I have a 0 degree down bag that is great for warmth, light weight, and compressability. However, as it is down, it is terrible in wet conditions. Accordingly, I want a 0 degree synthetic bag that comes as close to possible to emulating the qualities of down. As part of my research on the right bag for me - I want to start by asking for your thoughts on good synthetic 0 degree bags.
Thanks
try EMS.
I have a wiggy's bag I really like. You can really compress them down small. The military uses them, once in a while you'll see them in the surplus stores.
John
Wiggy's Lamilite insulation or the new Climashield insulation that you find, for example, in TNF Snowshoe bag. The quality and features of the bags themselves will make a difference too, of course, so you'll have to try the bags out for fit and feel to fine tune the search.
Kifaru has a newer bag out with the climashield insulation that is supposed to be good also, but the price is higher than the othe two that I mentioned.
Synthetics are nice, but they will not compress like down. You could also consider a waterproof bivy sack to put over your down bag.
I recommend going somewhere you can handle the bags before you buy one. If compressability is an issue, you'll want to scrutinize them in a packed state, unpack it and then see if you can get it back to the small size you want. My experience has been that they are hard to get into a small package once they have been unpacked. Also, it is very important to keep your synthetic back unpacked and not compressed when storing it. Wiggy's bags will have about the longest lifespan under compression.
If getting the bag into a small stuff sack isn't a concern, then you have a ton of good options. Wiggy's makes a good bag.
I have tried the bivy sack option with my down bag - it didn't work as well as I would have hoped. Plus the weight and size of the sack compromised the weight and size values of the down bag.
After synthetic fill - warmth to weight is my primary consideration - compressability is a nice to have feature.
I agree that that bags should be stored "loose" to maintain loft.
I agree completely about handling bags (and most anything else) before buying.
Andrew, John, Steve, and Jeff - I appreciate the input.
Try a Big Agnes bag with the insulated air core pad! You won't regret it.
Also have a Wiggy's that I really like.
0 degrees is mighty warm, even for a down bag. A synthetic bag rated to 0 degrees might be unacceptably bulky. Unless I knew I was going to be regularly sleeping in sub-zero temperature, I would rather get a 15 degree bag and bring extra layers of long underwear.
Another thing that will help if it's really cold is a well made tent that is no bigger than you need. You can lose a lot of heat trying to warm up a big tent.
down bag in goretex bivy, or down bag with waterproof laminate, like the Conduit SL by Mountain Hardwear, for exemple. other brands have it, cheaper or more expensive. a few sites:
mountaingear.com
campmor.com
ems
rei.com
mountaintools.com
I prefer BA bags with the full length sleeve built in the bag bottom to insert your pad. This eliminates the bulk of insulation on the bottom of the bag. The added bonus is you'll never slide off your pad.
I tolerate cold a bit better than most and I use a 15degree Encampment and do well where others may prefer a 0degree bag. I did a five day backpack hunt with this bag where the daytime temps were never above freezing and the highest overnight temps were 17degrees. This hunt came directly behind a five day bear hunt out of a spike camp sleeping in the same bag. I only used a thin ethafoam German military fold up pad along with a 3/4length ultra light air pad and the BA felt like a feather matress to me after a days hunt when I hit the sack at night.
later,
Daddy Bear
If it's o degrees, could there really be any risk of getting it wet?
1 more for wiggy bags they are grt use my in the boundary waters alot.
Big Agnes with their Insulated Air Core pad is the most comfortable sleeping bag system there is.
My down bag is a Big Agnes. Very nice and having a place to put the pad is an extra bonus.
wouldn't buy anything other than Wiggy's, plus awesome customer service.
bought mine from a large outdoor chain that begins with a c., it cost less than 150.00. it has three different kinds of synthetic insulation warm as any sleeping bag made - but bulky and heavy. the most expensive sleeping bags are the lightest and most compact, and are not usually the warmest. the most important feature for any cold weather sleeping bag is to have an enclosed foot area, the zipper should start somewhere around your knee.
JDice,
Anything by Northface!! I am very cold natured and have found the temp ratings don't mean anything....at least for me that is. I'm a hot weather Texas boy and can't stand to be cold...at all. So I got a Northface sythetic bag that is rated for 40 below (don't laugh) for my September elk hunts. Last September was my first hunt with it and for the first time ever I was warm at night. Northface makes excellent equipment and they have bags of various temp ratings.
Brett