came across a few discounted bags at REI, and was thinking of getting an additional bag
Will primarily be a backup, but I dont have and 'old' bag that friends can use, and I thought it would be a good thing to have so they cant use that as a excuse to not come out
as such i really am not concerned about the bags weighing 3-4lbs, hey i dont gotta cary it plz:
Kelty Taiga +15 Sleeping Bag
Alps Mountaineering Clearwater MX +20
Sierra Designs Wild Bill +20
I dont have any experience with bags made by any of them, mostly I am wondering about the rating, are they being generous?
Attachments
Kelty Taiga +15 Sleeping Bag
A superb choice for weekend adventures, Kelty 15°F Taiga mummy bag is packed with functional features and made with cozy materials.
* Two-layer offset quilted construction with a third layer over the chest maximizes the warmth of lightweight, durable Thermolite® insulation * Features a tough ripstop nylon shell with a silky polyester taffeta lining * Hood with differentiated drawcords, full-length zipper with draft tube and anti-snag tape, and ground-level side seams all keep in the warmth * Differential cut allows insulation to loft fully for maximum warmth * Pad loops provide attachment points to keep your sleeping bag and pad together so you don't roll off onto the cold ground (straps sold separately) * Internal loops allow attachment of coordinating Kelty Sleeping Bag Liner, sold separately * Hang loops allow easy drying and storage * Stuff sack included
Alps Mountaineering Clearwater MX +20
Super comfortable and warm, this mummy bag is suitable for three-season backpacking—and you can't beat the price!
* Polyester insulation has a tremendous warmth-to-weight ratio, creating a warm bag with low weight and bulk * Double-layer construction for increased loft with no cold spots * Full-length draft tube keeps cold air from penetrating the durable two-way zipper * Compression stuff sack included
Sierra Designs Wild Bill +20
The Sierra Designs Wild Bill three-season bag will make your nights on the trail truly restful, especially considering the great savings!
* Climashield™ HL, a continuous filament insulation, insulates even when wet to keep you warm, dry and comfortable * Chest pocket keeps all your essentials—headlamp, watch, glasses—right at hand and easy to find even in the dark * Ergonomic, nonrestrictive hood cradles your head in warmth * Differentiated drawcords (one round, one flat) let you adjust hood and neck easily in the dark * Stuff extra clothes into the hood's pocket to create a pillow; no need for a pillow to take up valuable space in your backpack * Insulated draft tube backing full-length zipper helps prevent cold air from seeping through * Pad Locks™ at the shoulders and hips keep your bag and sleeping pad together for a good night's sleep * Includes nylon stuff sack and cotton storage bag
An adventure is merely an inconvience rightly considered
I wouldn't say the temperature ratings are generous; I'd say they are optimistic. I don't have any experience with these bags, but I do own a Sierrra Designs 20º bag. I use it for car camping, and for backpacking trips that are going to be rainy, since the bag is waterproof/breathable. It's been a great bag.
"I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals; I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants." A. Whitney Brown
Funny - I wasnt even in the market for a bag, noticed cheap ones thought huh an extra, now im looking for a new one for myself rather than a backup or friends use
im thinking of one of the following two, probably the first as i really enjoy cold weather backpacking
Attachments
MontBell Super Stretch Down Hugger #1 2 lb. 14 oz.(Reg) / 3 lb. 2 oz.(Long)
Equipped with MontBell's Super Stretch system to help enhance the thermal performance of the 650 power fill down insulation, the Super Stretch Down Hugger #1 helps keep the down hear your body while still allowing it to fully loft. Other features such as a tunnel hood, neck baffle, draft tube and foot box adjuster help to round out this great winter bag in conditions that won't drop belowe 15 degrees.
MontBell "U.L. Alpine Down Hugger #3" 1 lb. 5 oz. (Reg) / 1 lb. 7 oz. (Long)
Featuring high quality 800 fill power down, the U.L. Alpine Down Hugger #3 also has a DWR coating on its shell to help deal with condensation. The Gathered Quilt System allows the down to stay lofted while also pulling it closer to your body, allowing for more efficient use of heat. This bag is rated to keep you warm down to 30 degrees, so it is perfect for milder conditions.
An adventure is merely an inconvience rightly considered
I love my Montbell UL Super Stretch Down bag, I have the #7 which is a 50 degree and I've used it in the high 30's. Been comfortable in the 40's with it and a liner. The first link on sale isn't the UL model though, the second one isn't the Super Stretch but I'm sure it's still a good bag.
Check with MikeInFHAZ, I remember a while back he had a Montbell UL SS Bag (I think the #3) for like $170. I keep wanting to pick it up.
I used to have the thunderbolt by s.d. That thing saved my @$$ one night, just ask te-wa and desertroux, that waterproof material is awesome
No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength
you might want to try the stretch system before you buy it. Or, you might be ditching the bag just like I did with the one I had.
If you really want quality, for dang near the same price as those Chinese made bags by Mont-Bell, just look at Western Mountaineering. The Ultralight Super is the end all of quality down bags for Arizona. You will never have to buy a down bag again.
or, try a quilt, which is like a bag but without a bottom (hence saving the weight of useless insulation and fabric that wont do any good once compressed) I have the Jacks R Better "Hudson River" a 19 ounce 30 degree quilt that feels like your comforter at home. Quilts may not be for you, but they sure are dang useful, and versatile. Personally, Im done with mummy bags unless its around 20° or less.
In real estate there's the age-old saying "location, location, location" - in backpacking, the age-old saying is "Western Mountaineering, Western Mountaineering, Western Mountaineering". "Quality... marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and mere usefulness achieved". ~ Willa A. Foste
But, HEY, if you don't have to USE it, try craigslist
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
I'll also recomend Western Mountaineering, as a matter of fact i'll be picking up one of their bags to day (The Highlite, 35 degrees and only 1 lb, oh boy oh boy!)
No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength
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plz: 
