New winter bag for the US & Canada

[Moondog55]

Partly theoretical but assuming I do not get a huge and heavy winter overbag
I'd like opinions on the suitability of the Western Mountaineering Kodiak .

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/sl ... kodiak-mf/

I know it is only a 0F/-18C bag but it is large enough to double up in and not so warm that I coudn't use it here in OZ and New Zealand

[johnrs]

Hey Moondog
Good for the US
but probably almost unusable over here!!
John

[Moondog55]

I don't know about that john, it is what I recommend for ski touring and snow camping here and similar to what I carry here normally, just slightly different packaging

Last edited by Moondog55 on Sat 29 Apr, 2017 8:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

[andrewa]

I'm amazed at how light this stuff is - remembering back in the 80s when I worked in MDs part time - std nylon was 1.9 oz, and upmarket was 1.2oz, but a decent cold weather bag was at least 2 kg in weight. I still have my home made seemless goretex shelled sleeping bag with down muff etc, 650 loft down...weighs 2.2kg. Should use the down for something else!

A

[Hermione]

Hi Moondog, I don't think I've ever camped anywhere quite as cold as you're planning. Western Mountaineering do make really nice bags though, I have one which I think is rated about -15 that I use for cold winter trips in Australia. They're unfortunately way more expensive now, than when I bought mine.

[rurik]

I have three sleeping bags and a quilt. A 0deg (comfort), a -2deg (comfort) and a -12deg (comfort). On top of this I also have an old army sleeping bag liner. Out of all these bags I use the -2 nine months out of the year where I am. I could use the 0 but I like the fit of the -2 better plus it has some better features for when you want to be cool.


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[Moondog55]

Andrew I think you were working at MDs when I bought my parka, do you remember when the first of the Pertex stuff started to arrive how blown away we all were at the fabric.
I still use this duvet, my go-to winter parka even at 30 years old, 1100 grams and at least 600 of it down

[Moondog55]

I suppose this is a bit of a dinosaur but still has decades of use in it for the sort of winter camping I do and I'll be happy to use in the Arctic as primary insulation

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[Hermione]

Looks very warm Moondog, I think it's got more down in it than some of my sleeping bags.

[Moondog55]

MD reckoned on it being good for -30C with a wind breaker over the top. On Everest so moving slowly and low O2.
50mm of insulation 100mm loft in the core
I only use it for sleeping in.
It is 50% OVERSTUFFED Deliberately so it doesn't suffer from wind compression.

[Moondog55]

There is one other sleeping bag i am contemplating but I would have to do some more research on it as well
The Valandre Shockibg Blue NEO

http://www.valandre.com/sleeping-bags/s ... e-neo.html

Supposed to have the best footbox of any cold weather bag and a bit cheaper than Western Mountaineering of the same rating

http://barneyssports.com/catalogsearch/ ... q=valandre

[Moondog55]

I'm not going to bother buying a new dedicated winter sleeping bag, going on advice from BPL and Roger Caffin and others here.
I am going to make that Extra Large overquilt.
If I choose the right shell fabrics and the correct weight of insulation I think I could be comforatable right down to -45C using good technique and clothng. Saving that $1000- would pay for a newer, lighter, down parka more suitable as a midlayer as a part of a LW extreme cold system.
Alternatively I could simply remove half of the insulating down in the one I have. I rather like the idea of buying something more modern tho, if I can find one cut large enough to fit me

[Moondog55]

Nunatak have just started making APEX quilts.
I've just done some arithmetic and it is as cheap to buy form them for exactly what I need .
https://nunatakusa.com/quilts-and-jacke ... -no_thanks

[Moondog55]

Well I just paid my deposit on the Nunatak overquilt, unlike most cottage industries in the USA Jan is willing to accept partial payments over a reasonable time frame and do custom work as a matter of course. So I am getting one made with a Robic shell, 3.5 ounce APEX insulation and a bottom sleeve sized to fit my winter pad system.
Jan persuaded me to go with the slightly heavier and dearer [ + $35USD] Robic shell when I mentioned the use of a single skin 'mid as my possible shelter

[Moondog55]

Looks very warm Moondog, I think it's got more down in it than some of my sleeping bags.

Well if you know somebody that size it is now for sale, I'm buying something in my "new and improved" XXL size

[Moondog55]

Also if I decide I do need a new deep winter sleeping bag I will most likely get the warmest version of the One Planet Cocoon; overfilled 10% and protect it with a Goretex bivvy bag

[paddlpop]

I have a WM Bristlecone...rated to about -25. Its huge, weighs over 2kg but is an awesome bag..never had a chance to use here yet! Picked it up on ebay for under $200 - girl bought it in US and seem to realise what she had but knew it was no use to her here in oz. I couldn't get shipped over here for under $1400!

Now....time to plan some ice climbing in Maligne Canyon , Jasper!

[Moondog55]

At that price I would have bought it too
Also 2kg is pretty good for a -25C bag, is it the Regular or Large version
As for using it here in Oz, better too warm and ventilated than spending all night shivering