Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
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Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
I’m in the market for a -20 to -40 sleeping bag and looking for recommendations.
In my initial research, I’ve looked at Western Mountaineering (Bison GWS, Puma MF, Puma GWS), Feathered Friends Snow Goose, Mountain Hardwear (Wraith, Lamina), Mont Bell Down Hugger 800 EXP and Marmot (CWM MemBrain, Col MemBrain).
Factoring in cost, weight and warmth together it seems like the Marmot CWM MemBrain is the best deal. Anyone have experience with this bag? Any others you’d recommend?
Bag Degree Fill Fill Weight Weight Price
Marmot CWM MemBrain -40 800+ 44oz 4lbs 8.89oz $699
Western Mtneering Bison GWS (gore windstopper) -40 850+ 42oz 4 lb. 10 oz. $1,065
Feathered Friends Snow Goose EX -40 -40 850+ 42.7 oz 4 lb 3 oz $899
Mountain Hardwear Men's Lamina -30 (Regular) -30 synthetic synthetic 5 lb. 1 oz. $300
Western Mtneering Puma MF (microfiber) -25 850+ 36 oz 3lbs.7 oz. $825
Western Mtneering Puma GWS (gore windstopper) -25 850+ 37 oz 3 lbs. 12 oz $940
Mountain Hardwear Wraith -20 800+ 36 oz 4 lb. 6 oz. $900
Marmot Col MemBrain -20 800+ 38oz 3lbs 14.59oz $649
Mont Bell Down Hugger 800 EXP -20 800+ 38oz 3lbs.7 oz. $689
In my initial research, I’ve looked at Western Mountaineering (Bison GWS, Puma MF, Puma GWS), Feathered Friends Snow Goose, Mountain Hardwear (Wraith, Lamina), Mont Bell Down Hugger 800 EXP and Marmot (CWM MemBrain, Col MemBrain).
Factoring in cost, weight and warmth together it seems like the Marmot CWM MemBrain is the best deal. Anyone have experience with this bag? Any others you’d recommend?
Bag Degree Fill Fill Weight Weight Price
Marmot CWM MemBrain -40 800+ 44oz 4lbs 8.89oz $699
Western Mtneering Bison GWS (gore windstopper) -40 850+ 42oz 4 lb. 10 oz. $1,065
Feathered Friends Snow Goose EX -40 -40 850+ 42.7 oz 4 lb 3 oz $899
Mountain Hardwear Men's Lamina -30 (Regular) -30 synthetic synthetic 5 lb. 1 oz. $300
Western Mtneering Puma MF (microfiber) -25 850+ 36 oz 3lbs.7 oz. $825
Western Mtneering Puma GWS (gore windstopper) -25 850+ 37 oz 3 lbs. 12 oz $940
Mountain Hardwear Wraith -20 800+ 36 oz 4 lb. 6 oz. $900
Marmot Col MemBrain -20 800+ 38oz 3lbs 14.59oz $649
Mont Bell Down Hugger 800 EXP -20 800+ 38oz 3lbs.7 oz. $689
Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
REI Down -20 Bag is all you need for anything ever. Its just over $500 and has a reasonable weight. I have used it a ton and I love it
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- bergsteigen
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
My -50 bag sure came in handy on a couple trips in AK in winterI Man wrote:REI Down -20 Bag is all you need for anything ever.
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- snowypeaks
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
There is a lot more to a bag than the temperature rating, which can vary hugely from person to person. Also, what other stuff is going to be in the bag with you? Anyway, I am a huge Western Mountaineering fan based on quality and design (materials, workmanship, more shoulder girth, big foot box, great cozy hood). And yup, price is a drag but when your life is on the line… I used a WM Bison GTX and would do it again assuming that you have a serious peak/trip in your future. Get a good pad too! Have fun!
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering without a doubt.
If you've got some down pants and jacket, you could easily go for a -10 or 0 degree bag if you're a warm sleeper. As someone else mentioned, there a lot of factors determining your personal bag rating. A few handy winter camping tips can boost a bags rating too.
If you've got some down pants and jacket, you could easily go for a -10 or 0 degree bag if you're a warm sleeper. As someone else mentioned, there a lot of factors determining your personal bag rating. A few handy winter camping tips can boost a bags rating too.
- TallGrass
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
Sometimes it helps to separate the "must have specs" from the "be nice if" ones. Then compare options and specs to tailor fit. Last are perks and price.
For me, I was looking for the smallest packed bag good to about freezing which quickly narrowed it down to a mummy (no square bags) with at least 800 down (best compressibility). Price was a lesser factor because I've both "bought cheap, bought twice" and "paid more for better, paid off in long run." Result was a MHW Phantom 32, little more than I budgeted but it paid off, but I'd "saved" enough by putting up with lesser bags for years, and it works so well that it still trumps my other bags (all synth fill) for summer too.
Narrow down your must have specs that will nag you if left out when using. Price, within reason, seldom is one, as years of satisfied use cures any initial sticker shock. When someone's shivering in their bag, thinking of how much they saved seldom helps.
Whatever you get, post some feedback on it!
For me, I was looking for the smallest packed bag good to about freezing which quickly narrowed it down to a mummy (no square bags) with at least 800 down (best compressibility). Price was a lesser factor because I've both "bought cheap, bought twice" and "paid more for better, paid off in long run." Result was a MHW Phantom 32, little more than I budgeted but it paid off, but I'd "saved" enough by putting up with lesser bags for years, and it works so well that it still trumps my other bags (all synth fill) for summer too.
Narrow down your must have specs that will nag you if left out when using. Price, within reason, seldom is one, as years of satisfied use cures any initial sticker shock. When someone's shivering in their bag, thinking of how much they saved seldom helps.
Whatever you get, post some feedback on it!
"A few hours' mountain climbing make of a rogue and a saint two fairly equal creatures.
Tiredness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity - and sleep finally adds to them liberty."
Tiredness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity - and sleep finally adds to them liberty."
- climbing_rob
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
I'm a huge Western Mountaineering fan, have owned and used the Puma -25 for about 10 years now, used it on a couple of successful Denali trips, always toasty warm, and in the winter in Colorado, probably too warm. Between my wife and myself we own 4 outstanding WM bags.I Man wrote:REI Down -20 Bag is all you need for anything ever. Its just over $500 and has a reasonable weight. I have used it a ton and I love it
That being said, two of our 2011 Denali group had this REI -20 bag, and they were warm enough as well. The thing I do not like about the REI bag is it's girth, it was too small for me to sleep in comfortably, but if you're OK with a smaller sleeping bag, this one might be a good option; wait for our spring 25% off and there you go!
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
size matters. if you sleep on your back and don't move then you have more options. if you move around then you might want to try them out or look at girth specs.
I also like a bigger bag so I can wear all my clothes to sleep without affecting loft.
that way, my -10 wm bag can go further by me wearing a parka and pants (that I am carrying anyway). and I haven't committed to a niche bag like a -40 that I might only rarely use.
I have never been to Alaska in winter, but I've never needed mire than a good -10 with a big parka and pants.
oh, and pad matters a lot, too. I normally use an insulated air mattress on top of a closed cell foam.
I also like a bigger bag so I can wear all my clothes to sleep without affecting loft.
that way, my -10 wm bag can go further by me wearing a parka and pants (that I am carrying anyway). and I haven't committed to a niche bag like a -40 that I might only rarely use.
I have never been to Alaska in winter, but I've never needed mire than a good -10 with a big parka and pants.
oh, and pad matters a lot, too. I normally use an insulated air mattress on top of a closed cell foam.
- climbing_rob
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
Furthering what PV just said.... my wife, not a particularly warm sleeper, used the -10 deg WM bag (probably the same as PV's) on Denali, no problem. The plan was we would switch bags (her use my -25, me her -10) if necessary (I'm a fairly warm sleeper), but it was never necessary. If I were gearing up from scratch for a Denali climb, I'd probably go with the lighter, more versatile -10 deg bag (great temp bag for, say, Colorado winter trips) and just layer up for the really frigid nights. We got to -25 one night, again, she was fine in her -10 bag. Of course we had a good tent in use.
- HuskyRunner
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
I have the Cwm and Col, both Dryloft (aka Gore shell) as well as bags from REI, Moonstone, TNF and EMS (also worked for REI for about 5 years in addition to other outdoor retailers). I have a jacket from Feathered Friends but not a bag. The Marmot bags are both nice and have worked well for me. IMO, REI bags are no where comparable but if you can find a REI bag that has a better temp range then maybe that will work for you. Also keep in mind that a lot of REI bags tend to be a bit more on the narrow side compared to other brands. My FF jacket is their mid line jacket and the thing is too warm to wear most of the time, I would expect their bags to be equally well made and the ones I've played with I would put FF and WM a cut above the Marmot bags.
I've seen some good deals on bags on eBay so that might be an option, got a nice Marmot Pinnacle DryLoft on eBay for $100 and it was almost new. I was fortunate enough to be able to prodeal a number of my bags so not as much sticker shock but I think the Marmot bags are worth the price if you can find a sale.
I've seen some good deals on bags on eBay so that might be an option, got a nice Marmot Pinnacle DryLoft on eBay for $100 and it was almost new. I was fortunate enough to be able to prodeal a number of my bags so not as much sticker shock but I think the Marmot bags are worth the price if you can find a sale.
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- CookieMonster
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
WM sells a vapor barrier liner. If you are going that cold, you might want check it out. I called Bent Gate about it and the salesperson thought I was crazy to want one....guess they're not very popular items. LOL. Anyway, it's a pretty foreign concept, but supposedly it works....
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Re: Looking for a -20 to -40 Sleeping Bag
I have used a Montbell Down Hugger 800 fill for a couple of years in a higher temperature rating. It's held up well and is probably the most comfortable bag I've ever used (being a tosser and turner). I'm a moderately warm sleeper to put the next paragraph in context i.e. like to be cool when sleeping.
However, the temperature ratings for the Down Hugger seem a bit aggressive. I have been cold in temperatures 15 or more degrees above the bag rating in a tent using appropriate clothing layers and with a good pad. I expect to put on extra layers for sleeping as the temps approach the bag limits but 15 plus degrees over the rating and needing to layer up in addition to socks, hat and LJ's is a bit much particularly compared to my other bags (a -25deg bag and a +40deg bag).
Unless things have changed, if I was buying a Montbell bag today I would over size the temp rating but I think -20 deg is as far as the current line up goes.
Hope this helps.
However, the temperature ratings for the Down Hugger seem a bit aggressive. I have been cold in temperatures 15 or more degrees above the bag rating in a tent using appropriate clothing layers and with a good pad. I expect to put on extra layers for sleeping as the temps approach the bag limits but 15 plus degrees over the rating and needing to layer up in addition to socks, hat and LJ's is a bit much particularly compared to my other bags (a -25deg bag and a +40deg bag).
Unless things have changed, if I was buying a Montbell bag today I would over size the temp rating but I think -20 deg is as far as the current line up goes.
Hope this helps.