High Sierra Topix

Asolthane wrote:Well, of course I got two replies, and they are opposing opinions. As for elevation, I am training for the SHR and like to camp high.

The 15 deg. Marmot Pinnacle weighs 40 oz

20 deg WM Ultralight bag weighs 29 oz
30 deg WM Megalight weighs 24 oz
30 deg Marmot Hydrogen 23.7 oz
32 deg WM Summerlight weighs 19 oz.

I carry a Marmot Zeus jacket. I sleep in a tent (so far...considering this tarp thing). And I carry a Thermarest Neo Air xlight.

I guess I would rather carry heavy weight baselayer and be more comfortable around camp and get away with a lighter bag. And, I don't like being cold.

Robin

People are different, I am from Northern Europe so probably more used to cold and wet weather. Your best bet is to see if you can borrow a few bags to try, if you go for a 30 degree bag just take some extra clothes until you find out if it works for you. If you are the sort of person that gets cold feet and hands you may be best to go with a 20 degree bag and take a hot chocolate before you hit the sack.

For a long time, I used a 30 degree Feathered Friends bag. I've graduated to a Marmot Plasma 15, as I'm sleeping colder these days. I always use some variation of a Therm-a-Rest pad. Currently, it's an EvoLite. Rarely cowboy camp, always carry a tent. Current tent is a Big Agnes Fly Creek 2. Don't mind that it needs to be staked, since I grew up with a-frame tents that required oodles of stakes. Sleep in a synthetic tee, superlight long bottoms and silk weight liners. Don't like the feel of the nylon against my skin while sleeping. Occasionally will put on the buff as a beanie if I don't feel like pulling up the hood.

I sleep colder every year. I use my wife's 25 degree bag as a quilt when car camping and temps just drop to 50 at night! I use a 20 degree WM bag and always sleep in long underwear. In September I take 2 pairs of light long underwear bottoms and sleep in my sweater as well in addition to my normal turtleneck. Used to cowboy camp all the time until I once woke up with 18 mosquito bites on my arm that was out of the bag (this was a loooong time ago when I slept much warmer). Now I always take a tent and have recently added a tarp that provides shelter when cooking in the rain.

When I was younger a lot of my equipment was limited by my budget, plus back then an ultra light tent was 6 lbs and there was no such thing as 900 loft down.

Mike

Well, I have decided it's worth purchasing a 30 degree bag. I am sure I will use it, even if not at high elevations.

I am just deciding between the WM Megalight and the Marmot Hydrogen

I use my 25 degree Marmot synthetic for almost everything. I sleep hot, so I like that it zips open from the bottom allowing me to control my temp. Ive had ice on the water bottles with it and was still warm. I do have an old North Face 5 degree, but it weighs like 7 lbs, so I haven't taken it backpacking. I use it for cold weather car camping.

Troutdog 59 wrote:I do have an old North Face 5 degree, but it weighs like 7 lbs, so I haven't taken it backpacking.

What vintage is that? What's it made out of?

My 1986 North Face Superlight (6'6") was rated 5°F and weighed 3 lbs 6 oz.
It was made from 1.8oz nylon and 550 fill goose down. It cost $250 new.
I took it everywhere and used it until it literally fell apart in my hands.

I don't recall the model name, but they've (have 2) got to be about 15 years old now and are synthetic. I was embellishing a tad at 7lbs, as they are just over 6 lbs, but with my Marmot being just under 3 lbs, I like the weight savings. I haven't used one in a few years, but they worked great on an 18 degree night at the campground at Saddlebag Lake several years back. Doubt my son would still go camping with me if we hadn't had them with us

- What is your ideal bag temp in the Sierra, that sweet spot, not including the shoulder seasons? My ideal temp rating is to 10 degrees.

- How many of you get a higher temp bags and combine it with a down jacket to lower cost/weight, or maybe a liner? I have done this with my summer rated bag in the alpine sierra, but prefer not sleeping with a jacket on, only long underwear.

- Has anyone jumped from a down to synthetic bags? I would only do this if i were sensitive to the humaneness of collecting down.

- How many of you have become colder sleepers as you have aged? Most definitely! I devote a lot of $ to staying dry and warm.

- By how many degrees have you increased you bag temp by? I have tried going the other way, but always return to the 10 degree rating. It's never really that warm above 10,500. For me, the comfort rating is "to" 10 degrees, with a large gray area approaching that temp.

- Who here cowboy camps most of the time? I cowboy it when I know the weather will not be a factor, but as I have aged, I have become more aware of the need to have a quality shelter for comfort and protection from the elements. I never rely on a tent to increase the temp rating of a sleep system.

My 25° WM bag is perfect. Generally for summer in the Sierra high country my rule of thumb is a 20° bag. I do run hot though. Only on the coldest summer nights I wear long underwear. I sleep in a tarp tent.

Greetings

My summer season (even into October) sleeping bag is a Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 with 800 fill down insulation. But it's definitely not good enough to keep you warm when it gets to 32 degrees. I also have a Patagonia down jacket with hood, which works as a great insulating layer walking around after sundown, and then keeps me warm while sleeping when the temperature goes below freezing.