Cold weather sleeping bag recommendations

[Iraq Ninja]

Celt,

Are you packing it in or static?
Is it a dry or wet environment?
Is weight and size important?

Wiggys are tough, a bit heavy and bulky.

Kifaru only makes the regulator slick bag now. Their base bag and MOB are out of production...damn.

My current strategy is to factor in wearing my cold weather clothing (Wild things Happy Suit) inside the bag. I think this is same thinking the USMC is going towards in their new bag.

I had high hopes for the Guardian Sleep System from Bluewater/ADS but they don't seem to be for sale yet. I like the idea of a center zip bag with arm holes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH-Fk...layer_embedded

[Eurodriver]

My current strategy is to factor in wearing my cold weather clothing (Wild things Happy Suit) inside the bag. I think this is same thinking the USMC is going towards in their new bag.

...so now they get smart.

I never understood the logic (even though it worked) of designing a sleeping system that for best effect required you to get naked in order to keep warm...

[variablebinary]

...so now they get smart.

I never understood the logic (even though it worked) of designing a sleeping system that for best effect required you to get naked in order to keep warm...

I own several types of sleeping bags, and have used the issue sleep system and a vietnam era sleeping bag.

I've tried sleeping in ACU's, but respiration and sweat will damn near kill you once you step out the bag. Even bags with a waterproof/breathable membrane still feel humid inside by morning.

[Dave L.]

I've tried sleeping in ACU's, but respiration and sweat will damn near kill you once you step out the bag. Even bags with a waterproof/breathable membrane still feel humid inside by morning.

For Fall, Winter, and Spring, my favorite clothing to wear in a sleeping bag is the Patagonia Capilene 2 long sleeve and pants. They manage moisture much better than any Under Armour type garments.

[variablebinary]

For Fall, Winter, and Spring, my favorite clothing to wear in a sleeping bag is the Patagonia Capilene 2 long sleeve and pants. They manage moisture much better than any Under Armour type garments.

These days I just sleep in undies with an APFU shirt. ACU's get stuffed in a pillow sack so they are warm when you put them on, but dry.

[hatidua]

Although I'm only 6' tall, I always buy the "long" version of sleeping bags as that extra 6" in length provides a nice storage space at my feet for clothes that will already be warm when I put them on in the morning. When waking up in temperatures below 0*, having warm clothes to put on is worth carrying that extra 6" of bag.

Additionally, if a person is using a bag that isn't quite up to the task of the weather that is occurring, putting a couple of Nalgene bottles filled with hot water in the foot of the bag right before going to bed can help greatly, and will stay warm all night.

Lastly, it's a whole lot easier to partially unzip a -20* bag when it's -5* than it is to shiver all night in a 0* bag when it's -5*. I now try to always do the former as a result of too many nights doing the latter.

[Belmont31R]

IMO the best way is layering, and make sure before you go to bed you are dry and have some clean clothes on. If you go to bed with sweaty nuts and feet all that moisture will cool down, stink up your bag, and just contributes to a bad sleep.


Yeah keeping clothes in the bag to put on the morning is a good trick.



As far as brands theres quite a few good ones. Ive used REI brand and North Face just fine. I would be an REI member if you are not already and buy it from them. They have excellent service and returns if anything should happen.


Also keep the bag stored draped over a cedar hanger and put some pieces of cedar in the bag, too. Unless you are allergic to it cedar is a natural anti bacterial source and will keep it fresh. Just take them out when you go to use the bag.


If the bag flattens out (compressed fill) a few golf balls in the dryer with the bag on low or no heat will restore the loft.

[Eurodriver]

I've tried sleeping in ACU's, but respiration and sweat will damn near kill you once you step out the bag. Even bags with a waterproof/breathable membrane still feel humid inside by morning.

There is a trick to that... assuming you have a tarp, a cot, and a truck

The buttons on the tarp went down vertically from the bungee holding it to the truck, and the tarp was wrapped around the cot. It was right around freezing and I could sleep with the bag unzipped using it as a blanket.

Best few nights I ever spent in the field.