Sleeping bag recommendations

If there is a thing that is worth every penny -- it's a really good down bag. I too want to spend less money, but I have splurged on high end -- and I regret nothing, not a thing, and never will. Good down gear lasts a long time and keeps you comfy. Western Mountaineering and you won't need a 15F rating to be comfy at 30 - buy a 30.

Then there is Marmot, which has low end cheaper bags, mid range moderately priced bags, and high end expensive ones... this one seems to fill the bill for you. Low end, EN rating matches your needs.
www.backcountrygear.com/marmot-down-sleeping-bags/marmot-electrum-30.html

Of course, you will never be able to sell that Marmot bag for anything. But you can find 10+ year old well kept Western Mountaineering bags on Craiglist... for two thirds what the owner paid for them, 250-450 depending on how warm the bag is...

If there is a thing that is worth every penny -- it's a really good down bag.

I actually already have a Feathered Friends 20 degree down bag. I'm looking for the alternate to extend the life of the FF bag when I don't really need that much performance or in super wet locations. I'd probably pay up to $300 for the synthetic.

The only bag I've ever had was my Coleman 30 synthetic mummy circa 1986 from my boyscout days. Just replaced it last weekend with a Marmot Electrum at half off and a Sea to Summit extreme reactor liner.
Last year I picked up a super cheap ozark trail rectangular which I don't expect will perform like a great bag but maybe ok for Summer. Also scored a cocoon silk liner.
I've not got to test anything yet but I keep wondering if layering sleeping gear can be similar to layering clothing.
Pack what you need based on weather and of course always prepare for the unexpected.

Just how much life do you need in a bag? A well kept high quality down bag lasts decades.

My down quilts have been used 1-10 nights per MONTH for nearly nine years now... they are a little frayed in the velcro on the footbox, but in fine shape. I wash them every couple years with a good down wash in a front loading machine at the laundromat.

Synthetics will wear out if used at that frequency in just a year...

That's not my experience with synthetics. All of my synthetic bags lost half their loft within five years. Once I switched to Down bags, it has been night and day. I've not lost any loft on my down bags.

There will be plenty of decent quality down bags for 30 degrees that will weigh a lot less than that three pound limit and can be under $200, under $300 for sure. Two pounds should be easy to get to. The North Face, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, Sierra Designs, all do down bags for that temp rating (about 30). Hit REI's website and do a search. I found a lot there without trying.

2 pounds, 1 oz, $169: www.rei.com/product/864543/the-north-face-furnace-35-sleeping-bag

For a front country car campground/trailhead bag I've got my REI synthetic, but I'd never carry that weight let alone the bulk on a backpack.

ETA: "superwet locations" locale is important but snowcaves aren't precisely dry and I've never used anything but down, and I've had multiple days of rain on various routes without issue so if that's the crux of your speccing synthetic maybe some more details could aid in suggestions from people with experience in the same areas. Because as noted for durability, weight for a given warmth rating and even cost, down is very compelling.

If you can be talked into a down bag, I recently tested a Big Agnes Boot Jack 24. Nice bag and kept me warm to 19 degrees with no tent, weighs less than 3 lbs, cost something like $185.