User Review: Big Agnes Lost Dog 50°

Big Agnes Lost Dog 50°
Above: The current Lost Dog 50°, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed June 3, 2006 by Trevor W. Banner

Rating:
Design: Modified rectangular
Fill: Primaloft Sport
Temperature Rating: +35
Weight: 20 oz
Price Paid: $60 in online auction

I'm pretty impressed. Not being that warm a sleeper anymore, I was skeptical as to whether a 50 degree bag would be enough for me, but the Lost Dog has proven itself to temps below 40. I also use the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad that they claim a rating of 15 degrees for. The combo together weigh under three pounds and stuff together into a single 5"x12" compression stuff sack. I'm impressed!

I almost always sleep in a beanie and carry my silk longjohns or my Duofolds (or both in the winter) for warmth both at night when sleeping and during colder days. The Lost Dog seemed upon first pulling it out at home to be too lightweight and thin to possibly keep me actually warm at 50 degrees, but I figured I had enough "extras" with me to get by comfortably.

As for roominess, I was absolutely amazed. This is modified rectangular? It was roomier than my 13-year-old 20 degree Thermolite rectangular bag. (Should I have gone with a mummy?) When used in conjunction with the REM pad, not only was I more comfortable in every position than I'd ever been on the trail, but considerably lighter and roomier. In the end, I was nearly as warm. I check my thermometer at night like some people check their watches. I can usually tell you exactly what the coldest temp has been during the night. The REM pad was SO comfortable that I ended up sleeping straight through the night most of the time. Something I rarely do, even at home.

My first use of the Lost Dog was in the Ventana Wilderness in late March/early April. Temps at night ranged from 42 and raining hard to 35 and clear.

I had not taken the time and care that I should have in setting up my tarp the evening it rained the hardest (it got down to 42 the last time I looked) and found in the morning that some rain water had been splashing all night onto the bag at about my waist and lower and collecting in a puddle on top of my Tyvek ground cloth. Not only had the water not even come near soaking through the bag on the top, but no water had wicked up the sides either. Despite my own carelessness, I was warm and dry.

The evening of the coldest temperature got down to 35 degrees the last time I looked. That evening, having seen that the clouds had cleared and the stars were out, I added my Thermolite bag cover (adds 15 degrees of warmth) and was plenty warm. The problem that evening wasn't being warm enough, it was having room enough. The bag cover kept twisting for some reason and restricting my movement inside the Lost Dog. Should have just put on my Duofolds. Live and learn.

All in all I'd have to say that the Lost Dog is now a permanent part of my pack. Its roominess, warmth, water repellancy, small carry size and weight have made it so.

Drawbacks/Cons - If you're a person who prefers not to wear any clothes when inside your bag. This might not be the bag for you during the early spring and late fall at elevations above 7000'.

Advantages/Pros - If you're looking for a lightweight, roomy bag that will take up virtually no space in your pack, add almost no weight and layer well with other bags (my old 20 degree themolite bag fits inside this one like a glove for cold weather trips!), clothes and equipment - GET THIS BAG.