Sleeping bag for the warmer times.

I have just started considering a warm weather sleeping bag. The old car-camping bag I have is just too heavy (7 lbs.), too large (11 x 17 packed) and anything else bad you can think of for a backpacking bag, although it is warm and comfortable.

Can someone give me their thoughts on a warm weather bag concerning things like down or synthetic, weight, packed size, brand and/or model recommendations? Remember this will be for warm weather (to me, that means around +32 and above). Do those that have one now use it for very warm weather and just sleep on top?

I've been considering the Kelty Light Year (25 or 45) in down, just for the size and weight benefit, but the synth stuff may be all right for warmer times, and the benefits aren't that significantly different.

Thanks loads

Steve

From my point of view, you should consider whether most of your camping will be in wet or dry climates. If mostly wet, I personally would stick with a synthetic bag. If mostly dry, then you get get a more compact and lighter down bag.

Barb's and my "summer" bags are Primaloft, which is about the same weight for warmth and compressability as 500-600 fill down (found in the less expensive down bags - top quality down is more like 750+ fill, and we have 850 for our winter bags). I find in my experience that Primaloft (especially the current generation) is noticeably better than the other synthetic fills available. I have one (Integral Designs) that is a +15F and a test bag that was unrated, but supposed to be 30 to 40F (turned out to be more like 40 than 30 in my testing). I prefer the +15 for my "standard" summer bag. I leave it unzipped, but ready to close if the temperature drops too much during the night. Since it is about 2.75 pounds, I don't worry about the weight (yeah, I could get a 1.5 pound down bag that is rated the same). Since it is synthetic, I also don't have any concern about it getting damp, just use it in wet and dry climates, anything above predicted +25 or so (predictions can be wrong - our predicted 40F for two weeks ago had frost on the bushes).

Steve, as BH says, synth is probably a better choice for your WV climate, and a +15 or +20 bag is likely to prove pretty versatile for most of your backpacking for the nest couple of years. In WV and neighboring states, you will have occasions for which you will be much happier with Primaloft than down. Most top quality bags have a pretty wide temperature range, assuming you get a mummy-style with a full zip (which means down to the toe box - the toe box is left closed to keep the toes warmer when it does get cold, and usually the full zip in top quality bags can be unzipped from the bottom for more ventilation). A hood that can be closed and a collar that can be loosened or tightened to restric or allow air flow also widens the comfort range. We use our +15 bags from +70 (like at the 2005 Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia, where it never got down to 70 at night) down to +15 (sometimes cooler), and I have used my -40 down bag from -60 (-35 by my measure in the tent) up to +30 (ok, the bag was completely unzipped at +30).

Look at Integral Designs website - they are a Canadian company and make all their gear in Canada.

My vote goes for the down summer bag. I own a few sleeping bags, but none gets used more than my summer bag. I bought it in 2004 when I thru hiked the AT. Come to think of it I bought it in West Virginia in Harpers Ferry. Its a western mountaineering 45 degree bag.
Sadly mostly due to me spilling my stove fuel on it and sleeping in it tons it is now completly tatered and finished and flat. I still use it in the summer and fall it's perfect.
The great thing about down is that it is so light,packable and durable. My bag wieghs about a pound and stuffs to just larger than a grapefruit. When you have a bag that small you don't need such a large pack and you save even more wieght. Aside from all those wieght savings IMHO down is far more durable than synthetic. I owned a TNF cats meow a few years back and after just a few months of use it was totaly worthless and flat. Just after that bag died, I bought a Marmot Helium and even after 3 years of use and at least 1500 miles it still lofts up nicely. As for the dampness factor, I've never expierianced it. A few times, one in particular, my bag got wet when I set up my tarp improperly after I moved my self into a drier spot my bag was dry and fluffy by morning. I think the heat from your body dries the down as you sleep. Just keep your bag in a trash bag during the day to keep it dry. I have known a few people with the Kelty bag and they have all liked it. I think it is very affordable too. Have fun hiking

I'm a big fan of the TNF Cat's Meow. I've had mine for four years, using it for backpacking and kayak/canoe trips in northern Michigan. Just used it this weekend on a solo hike along the shore of Lake Superior, where temps fell to near freezing, and slept very warm. In warmer weather, I just open it up or use it like a quilt over me.

My appologies Rexim, I didn’t mean to offend. I know many people love their meows. It has even gotten the backpacker magazine gold award. Mine just didn't last very long. It could be because I roll around a lot when I sleep and that may have compressed the fill quicker? I don't know. It just goes to prove that our gear is a very personal choice, and different things work for different people under different circumstances. One of the things I liked about the Meow was the full zip so you can use it as a quilt, My bags all have a half zip so they are not as versitile.

Jeffrey:

You don't need to apoloogize, I was not offended. I just wanted to offer my opinion.

One explanation for our different experiences may be that I don't roll around when I sleep, so I am always compressing the same area of the bottom of the bag, where the sleeping pad protects from the cold ground.

Down bags are king, unless you camp in wet conditions regularly.

For summer use, go with a 40 degree bag.

The Marmot Pounder is a great choice, weighing only 1 pound, rated at 40 degrees. It is synthetic.

-Eric

Check out the Shenandoah Summer Quilt at Jacks R' Better. 800 fill down. It is on end of season sale. Quilts work great. I have two homemade models I use 3 seasons.