How Many Sleeping Bags Do You Need?

How Many Sleeping Bags Do You Need?

To Three Or Not To Three?

Campfire Guy here.  A buddy of mine recently asked me, “For three season camping, do I really need three sleeping bags”?  We both live in Dallas and generally have tolerable camping weather from mid-September to late May.  Our four seasons are Allergies, Blazing Hot, More Allergies and Cold.  I’ve never camped in snow or weather below 20 degrees.  While we do get the occasional ice and snow storm, Dallas freaks out and no one leaves the house.

 

Campfire Guy is about to pummel a Campfire Kid with a snowball.
Campfire Guy is about to pummel a Campfire Kid with a snowball.

 

The short answer to his question is that unless you are camping pretty regularly below 30 degrees,  you’ll be fine with two sleeping bags.  There is a world of science behind sleeping bag technology and temperature ratings.  I’ve been lost in that rabbit hole many times.

I’ll keep this simple.  Bear in mind, hopefully not in tent, that everyone has different tolerances for hot and cold weather.  There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to figuring out how to sleep comfortably.

Bag #1 – 60 Degree Lightweight Bag

I like the REI Travel Sack.  REI rereleased this at the REI Helio Sack 55 earlier in the year, but it’s essentially the same bag.  In 80 degree weather, open it up, and lay it atop your sleeping pad.  I’ve used this bag late October, zipped up inside and been warm to about 60 degrees.  

 

REI Travel Sack atop my Therm A Rest Z Sol sleeping pad.
REI Travel Sack atop my Therm A Rest Z Sol sleeping pad.

 

Bag #2 – 20 Degree Down Bag

I use a Sierra Designs Zissou 23 Degree 700 Fill DriDown Sleeping Bag .  I’ve slept in it between 60 and 40 degrees and been plenty warm.  In the 60’s, I can sleep in shorts and a T-shirt.  Much lower than 40 and I’ll start to layer up.

 

Sierra Designs Zissou 23, while a mummy bag, still has adequate room to toss and turn in.
Sierra Designs Zissou 23, while a mummy bag, still has adequate room to toss and turn in.

 

Combine Them in Colder Weather

In 40 degrees, down to right around freezing, I’ll bring the Travel Sack, Zissou 23 and some extra layers.   The “bag in a bag” scenario gives added warmth, but does add hassle if you have to get out of the two in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or chase squirrels.  I like to have options and the travel sack doesn’t take up much space in my pack.

 

Travel sack stuffed inside the Zissou 23.
Travel sack stuffed inside the Zissou 23.

 

Both bags compact nicely in your backpack or car trunk.

 

Zissou 23 on the left, REI Travel Sack in the center, Baseball on the right for a sense of scale and for me to be an Astros homer.
Zissou 23 on the left, REI Travel Sack in the center, Baseball on the right for a sense of scale and for me to be an Astros homer.

 

Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a new bag in any temperature range.

Sleeping Bag Ratings Are Usually Suspect

Sleeping bag manufacturers usually publish both “comfort” and “survival” limit for temperature ratings.  Avoid the rabbit hole and just assume any bag you are considering is going to be off by 10 degrees.  That 20-degree bag you are considering is only going to be comfortable to 30 degrees.  

For an Adult – Go For Down Over Synthetic For Your 20-degree Bag

Down bags take up less space inside your tent and compress to a smaller size in your pack.  The price tag on down increase as the bag weight goes down and the fill power goes up.  There is a wide range of prices, from the Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree Bag at $119, to the Western Mountaineering Ultralite Bag at $499.

For a Kid – Stick With Synthetic for Their 20-degree Bag

My Boy Scout has done a pretty good  job keeping up with his gear.  He currently uses an Alps Mountaineering Desert Pines 20 degree synthetic bag and takes one of our Travel Sacks in colder weather to use as a liner.  This bag is heavy and bulky, but we caught it on a sale at hikerdirect.com for $35 and couldn’t pass it up.  As they get older and spend more time in the outdoors, maybe you upgrade them to down.  Just assume the down bag will always smell like feet and that raccoons have probably slept in it.  

 

Awkward snow angels.
Awkward snow angels.

 

A Few More Tips Before We Go to Help You Stay Warm

Layers are your friend.  I would be remiss talking about sleeping bags and cold weather if I didn’t mention layers.  Have a separate base layer top (which is fancy talk for a long sleeve shirt) and bottom (fancy pants), wool socks and a beanie hat that you use for sleeping only.  I prefer the Icebreaker Everyday Long Sleeve Crewe Top and Icebreaker Men’s Everyday Leggings but there is a wide range of comfortable synthetics on the market.  Those base layers you wore all day around camp contain moisture that will bring your body temperature down at night.

Before you go to bed drink a warm, nonalcoholic drink.

Do some sit ups or push ups right before you lay down.

Throw some hand warmers inside your bag.

Stay warm out there!

Special thanks to my buddy Nicolas Esquivel for the fantastic question that inspired this post!

For questions, comments or concerns, drop them in the comments below or send me an email at info@campfireguy.com


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