Opinions on Big Agnes Sleeping Bags

cmon4day · Post by **cmon4day** » Fri May 23, 2014 7:55 am

I have a Big Agnes Lost Ranger. It's a 15* down bag with the pad in sleeve. I love having the pad insert as it keeps the bag weight down and when I toss and turn at night, the bag is always on the pad.

InsaneBoost · Post by **InsaneBoost** » Fri May 23, 2014 8:37 am

rlown wrote:The bag you pointed us to is a -20? why?

Russ

I noticed it was only $30 more, and figured if we ever wanted to further our camping from the Sierra, in to colder areas, it would cover it, instead of spending another $300+ for another one. Bad idea?

AlmostThere wrote:The problem being - if the bag is far too large to the point that you are swimming around freely inside, there's too much airspace for you to effectively heat up with just your body.

Good to know, didn't know that at all, thanks for pointing that out.

maverick wrote:Did you use a tent on your trip with your girlfriend? Which matt did your use?

Haha, yes, we did, buuuuuuuuuuut, we don't have sleeping bags, so we slept in layers of clothes (pants, thermals, top thermals, gloves, multiple pairs of socks, and a balaclava), had just typical egg shell foam down (probably helped let any heat escape), and then multiple layers of covers. We froze for a good hour, but then eventually got warm and were fine. Definitely a BIG mistake. Also didn't help a snowstorm was coming in.

I just moved from D.C. and she thought she knew the mountains well. Last time I listen to her.

AlmostThere · Post by **AlmostThere** » Fri May 23, 2014 9:04 am

Get pads with a minimum r value of 3. Get decent bags. You will be comfortable without layers of clothing unless it dips lower than the limits of the bag/pad - then you start with more clothing.

REI bags and either neoairs or exped synmats will do the trick. blue foam ccf in two layers would as well.

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AlmostThere · Post by **AlmostThere** » Fri May 23, 2014 9:06 am

And if that -20 bag is at all accurately rated... it will make you sweat like anything. are you going to antarctica?

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InsaneBoost · Post by **InsaneBoost** » Fri May 23, 2014 9:10 am

Bwahaha I thought that would be the case. I get hot easily too, so I'll stick with 15 then.

Wandering Daisy · Post by **Wandering Daisy** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:17 am

I sleep cold and use a 10-degree bag (WM Super Antelope- about 2005 version). It is too warm for mid-summer but just right for shoulder season (when temperatures drop below freezing at night) and what I need when I go to Wyoming to backpack. If I had a rich uncle I would get a 20-30 degree bag for Sierra summers. Alas, I do not, so have to have my one bag do it all.

Another tip- you have to warm up a sleeping bag. DO NOT go to bed cold! I usually do some vigorous exercise, immediately jump into my bag with one light layer, let my body heat warm the bag up, and then perhaps later in the night or early AM when temperatures are at coldest, will put on more clothes. I find that wrapping my down sweater around my neck keeps me warmer than putting it on.

AlmostThere · Post by **AlmostThere** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:24 am

Another tip - don't stop hydrating thinking you will prevent getting up to pee. I drink tea and water right up to bedtime. Getting up a couple times is no big deal - when I get back in, I am warm again instantly. Not eating and drinking makes you cold because your body needs the fuel to work properly! Time and time again, people come on my trips stubbornly refusing to drink after dinner and get cold.

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Post by **maverick** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:29 am

InsaneBoost wrote:
Haha, yes, we did

Was not trying to funny, some folks sleep out under the stars or tarp tent, both require
a warmer sleeping bag due to the exposure to the elements. Same with a pad, a low
R rated pad will allow the cold to penetrate thru the ground into you bag and make for
a very uncomfortable night. Your sleeping bag is probably one of you most important
purchases, and it could save your life, so get the best you can afford, and if you take
proper care of it, it will last for a very long time.

InsaneBoost · Post by **InsaneBoost** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:31 am

AlmostThere wrote:Another tip - don't stop hydrating thinking you will prevent getting up to pee. I drink tea and water right up to bedtime. Getting up a couple times is no big deal - when I get back in, I am warm again instantly. Not eating and drinking makes you cold because your body needs the fuel to work properly! Time and time again, people come on my trips stubbornly refusing to drink after dinner and get cold.

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I made sure to keep my thermos with hot water in it during the night in case we needed a warm up. And we did drink tea before bed as well.

Post by **rlown** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:34 am

On hydration, I keep a poly in the tent with me and drink from it a couple times a night. Sometimes when up high, i don't have to pee at night. You lose more fluids than you might think at altitude. You should always be drinking water even if not really thirsty.

If it's really cold out, i keep the poly in my bag with me so it stays liquid. Water at night doesn't have to be warm, but it does have to be liquid and not ice.

I don't think anyone carries a thermos backpacking anymore.

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