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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 29, 2015 8:13:45 GMT -8
Car camping when it's going to take a beating and you don't need to be either skimpy on volume or needing all that much insulation: synthetic, better for the budget.
Otherwise: down. Much better volume to insulation ratio, lighter in weight for it's temperature rating as well, very tough when handled right (I had one last thirty years and then it wasn't the down it was the nylon shell that started to go: as it got too brittle from the UV exposure to be trusted: thing still had around 9 inches of loft even then...).
But, then, do you need a "bag" at all? Maybe a quilt will do...
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tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547 
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Post by tigger on Jun 29, 2015 8:41:36 GMT -8
Yeah...What he Said
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Post by red dog on Jun 29, 2015 12:56:19 GMT -8
I understand Wiggy's makes good bags.  |
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Admin
Trail Wise!
Posts: 486
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Post by Admin on Jun 29, 2015 13:09:43 GMT -8
Thanks for adding that, jinxing the brand new forum. Next you'll be wondering where KY Venom is these days!
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Post by vinovampire on Jun 29, 2015 15:20:14 GMT -8
Personally, I tend to go for synthetic bags that are rated 35 degree fahrenheit and above, while I use down bags for temperatures 32 and below. Right now I have a synthetic 35-degree bag and a 40-degree quilt. For down bags, I own 32-degree, 20-degree and -20-degree bags. When it comes to thin, light, cheap summer bags I find myself buying synthetic PrimaLoft bags. Anything below freezing pretty much requires down or it won't fit well in my backpack, which is why I use down bags when it's 32 degrees or below.
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hoosierdaddy
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Sittin' at the corner of awesome and bombdiggidy.
Posts: 34
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Post by hoosierdaddy on Jun 29, 2015 16:58:45 GMT -8
Yep, down is the way to go nowadays. And don't believe the old wives tale of, "synthetic will keep you warm even if it gets wet". You're still going to be cold, brother! The trick is to be smart enough to keep your stuff dry in the first place!
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swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 538
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Post by swiftdream on Jun 29, 2015 18:28:12 GMT -8
I've never owned anything but down since I was a teenager. Never had a problem with down and it lasts for decades, retaining loft. The first rule of backpacking is keep your bedroll dry...
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theo
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lurking since 6/29/15
Posts: 74 
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Post by theo on Jun 30, 2015 13:54:54 GMT -8
Bought into the whole wet synthetic BS. After years of using synthetic bags, I realized that the one and only time I ever got my bag wet was when I had it hanging up in the backyard and it got rained on. Bought my first down bag and haven't looked back.
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johnnyray
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Argle-Bargle, Jiggery-Pokery, and Applesauce
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Post by johnnyray on Jun 30, 2015 15:20:01 GMT -8
Down is worth the money, lasts longer and more comfy, lighter, and packable, looking at quilts now. Why does spellcheck think packable is not a word?
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jun 30, 2015 17:38:03 GMT -8
TROLL!
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Post by walkinman on Jun 30, 2015 17:42:33 GMT -8
Definitely trolling for new forum love.
Down.
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Jun 30, 2015 19:06:01 GMT -8
down -
But more than that - goose down over duck.
After a few decades of backpacking, always wondered if a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag was worth the big dollars asked. Figured that laying out $500 for a down bag was probably foolish/ excessive... couldn't be that good.
I was wrong - should have bought mine sooner.
850+ goose down - last bag you will ever buy - Sierra.
just my 2¢
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Post by paula53 on Jun 30, 2015 21:21:37 GMT -8
My first sleeping bag many years ago was a Blue Kazoo. Synthetic. It lasted about 6 years. I paid next to nothing for it. I got my monies worth out of it. Many years (30) later I purchased an WM Apachie, with over fill. It weighs 2 lbs, and I have had it down to the low 30's. I never noticed the cold. I have not been out in 20 degree weather. The bag is rated for 15 degrees. Usually I use it as a quilt. Light and puffy. no regrets on the money spent for it.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jul 2, 2015 17:49:26 GMT -8
Last year I bought a 30F Feathered Friends to augment my 40F Marmot. The Marmot will probably go on sale at some point. The Marmot isn't bad, but the FF is just so much better. Ever come back from peeing in the middle of the night and the damn zipper gets stuck every centimeter? Not much of a problem with the FF.
I'm considering a 10F bag, and may opt for WM just for the sake of comparing it to my 15F Marmot Plasma. WM seems to have only one 10F bag, but they do have a bunch of 0 and 15F bags.
So - two lessons learned.
1) Down beats synthetic whenever it really matters (which, for most of us, is pretty much all the time). Warmth, compactness, ability to dry out when wet, etc. Fortunately for me I bought down up front based on advice from the fine folks in this forum (actually, it was one of of its viable predecessors, but they steered me in the right direction).
2) WM and FF are two of the best available in the U.S. Yep, they're expensive alright, but if you can afford them, they're a great way to go.
OK, lesson 3. If you go down in the beginning you'll save money in the long run. If you go WM or FF you'll be even happier, albeit poorer. But a couple of hundred more bucks in your checking account won't keep you warm, dry, and comfy at night.
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no_granola
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Eating f***ing pie. Duh.
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Post by no_granola on Jul 4, 2015 7:39:01 GMT -8
Fleece: the choice only a doofus would make.
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