Sub Zero sleeping bags

[huntergal]

Northface is the only brand I am really familiar with. I have yet to ever be in a situation where I have had to see if my bag works to it's rating, but I have never been uncomfortable in my sleeping bag, even on chilly nights when the temp dipped near freezing. Everyone else who commented have much more experience than I do.

[Gunny Webb]

There are many good sleeping bags out there. I like a super lightweight one, and I tend to sleep coldat night. When I get still my blood pressure drops to 90 over 50 and I have no body fat. Western Mountaineering bags are the only ones that keep me warm. After 10 bags and countless cold nights I dropped the 450 dollars, although it really chaffed my tail. But after sleeping in 5 inchess of snow and being toastie all night, it was a great buy.
If weight isn't a biggie, there are countless 4-5 lbs bags for less than $200 that go down to -40 degrees.

[Theosus]

I have an old military bag that works very well. I slept in it down to the teens, in socks and boxers and was warm, except my nose which was sticking out of the hole. But the thing would never be a backpackers bag. It weighs around ten or twelve pounds, and is made of what feels like duck canvas outside. You could probably put it in a 45 liter pack, and still have room for your stove. Makes for great car camping. I just wish I heard of a sleeping pad when I used to use it...

[ppine]

Wearing a really warm hat, like a mad bomber with rabbit fur, really helps the comfort level when it gets below about 10 degrees. Insulation from the ground becomes more important too and one might take more than one pad.

I like a bag inside another bag for really cold conditions.

[Gunny Webb]

Got to say I'll second the Western Mountaineering bags. You spend $450 but you get your money's worth. I have used several other bags and stayed cold. I have no body fat and my blood pressure drops to nothng when sleeping, so I sleep big time cold. The WM bags are top shelf quality, sleep toastie, and pack to the size of a volley ball.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by Theosus

I have an old military bag that works very well. I slept in it down to the teens, in socks and boxers and was warm, except my nose which was sticking out of the hole. But the thing would never be a backpackers bag. It weighs around ten or twelve pounds, and is made of what feels like duck canvas outside. You could probably put it in a 45 liter pack, and still have room for your stove. Makes for great car camping. I just wish I heard of a sleeping pad when I used to use it...

Hi...


You're describing one I've had for years, made for military use. Mine was a mummy bag...part of a cold weather set. The other part was a rectangular sleeping bag that was the outer cover. Together they were designed for sub-zero temps. The outer one also unzipped to make a comforter, which was the way I usually used it. Both parts were down/feather filled.

And you're right, as good as it was, they weren't made for backpacking.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by Grandpa

I might add, proper hydration and nutrition makes all the comfort difference in the world. You let yourself go a little too long without a drink and you will be cold in any bag.

But drink too much and you have to get out to pee in the middle of the night. That isn't fun.


To basically echo what others say a -10 bag might be comfortable for you in -10 weather. The brand of the bag matters and so does the person sleeping in it.

Two people in identical bags sleeping in identical weather may have vastly different levels of comfort. For example my wife and I use LaFuma bags rated at 50 degrees for our summer camping. There have been nights where the temps dropped into the 50's and I was perfectly comfortable and my wife froze.

We both have 0 degree bags (different brands). My wife is comfy down to about 20 but adds an overbag for anything under that while I'm sweating at 20 degrees and leave the bag partially unzipped, but totally comfortable at zero.