Hey JimB- How has the Big Agnes mattress held up for you? How heavy is it?
Matt
Matt,I have only got to use it a couple times.Mine is the Big Agnes insulated air core mummy pad,regular and weighs 21 oz. and has an R value of 4.1,rated to 15F.I read a lot of good reviews of it and I also really like it.

Lots and Lots of very good info guys! Thank you

lots of options lots to think about,
i was hoping to use a Very light tarp which i have used all over South Africa, Australia and England but im thinking it may not be a good idea using it here in the mountains, not worth it for the risk.
i would like to be able to carry my camp on my back and hunt but i dont want it in the way of my hunting/comfort. im thinking maybe setting up a small camp and hunting out of it for a few days then moving it, and repeating the process will be a better option.

thanks again for all the info ill look into all the options.

Andy

This is my most recent tent.I bought it a couple or three years ago.It is the MSR Zoid 1.Complete,it weighs about 3 1/2 lbs.the kicker is,it has a second option that is referred to as "Fast and Light Pitch".With this option,you leave the main tent body home.The rainfly(the tan part)is set up using the same poles and stakes and the footprint,is your shelter floor.This makes the same size and shape shelter but half the weight.With this option,you don't have the mosquito netting and there is some air space around ground level,where wind can come through.Your tarp shelter may work for you.It would be a good idea to take some short,"shake down" trips during the Summer when weather is less severe and you will get an idea of what you need before you are comitted on a longer,more serious trip.Keep in mind,that a shelter that you can close up to cut the wind,will make your sleeping bag feel 10 degrees warmer,than if you are more exposed to the wind.Check out  www.rei.com  there are a lot of options.They have a category for ultralight tents etc..I haven't done much shopping the past 2 years.New stuff is coming out all the time.It is a good place to compare weights and other specs plus the reviews from people using the stuff is invaluable.

I have a cabelas summit -20 magnum i can say i`ve never been cold in it. Great bag for the $$

The tarp method works great in the early season, basically till the end of September.  That is how I have done it for years.  You just have to watch the weather before you go and if it does start raining  at night I just roll up in it.  As far as bags, I have 2, one is 25 degree and one is 10.  You really want to try out quiet a few to make sure they fit you well, there is alot of difference from one to the other.

I'm looking at a Western Mountaineering bag.  Westernmountaineering.com  I'm lookin at the Badger GWS 15 degree mummy.

For a down bag Western Mountaineering hands down but see your banker first. Made in the USA highest down fill going 850. Check out their web site.  There is no  industry standard for establishing temp. rating on bags.  This info I got last year from a long time REI employee and REI doesn't handle Western Mountaineering.  I ended up with a North Face with the Climashield due to the moisture issues here in Oregon. The REI guy  told me the current synthetic bags were only rated for 150 nights sleep for 8 hours before they started to breakdown, High quality down bag are rated for over twice that which helps when comparing price.  Cold and dry down. Cold and damp synthetic.

For damp and not so very cold, I much prefer two or good woolen blankets, a set of long johns and a warm cap to sleep in. Throw your coat over your hips and you may be good to 20 degrees or so.

I always feel constricted in a sleeping bag and it can get clammy inside.

Woolen blankets have served well for centuries, and still can. - lbg

Go with a Wiggy's bag. Don't waste your cash on anything else..

I said earlier,I have the Western Mountaineering Kodiak and I love it.I chose it because it was a little roomier than the slim mummy I used years ago.I also liked the fact that Western Mountaineering has quite a few models with full length zipers and I consider this a must.It weighs 2 lbs 12 oz.It is a little warm for summer use and might even be more than is needed for Sept.I have been planning on getting a slightly lighter bag and the Versalite looks awfully nice.10F rating and weighs 2 lbs.Slightly less girth than the Kodiak but still not bad.Price is $410 for the 6' model.It might sound high but considering what we pay for bows and other equipment,probably not bad for a piece of equipment that could make or break a trip.The last things I want to scimp on are s.bag,mattress,tent and boots.http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=20

This might be a tad hard to track down, but well worth the search.

There's a brand of sleeping bags called "Wiggies". They supply the bags stuffed in jet ejection seats. Can be vacuum sealed, washed, etc. and it never looses loft or insulation value. The insulation is one piece, so it doesn't bunch like feathers do, it has one mean zipper AND the guy who makes them gaurantees the bag FOR LIFE, regardless of whether or not you are the original owner. I have had mine for 15 years (and I'VE USED THE HECK OUT OF IT).

Actually, when I bought mine 15 years ago it was REALLY HARD TO FIND. Now it's a click away... technology!

http://www.wiggys.com/

There ya go!

Wiggy's for me. In extreme cold, down traps the moisture from your body and when it freezes in the down there goes the loft.

I bought the -20 bag about ten years ago..Many winter campouts in the Catskills in open front leanto. There nothing better. If anything check the web site...

You can go with a pretty good bag and get away with it comfortably if you get a good bivy sack.  I have spent many tentless nights with that combo.

Hi Andy,
        Lots of great info on here.

Here's the bag I used in Colorado last Sept.

Gelert x-treme lite 1000.
comfort +1.0 - +5.9
Extreme rating  -14.3 C
1 kg

Was quite impressed with it, not sure how cold it got but there was a heavy frost every morning and was comfortable.

I took a light bivvi bag to use in the event I decided to spike out under a tarp but did'nt get round to it.


http://www.gelert.com/products/X-treme_Lite_1000.aspx

And under £40

Tradtusker.  If you're going to be bow hunting in Colorado, that means September, and quite frankly, it's usually dry and quite warm, sometimes very warm in September, even in the mountains.  You might have a couple days out of the month with some cold temperatures and rain or snow.  A bag rated for 20 degrees will be plenty.  Go with one rated for 0 degrees if you're cautious.  I've been backpack hunting for about 30 years now and have used down bags the entire time.  Can't say as I ever got one wet, including two weeks of solid rain in Alaska.  Folks have already given good advice re how to keep a bag dry.  Given where you'll be hunting, the time of year, and a modicum of woodmanship skills, a wet bag is a non issue.  Happy hunting.

QuoteOriginally posted by Wolfkiss:
Hi Andy,
        Lots of great info on here.

Here's the bag I used in Colorado last Sept.

Gelert x-treme lite 1000.
comfort +1.0 - +5.9
Extreme rating  -14.3 C
1 kg

Was quite impressed with it, not sure how cold it got but there was a heavy frost every morning and was comfortable.

I took a light bivvi bag to use in the event I decided to spike out under a tarp but did'nt get round to it.


 http://www.gelert.com/products/X-treme_Lite_1000.aspx  

And under £40

I have an X-treme Lite 800, they're well good little bags.

thanks guys

Another vote for Western Mountaineering, made in the USA. Supposedly today's down bags have more water resistant shells than before, but I still wouldn't take one sea kayaking in SE AK; Rocky mountains or the Sierras OK.