'm afraid of bugs....

Has anyone had experience with ZPacks quilts? Not exactly cheap, but look like they could do double duty over another bag for winter trips.

http://www.zpacks.com/quilts/sleepingbag.shtml

No but I've been eyeing one of their cuben/DWR bivies pretty hard. Hopefully to go with me SO "lightly insulated" bivy when it comes to fruition

I'm in the quilt/Woobie camp for those temps. No need 4 a bag.

For anyone looking for an inexpensive down quilt for backpacking in summer, MEC here in Canada, has one now on sale,which looks pretty decent for the price. Generally, their "brand" gear is quite good for the cost, some is kinda sad and some, such as their Canada-made merino base layers is as good or better than any big name brand one can buy.

I always try to buy Canadian, US-made,or northwest Yurp-made gear as much as possible and detest their policy of manufacturing in Asia, especially China, but, some items, such as running shells I need for walking-training, just seem all made there. Then, some folks, say with little people at home just cannot always afford the "name" gear made in North America or Yurp.

I don't care for quilts and prefer a very light down bag as the WM Alpenlite I had for a couple of years; I found the shoulder girth a bit too snug for my Neanderthal build and am going to have PHD in "Merrye Englande" do me a custom "Minima" U/L down sack.

Anyway, might look at the MEC site to see what you think.

For a cheap bag the REI traveler sack is hard to beat....27oz... synthetic....under 60 bucks....2 way zipper can configure different ways....
I literally just walked in the house from a backyard night of tenting with my 5 yr old son, and I stayed warm down to the mid 40's, and this bag is rated to 55. (I actually had the footbox unzipped half the night.) I did have a lightweight pair of duofolds on.

I strongly second the Montbell. I have a Montbell 0 (down) and 30 (syn). Love the stretch since I hate that claustrophobic feeling mummy bags give me - nothing like waking up multiple times in the night with moderate panic attacks