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Post by 92hatchattack on Feb 27, 2016 6:18:28 GMT -8
Hi all, I was hoping you could offer me some guidance.
I am looking for a bag for my 11 year old son. For some time I was thinking about getting him a quilt like I have, but it seems the Boy Scout Troop we just joined does around half its trips in places where they sleep on old mattresses or cots. This would mean he would likely have to carry an additional sheet as lying on some of that old stuff could be uncomfortable and kinda gross if you ask me as the quilts have open backs.
I think he may sleep cold. He has a cheap synthetic mummy bag right now that "claims" to be a 20 degree bag, yet he is still cold when temps hit the lower 30's. We live in NJ and the troop camps March to October outdoors so 20 degree temps are a possibility. He's not a stick though...he's got some meat on his bones so I'm not sure whats up with the cold sleeping. Granted he doesn't have a super sleeping mattress, but I did use a cheap blue foam pad combined with a thermarest ridgerest solite and that didnt cut it for him last October either.
I am looking for a down bag. I took him on a backpacking overnighter last year and the synthetic bag took up his entire backpack and left little room for anything else. Plus it was heavy. So I want to shed a few pounds and need something that packs down much smaller. I also dont want to spend a ton of money..... I know I know.....Warm,Light,Cheap......pick 2. I am probably willing to spend somewhere in the $200 range...maximum of $250 if I really had to.
You all are the pros, so I am wondering if anyone here can offer me some bag suggestions that may match what I am looking for. If you can offer any help that would be great!
Thank you for your time!
---Joe
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Post by 92hatchattack on Feb 27, 2016 6:33:23 GMT -8
Sorry, he is 5'1" But he is at that age where he is about to hit a growth spurt. I am 6' and his mother is short so I don't suppose he we be any taller than I am.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2016 6:49:38 GMT -8
I see one of those bonding shopping moments in the works. Take him down to a 'real' outdoors store, not walmart, pick out a beg of the desired temp range and let him test it out right there in the store. Get a may-I-help-you to give you a hand picking a bag.
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 27, 2016 6:51:42 GMT -8
I think he may sleep cold. He has a cheap synthetic mummy bag right now that "claims" to be a 20 degree bag, yet he is still cold when temps hit the lower 30's. Just an FYI, most cheap synthetic bags are egregiously overrated when it comes to temperature (or underrated, depending how you think about it). The odds are decent that "20 degree" cheap synthetic mummy would make anyone cold in temps nearing 30 or so. I don't say that to be challenging, just a helpful FYI... it may be less about your son and more about the bag he currently has. If he's 5'1" and still growing, I'd just get him a reasonable adult-sized bag that he can use for years. For well under $200-250 you can get him a very decent bag. Maybe not an ultralight top-of-the-line Western Mountaineering down, but then again for a boy scout I wouldn't necessarily recommend that anyway. Since he's obviously still learning he's bound to end up sleeping in a tent-floor puddle one night (just part of the ritual of learning), so something at least semi-water-resistant might be nice. Here's a quick screening of water-resistant-down bags on sale at REI Outlet. In full disclosure I haven't tried these bags, but I'm just posting the ones made by generally reputable manufacturers that don't usually "fake" their temp ratings so badly as big-box outlets tend to: Kelty Cosmic Down 21* - $164.93Marmot Scandium 19*F, Synthetic bottom / Down on top - $159.93Alps Mountaineering Endeavor 20* - $179.73The North Face Blue Kazoo 15* - $229.73Sierra Designs Zissou 23* - $179.93That's just a few options, read the reviews and shop around. That's just REI outlet, you can scrounge for deals on SierraTradingPost.com and SteepAndCheap.com as well. Best of luck! - Mike |
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Post by trinity on Feb 27, 2016 7:04:14 GMT -8
That's a nice deal on a Blue Kazoo. Another decent bag in your price range would be the Marmot Sawtooth.
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Post by 92hatchattack on Feb 27, 2016 7:18:07 GMT -8
Whats the deal with the REI outlet stuff? Is it just older models or are they returns or have minor defects and stuff? Thanks all!
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Post by 92hatchattack on Feb 27, 2016 7:22:42 GMT -8
Whats the difference between the Kelty Cosmic 20 and the 21? The 20 seems to have slightly better specs. Am I missing something?
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 27, 2016 7:32:14 GMT -8
Whats the deal with the REI outlet stuff? Is it just older models or are they returns or have minor defects and stuff? Thanks all! It's just clearance items. REI is a gigantic outdoor retailer, when stuff is going out-of-season and the new year's models replace it, the leftovers go on the Outlet rack. You're probably shopping through the 2014 and 2015 bags on outlet, while the 2016 bags are selling for full price. It's not defective seconds, just slightly older models. Returns are sold through the REI garage sales... if you *really* want a good deal you can line up early at one of those (check the website for the next garage sale nearest you), but it's in-store only, not online. Some people return things for the most trivial of reasons and you can get a great deal off a like-new bag. But if you go that route you'd better line up early (at least 1-2 hours before opening), not everyone's cup of tea. |
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 27, 2016 7:32:51 GMT -8
Whats the difference between the Kelty Cosmic 20 and the 21? The 20 seems to have slightly better specs. Am I missing something? Honestly I haven't the foggiest clue about the difference. I'm guessing there's some difference more than a 1* temp rating, but dunno what it is. |
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snappypepper
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Post by snappypepper on Feb 27, 2016 7:40:32 GMT -8
We both have Kelty Ignite dridown bags and really like them. They are supposed to be a 20 degree bag (I've used mine on a couple of 30 degree nights and was comfortable, much colder and I'd probably throw my liner in), they are down, they are light, and best of all...they are cheap! We each paid less than $200. It comes in a 6' length that would be good for your son.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 27, 2016 9:34:45 GMT -8
Agree about the cheap synthetic bag probably just being totally mis-rated. Also, synthetics, especially cheap ones, lose their loft in a hurry, and even faster if they are stored stuffed rather than fluffed (all bags should be stored loose, either hanging or in a large breathable bag). Blue Bear has provided a nice list. We switched our boys to adult-sized down bags when they were pretty small, because even child-sized synthetic bags took up too much space/weight. One of the fairly inexpensive bags we used for a starter was the REI Sub-Kilo, which doesn't seem to be out there any more. It was a good bag for the price, but also a bit optimistic as to temp rating, and we eventually had to get a better bag for him. All of which is to say, depending on your kid, it might be worth paying for a better bag--but maybe not, as BB points out regarding the boy scout thing and how hard on gear a bunch of boys can be  And yeah, shop all the sales and deals and last-years-model outlets. |
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Post by 92hatchattack on Feb 27, 2016 9:52:04 GMT -8
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Feb 27, 2016 10:28:14 GMT -8
Looking at the specs offered -
Kelty Cosmic Down 20 - 600-fill-power DriDown (duck?...if it was goose, they would say so.)
The North Face Blue Kazoo Sleeping Bag - Lofty 650-fill-power ProDown™ natural goose down
Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag - 650-fill duck down
Big Agnes Bellyache Mountain SL Down Sleeping Bag - DownTek 700-fill-power duck down
ALPS Mountaineering Endeavour 20 - 700-fill duck down
Maybe just me but, duck down (when wet) gives off a certain distinct presence (smells).
I do not know the difference between "DriDown", "ProDown", and "DownTek".
FWIW, all the best down manufacturers use 850+ goose.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 27, 2016 10:31:38 GMT -8
On a related note, while synthetic bags aren't as good as down bags, the pad may be an issue as well. What sort of pad is he using? And in what conditions? Warm/wet/cold/dry/windy...
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Post by trinity on Feb 27, 2016 10:40:04 GMT -8
Is the Sawtooth worth the extra price and slightly higher weight? Hard to say, but if your son truly does sleep cold, might be worth it. I've slept in the Sawtooth but not the Kelty, so I can't really compare them. The Sawtooth has one more ounce of higher fill down, so I would expect it to have significantly more loft. |
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