great review and very informative. I feel like a 15F sleeping bag is the best rating for year-round camping. If the weather is too warm in the summer, I can unzip the 15F bag and cover half my body or sleep completely uncovered and still be ok. If the temperatures are too cold (below freezing), I add a down or wool blanket for an extra layer with midweight baselayer clothing and I'm toasty in temperatures in the teens. These methods saves me from buying multiple bags. Of course, as you said, everyone's body type is different.
Not necessarily. Big Agnes has the Torchlight and Sidewinder, Thermarest makes several quilt bags and Sierra Designs has the Backcountry Bed, Night Cap, Cloud and Nitro lines of zipperless and quilt bags. If you don't mind synthetic, there's tons of surplus military bags out there that have plenty of room to roll around in and you can find them in new condition for around $100. I bought one from a junk store for $9 and it's fantastic. It's warm down to the mid 30s (as low as I've tested it) and uses Primaloft insulation, which is the same stuff Nemo uses.
Yeah in those deadly temperatures you are better safe than sorry! If you goof and it doesn’t work as you expected or a much colder weather system moves in than expected it might be the last sunset you see. I know weight and volume can be an issue but have laying options. And bring Mylar emergency blankets for extra insulation just in case. You can always remove layers or vent the bag a little if you start to over heat. But if you’re using all your equipment and you’re still losing the heat fight there’s nothing you can do about it. Especially if there’s no fuel for a fire or means to build a snow cave or something. Where you headed anyways? The Arctic Circle? Or above 20,000 feet?
U should mention that if you dont have a decent R rating sleep pad it dlesnt matter how great your bag is because youll be cold well before the 15 degree limit
If its below zero with the wind if it's dry I will still be out in the woods all day making my food cooking over the fire...if it's wet I'll just go to like a mcdonald's and wait it out. The synthetic sleeping bags are pretty good Theyll get you through any temperature people just don't like carrying them around if you don't someone will find it and take it.
I bought a 15 degree marmot sawtooth for my first sleeping bag. is it good for beginner backpackers?. not sure if I should switch to a 20 degree bag both seem very versatile
The Sawtooth is a great bag, especially for your first bag. It should last for many years to come. You might get hot in mid summer (depending on your location) but it should be good for fall, winter, and spring for sure.
I'm such a difficult customer. I hate hot weather and heat. Sleeping bags are kinda hot. So when I go camping I often end up with just sheets. That being said, I moved to new england so now I actually need more than sheets.
If “comfort” limit is when a woman would feel comfortable in that temperature, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of having a “women’s” version of a sleeping bag. Isn’t comfort limit be for male and a woman’s version sleeping bag would usually have extra fill to adjust to a woman’s comfort temp? 🤔
Backstory: my wife rescued said dog before meeting me, so it was technically her dog. In the years that followed, when said dog was a good dog, I would lovingly refer to her as "our dog". When she was a bad dog, I would jokingly refer to her as "my wife's dog".
Temp ratings are inconsistent among vendors, and in some cases, completely made up. There is no governing body enforcing these standards; ISO/EN certification is entirely voluntary. And even the bags that do have an ISO/EN rating might use the lower extreme as the bag's advertised temp rating, in order to make it seem warmer than it is. With only a couple of exceptions, I wouldn't trust any model bag to keep me warm down to its rated minimum, without at least testing it in advance. Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering are two companies I'm aware of that, if anything, undersell how warm their bags really are.
I think that's why at the 2:20 mark he said *"start with a high quality down sleeping bag from a high-quality reputable source."* He also demonstrated that in his presentation by using marmot bags which is the brand he personally owns and can vouch for. While nothing is guaranteed, he gave us a good place to start. †
So far this is the best Enwild video I’ve watched.
Thank you!
great review and very informative. I feel like a 15F sleeping bag is the best rating for year-round camping. If the weather is too warm in the summer, I can unzip the 15F bag and cover half my body or sleep completely uncovered and still be ok. If the temperatures are too cold (below freezing), I add a down or wool blanket for an extra layer with midweight baselayer clothing and I'm toasty in temperatures in the teens. These methods saves me from buying multiple bags. Of course, as you said, everyone's body type is different.
Thats definitely a good point
Thank you I finally feel like i have a starting point! It sounds like the 15 or 0 bag would be best for me since I am rarely hot when I sleep
Awesome, I hope it keeps you warm all night!
Great review, I’m a side sleeper and the bags available are limited - rectangular bags
Thanks! Hopefully you find the bag that works for you!
Not necessarily. Big Agnes has the Torchlight and Sidewinder, Thermarest makes several quilt bags and Sierra Designs has the Backcountry Bed, Night Cap, Cloud and Nitro lines of zipperless and quilt bags. If you don't mind synthetic, there's tons of surplus military bags out there that have plenty of room to roll around in and you can find them in new condition for around $100. I bought one from a junk store for $9 and it's fantastic. It's warm down to the mid 30s (as low as I've tested it) and uses Primaloft insulation, which is the same stuff Nemo uses.
Thanks for the tips brother. Think i'll go with the 15 degree bag.
Enjoy!
Thoughts on a Marmot CWM -40 down sleeping bag? Worth the temp for the price? I would be going somewhere very cold
I love my Col -20, but I've never tried the CWM -40. If it's like my other Marmot bags, I'm sure it will be plenty warm!
Yeah in those deadly temperatures you are better safe than sorry! If you goof and it doesn’t work as you expected or a much colder weather system moves in than expected it might be the last sunset you see.
I know weight and volume can be an issue but have laying options. And bring Mylar emergency blankets for extra insulation just in case.
You can always remove layers or vent the bag a little if you start to over heat. But if you’re using all your equipment and you’re still losing the heat fight there’s nothing you can do about it. Especially if there’s no fuel for a fire or means to build a snow cave or something.
Where you headed anyways? The Arctic Circle? Or above 20,000 feet?
Finally someone who actually explains what to do with the temp indications. Btw, that looks like a sick tent. What is it?
It's a great tent! It's an older model of the Marmot Halo 6P. You can check out the current version here: www.enwild.com/marmot-halo-6p-2018.html
U should mention that if you dont have a decent R rating sleep pad it dlesnt matter how great your bag is because youll be cold well before the 15 degree limit
Definitely.
Sweet video man. Very informative.
Thanks!
The best sleeping bag video!! Thank u
Awesome, I'm happy you liked it!
If its below zero with the wind if it's dry I will still be out in the woods all day making my food cooking over the fire...if it's wet I'll just go to like a mcdonald's and wait it out. The synthetic sleeping bags are pretty good Theyll get you through any temperature people just don't like carrying them around if you don't someone will find it and take it.
I bought a 15 degree marmot sawtooth for my first sleeping bag. is it good for beginner backpackers?. not sure if I should switch to a 20 degree bag both seem very versatile
The Sawtooth is a great bag, especially for your first bag. It should last for many years to come. You might get hot in mid summer (depending on your location) but it should be good for fall, winter, and spring for sure.
is this all in a tent?
Yep!
This was very helpful!
Great!
I'm such a difficult customer. I hate hot weather and heat. Sleeping bags are kinda hot. So when I go camping I often end up with just sheets. That being said, I moved to new england so now I actually need more than sheets.
Is there a better bag than the Marmot brand you're pushing in this video? Cost isn't a factor for me, nor is compressibility or weight.
That's a great question we'd love to hear what other users have to say.
There for sure are better down bags. Check out Feathered Friends, Western Mountaineering Designs for starters.
Useful vid. Thanks 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
If “comfort” limit is when a woman would feel comfortable in that temperature, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of having a “women’s” version of a sleeping bag. Isn’t comfort limit be for male and a woman’s version sleeping bag would usually have extra fill to adjust to a woman’s comfort temp? 🤔
Who calls their wife’s dog, “their wife’s dog”?
Backstory: my wife rescued said dog before meeting me, so it was technically her dog. In the years that followed, when said dog was a good dog, I would lovingly refer to her as "our dog". When she was a bad dog, I would jokingly refer to her as "my wife's dog".
Temp ratings are inconsistent among vendors, and in some cases, completely made up. There is no governing body enforcing these standards; ISO/EN certification is entirely voluntary. And even the bags that do have an ISO/EN rating might use the lower extreme as the bag's advertised temp rating, in order to make it seem warmer than it is.
With only a couple of exceptions, I wouldn't trust any model bag to keep me warm down to its rated minimum, without at least testing it in advance. Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering are two companies I'm aware of that, if anything, undersell how warm their bags really are.
I think that's why at the 2:20 mark he said *"start with a high quality down sleeping bag from a high-quality reputable source."* He also demonstrated that in his presentation by using marmot bags which is the brand he personally owns and can vouch for. While nothing is guaranteed, he gave us a good place to start. †