Backpacking sleeping bag?

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  • #11052
    Guests
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    Backpacking sleeping bag?

    the next item on my “upgrade” list is my sleeping bag. currently, i have one of those rectangular sleeping bags meant for cabins or car camping, not really backpacking. but my money is low (especially with xmas shopping) and i wont be able to upgrade for a while. i think it weighs about 5 lbs (“i think” referring to “i cant dig the darn thing out of its home in the garage”), will this be ok for weather around 30F? still hoping for a backpacking trip in Mt Lemmon during winter break (hopefully!) i have sleeping pads and i was also looking into bag liners. opinions? advice? thanks!

    #12021
    BirdShooter
    Keymaster

    At 30 degrees, I don’t expect that your rectangular bag will cut it – especially at Mt. Lemmon in the winter (which is in Arizona, right?) If you plan to do some backpacking at those temperatures (or lower), you definitely need a mummy bag so that you can trap heat against your body – which is actually what keeps you warm. Heat escapes out of the top of a rectangular bag – so they are much less effective at keeping you cozy.

    If money is tight – get a synthetic mummy sleeping bag. They are heavier than down bags, but less expensive. You can check out http://backpackingsleepingbagsblog.com for some ideas. A low-end mummy bag sells for $100 or less, but shoot for 2-3 lbs if you can afford it – especially if you plan to backpack a lot.

    Liners are available for less than $50 – and you could put one in your rectangular bed and get 10+ more degrees. Sleeping on a mat/pad will also help keep you a bit warmer (and add some comfort), but sooner or later you are going to have to bite the bullet and upgrade if you plan to do four-season backpacking. Maybe Santa can help in a few weeks. Regardless, enjoy the trip.

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