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Tell Me About Your Sleeping Bag

toughenough

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I'm in the market for a new fart sack, and there are so many available options, and so many pros/cons to each, that I'm having a tough time.

From the Feathered Friends bags that come in below 2 lbs, to the tried and true (and heavy) SnugPak line, all the way to Marmot and North Face bags. I'm really debating if the extra $100 for a Feathered Friends is worth (permanently) taking a full pound off of my load, or if I should stick in the 200-300 range for a Marmot or North Face bag.

I don't care about color, as I'll be wrapping the whole thing in the issue bivy bag. The Feathered Friends does come in a moss color that looks fairly close to OD, but again, is that worth the extra $100-$150?

So let's hear what ya got and what ya think about it.
 
I assume, because you allude to OD being a concern, that this is for work as well as play?

If no biggie then check out the Outdoor Gear Thread in Radio Chatter. Loads of good stuff in there about fart sacks and other shiny kit for recreation.
 
I've been using the Snugpak Sleeper Lite for a few years,  IMO it's a fairly decent bag,  and packs up fairly small/light.  Best suited for Spring/Summer/Fall,  I've used it in the winter a couple times with a fleece liner and it was ok,  wouldn't recommend it for winter use though.
 
This will actually be mostly for work, but like I said, it'll be wrapped in an OD bivy bag. It would be nice if it came in OD or black, but I'm open to anything at this point.

Skeltor, that's where I'm torn the sleeper lite is 56 oz, rated for 0 degrees, and $69 USD.
http://proforceequipment.com/product-details.php?id=177&catid=10

The FF Humingbird is rated for -7, but weighs only 27 oz ... but then it retails for $379 (as with everything, you get what you pay for I guess).
http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Product/20Degree.html

So $210 USD for 1.8 lbs savings (and of course 7 degrees of comfort) seems kinda crazy in the short term, but I wonder what the savings will be on my knees/back over 20 years. Not to mention the extra cost broken out over the long term as well. It's a tough one.
 
not that i have ever tried.  but i have heard really good things about Wiggys bags,  they have a cult following http://www.wiggys.com/
 
I'm a huge fan of snugpak sleeping bags.  They're light, compact and you can get them for pretty much any temperature you want.  As well if you do order from them make sure you check if you want a right or left handed zipper, and for some of the bags get the expanda panel so you don't feel like it's too tight.

The costs are extremely reasonable, and even shipping from the UK with duty and taxes the average extra cost on top of the sleeping bag is only $40-$60.  Example, the Snugpak Antarctica through outdoor GB is $179.47 and is rated for comfort of -20 low of -50.  With shipping charges, duty and an expanda panel it came to about $360 for my buddy to order one.  This compared with a place down in Niagara Falls, ON that was going to be $480 before taxes and shipping for the same bag without an expanda panel.  My Dad ordered me a Snugpak Softie 6 Kestrel ($101.03 on the site right now) a couple years ago and it's rated for comfort of 0 low of -5, after shipping and duty it ended up costing him $130 (approx).  I love it because it compacts down pretty small and other than winter ops is great as a 3 season bag.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/c/snugpak_military_sleeping_bags/
 
For a great bargain on a decent system do a search for 'Modular Sleep System' on ebay.

 
Another option is a snugpack  by another name...the Brit Forces Jungle or lightweight sleeping bag.

Comes with a high quality compression sack.  Been using one for years...and as its synthetic...its obviously machine washable.  Cheap as chips.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=british+army+jungle+sleeping+bag&_sacat=0&_odkw=british+army+jungle&_sop=3&_osacat=0&_from=R40

They have the same thing in a temparate bag...and you can use the two together as I have...i.e in freeze your ass off land.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-BRITISH-ARMY-SURPLUS-PLCE-SLEEP-SYSTEM-ARCTIC-SLEEPING-BAG-COMPRESSION-SACK-/321010109399?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&var=&hash=item4abdb18bd7

Prices vary for the same items....and as for shipping work a deal...

 
Best
Bags
Ever

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/SleepingBags/WesternMountaineering.jsp

Make sure you order one with a dryloft shell.
 
I ended up going with a Somnus bag by Stoic. Stoic is the Backcountry.com house brand. It weighs in at 1.25 lbs, and is rated for 30F (about -1C). It is about the size of a football when packed.

I think I got last year's model, as it was on clearance. It came in right around the $150 mark with duties and everything (I got free shipping).

It has a silver exterior with blue interior, but when used with a bivvy bag, looks just like everyone else. I've been using it since early April without issues. I know on one ex it dropped down to around the zero degree mark and I slept very comfortably (issue bag liner, my bag, issue bivvy).

I highly recommend a super light bag like this for anyone who spends a great deal of time deciding whether they want to bring sleeping kit or not on what is expected to be a fair weather ex. Now I just always bring it, since it weighs about the same as an IMP.
 
Check out Snugpak, they make great sleeping bags, ruks, jackets, ect...
Soldier Gear in Angus Ont, (CFB Borden) is a supplier for Snugpak.
 
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