Sleeping Bag recommendations, anyone?

[Mindalou1]

Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a good, lightweight bag that I can use on the overland track in March 13 but also get a few years good use out of throughout the seasons.
So far I've researched quite extensively and have (I think) narrowed it down to the Macpac Latitude 700 XP (water resistant version on sale for $399) OR the Zephyr -7 (best price $521.95).

Having come across a few good reports for each, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend either or provide any other useful suggestions?

Enjoying the process of stocking up on gear but have come completely unstuck with deciding on my sleeping bag.


Cheers very much,
MIndalou1

[roysta]

Both ok bags, but you can get a much lighter bag for equal ability.
1350g for the Latitude is way too heavy for a -10 bag.
You shouldn't need to go heavier than about 900g.
Check the Marmot Plasma 15 or the Western Mountaineering Apache as examples.
They're both on the more expensive side of the ledger though.

[nq111]

+1 Exactly what roysta said.

Track the major US gear sites for clearouts and the like. Aim for around -15F, 800+fill down or better and less than a kilo. Other than that I would consider many of the brands (just search reviews before you buy). If you are patient and search around a bit you have every chance of getting a bag at $200 or less.

If you are less patient and more brand/model fussy you will likely pay more - but than again sleeping bag is one of the most important pieces of gear. Some brands (e.g. WM) don't discount much.

Very quick search and this is the sort of mix I am talking about (http://gearx.com/sierra-designs-vapor-1 ... g-bag.html ) - though I have no experience of this particular bag.

[ninjapuppet]

Iast week I slept out in the snow without any sleeping bag and was very comfy.

Was testing out my new mountain hardwear absolute zero down suit.

Man! That thing is hot. I was sweating with nothing but base layers underneath While the temp was -5 and dropping. Weighs nearly 2kg with its stuff sack and packs as big as my home pillow. As awesome as it is, I really don't think I can recommend it for you.

Sorry.

Haven't seen the zyphr but I used the macpac 700 xp in nz and it's great! If you're intent on only those 2 bags, then that's a +1 from me for the macpac

[MJD]

Overland track, March, -10

Way too hot!!! For the sort of money you mention you should be able to find something around half the weight that's comfortable at 0. And even that will be too warm a lot of the time.

[nq111]

Way too hot!!!

Respectfully disagree

I use a negative 15F bag (About -7oc) bag to about +10oc by using it as a quilt. Ditto with my old macpac bag that was originally rated of -18oc (i think that was a bit optimistic). There is little weight and cost penalty to get a bag this warm compared to one for 30-35F (around 0oc) and it will be more versatile and have more margin if the weather does get really cold - which on occasion it can at any time of year in Tassie.

[nq111]

Way too hot!!!

Respectfully disagree

I use a negative 15F bag (About -7oc) bag to about +10oc by using it as a quilt. Ditto with my old macpac bag that was originally rated of -18oc (i think that was a bit optimistic). There is little weight and cost penalty to get a bag this warm compared to one for 30-35F (around 0oc) and it will be more versatile and have more margin if the weather does get really cold - which on occasion it can at any time of year in Tassie.

One disclaimer is everyone sleeps at different temperatures so my experience won't directly match others - but you get the idea

[Mindalou1]

Awesome guys, thanks for the feedback.
Gotta say I'd steered away from the Marmot Plasma 15 (which looks fantastic) based on price, but I'm starting to think that a good bag such as this could be my 'splash out'...it's obviously going to be integral to some well-earnt comfort at the end of the day.

MJD, I note you mentioned -10 in March is way too hot...what would everyone recommend?
I'm genuinely confused as I'd have presumed that a 4 season bag could mean a really warm bag closed up in winter and then perhaps zipped open and used as a duvet in the warmer months?

UGH. Sorry to come off as an idiot, the spirit is willing but the experience at anything beyond car camping gear is weak!

[Pongo]

I've recently geared up for the first time and picked up the latitude for my bag, so I'll give you my observations on it. I've only camped with it once sadly enough but can attest to it's warmth, it's way too hot at about 5 degrees, so every time I've used it, I've had it unzipped.

I took it to the prom and used it at the lighthouse there. The mattresses provided leeched heat (it was a pvc outer, no padding and springs. Weird bedding), so I had the odd sensation of being cool on one side and toasty on the other. This was a good reminder about insulation from the ground is really important too. Get a mat with a decent r-value and this will help balance out any losses in bag warmth (I'm quite happy with the thermarest x-therm I picked up). All up I'm not worried about getting cold in the latitude. A final word on using it as a blanket. The latitude unzips up to the footbox. There is then a second zip for the footbox. You can never fully fan this bag out, so I have always slept with my feet in the footbox (I'm not sure on this design, but I think it might have some benefits in emergency situations).

I can pretty confidently say that this is not a summer bag, even unzipped. So if you get this bag, you'll be wanting to buy a light bag come November, it's just too warm. Plus you're going to be cutting hundreds of grams from your summer weight by not carrying this.

As others have observed, it's pretty heavy, and as you pile on the gear, the weight of the bag does start to stick out. If you can find something lighter with similar ratings and price... it's worth a long hard think. If you want the latitude but want to cut weight, go the standard size (I'm a bigger guy and a restless sleeper and the large is ample) and go for the standard latitude, not the xp. My understanding is that the xp is just a more durable material, which adds to the weight.

Overall: Toasty bag that won't fail you. It's heavy and is not for summer use.

[Mindalou1]

Thanks Pongo, that's exactly the review I was looking for.
Probably going to give the Latitude a miss due to it being 'un-fanable' but even more so because of the weight.
As my OP Tasman Pack is so heinously overweight at 4kg, I am having to take a UltraLight attitude to most of the gear and other accessories I'm planning to fill it with.

Deciding between the Big Agnes Q-Core Sleeping Pad and the Thermarest Prolite Pro for a mat...pretty similar specs and a good R-rating of between 4.6 and 5.

[MJD]

I have to admit that I do get away with using lighter sleeping bags than most of the people that I walk with. I have three different bags and two different liners to choose from depending on the likely conditions.

Mountain Hardwear Ultralaminar (45F) 0.68kg + either a silk liner (0.14kg) or a thermolite (0.28kg). I find this ok to 0C.
One Planet Cocoon 300 (0.73 kg) + either a silk liner or a thermolite. Used this on top of Ossa in June one year.
Paddy Pallin Gingera. Old, heavy but good in the depths of winter. About 1.35kg. There's no way this goes anywhere in summer.

You have to weigh up comfort, what it will be used for, and $.

Yes, you can use a lot of bags as duvets but you will be lugging around a lot of unnecessary weight.

[nq111]

Was testing out my new mountain hardwear absolute zero down suit.

*&%$#! @#$# - what are you intending to do in that? K2?

[nq111]

UGH. Sorry to come off as an idiot, the spirit is willing but the experience at anything beyond car camping gear is weak!

Definitely not coming off as an idiot - so don't fret .

Just many viable ways to skin a cat and even more variations in opinion on this site!

Ultimately there is a sweet spot between price, features, comfort, weight, durability, safety margin and darn it: X-factor; that is different for every individual. Hope you find your sweet spot with this bag - once you do you will probably defend it to the death like all of us here

BTW the Marmot Plasma 15 is the bomb

[Mindalou1]

Ha! Thanks nq111, I appreciate the encouragement re my not coming off as an idiot!
There is a lot of great information based on everyone's proven experience around this site, it's tricky for a newbie not to go into overload.

And thanks again everyone for some great suggestions and feedback!

Okaaaaaaay, so I think I'm definitely swaying toward the Marmot Plasma 15...admittedly I totally understand that it's expensive and may prove too hot for March on the Overland Track but from what I hear, you have to be prepared for anything in the Overland Track irrespective of the season.

As long as it's easily opened up to make it useable in warmer weather then I'm happy...does anyone know does the bag unzip all the way around and across the foot box?

I see another lighter bag in my future but as long as this bag will be flexible enough to cover all my needs for the next year or so then I'm good.
Planning on perhaps taking it to Europe next November so would prefer to go with warmer than cooler!

[nq111]

...does anyone know does the bag unzip all the way around and across the foot box?

Nope. But I make it work anyway.

[roysta]

No it doesn't zip all the way out, but really it doesn't matter I don't see that as a problem.
It has a two way zip system from the top and the bottom.
I've used it in all sorts of temps but it does its best in 0 to -5.
But most of all I keep thinking about 900g in a compression bag.
I moved from a Prolite 3 to an Exped down mat (7S) and believe me, having that under the Plasma, well, I'm, hardly complaining.

[Snowzone]

Western Mountaineering bags are fantastic. Under 900g, warm enough for icy cold nights in Tassie and compress down to a very managable size. Just leave the zip open in summer.

[roysta]

Correct, I have an Ultralite and an Apache, nice bags.

[dannnnn]

Very quick search and this is the sort of mix I am talking about (http://gearx.com/sierra-designs-vapor-1 ... g-bag.html ) - though I have no experience of this particular bag.

wow, great deal! if only it had a full length zip...

what sort of search terms are you using??

[north-north-west]

Was testing out my new mountain hardwear absolute zero down suit.

I seriously want one.
I don't care how much it weighs, it wouldn't be going camping, I just want it for the next time the boss makes me spend a whole day out in the warehouse in winter.

[Taz73]

Not sure if this is mentioned but thought I had better.

A nice down bag rated to -15C will be useless above zero degrees if it is wet.

I know we can go to a lot of trouble to keep our gear dry but if it ever did get wet, for what ever reason, you can no longer rely on it in a survival situation.