Guys,
I'm going on my first elk hunt in October. Most likely unit 75 in Colorado near Silverton. Average temps are from 20-50. I currently have a Golite 20 degree bag that's in great shape but it was manufactured in approx 2005. I will be using an inflatable sleep pad and will probably bring a foam as well. I have an REI bivy also. I was planning on stuffing some of my insulation layers in the bag if I need to. Other options are a Kifaru Woobie or possibly purchasing another bag. I generally sleep pretty hot but was curious if you think my current set up will be enough? Thanks for the advice.
Thanks guys. That's kinda what I figured. I've slept in the mil issued black bag with bivy in the high 20's probably and was alright. I was just unsure of the temp rating on those. My current bag seems to be more significant than the mil issued if I remember.
My current set up is a GoLite 20degree bag, synthetic insulation, REI Minimalist Bivy, REI Flash sleep pad (not insulated I believe), and a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol. Im debating on taking the Z lite vs. the Flash sleep pad…I might take both. I have a OR down puffy jacket and the PCU insulation pants I can stuff in there as well. I think I'll be good but I'm giving a lot of consideration to a woobie. Everyone still has theirs and for some reason I had to turn mine in.
My #1 sleeping bag for Alaska to include most of the winter is:
Renaissance | FELLFAB Military
20f is just about the perfect all round temp rating for Alaska until you get into the deep arctic temps and high altitude but I have used this very bag in Alaska even in January and February and alpine climbing to altitude....I survived just fine.
Always sleep with at least a base layer on, not only adds R value but keeps body oils, dirt, sweat and what ever from degrading the insulation of your sleeping bag. Sleep with all your clothes on as the temp drops, you carry all that extra weight so use it to stay warm. I have pushed my 20 bag down -10 or so wearing my clothing.
Using a bivy in my experience is very poor. They will increase your sleeping bag and body pressure difference meaning less breathability, insulation will not dry out and stay damp all trip as your body will not be able to push body vapor through so it will collect in the insulation and degrade its R value. Using a bivy inside a tent the pressure difference is huge. Stand alone bivy, try to cook in the rain, read, write, change clothes, etc. A small bivy tent like BD Firstlite is just a few ounces heavier but an actual tent.
My opinion is that the wobbie is useless. Of course I had an issue type and used it but its extra weight for true backcountry use as is. I had one that was sewed into a sleeping bag sorta of and I used it as a sleeping bag but the WildThings bivy liner was lighter and warmer.
I prefer to use a 1/2 length air pad with a full length foam pad, both from MSR for winter. For superlight, just a 1/2 length foam and place other things under my legs, backpack etc. Both of these will fit down into the sleeve of my Andinstia, off my pack for smaller profile and better load distribution of my pack.
In my experience I carry no down into the backcountry. Early in my career I did until we got caught out in the open is a huge Sept blow, we had to dig bolt holes to get out of the weather but all that precipitation and my body moisture I produced, sleeping bag got wet from the outside and inside, my down bag became useless and I very cold, shivering uncontrollable. After 3 days it blew on but another day or two and I may have lost the fight as some of my acquaintances have. My down bag was heavy and wet for another couple days of use and it never dried out back in camp even laying in the sun for 5 more days. Did not dry out until I was back home and hung it. Partners had synthetic bags and clothing and stayed warm and dry that whole trip. I know of someone who lost toes and one foot in the Wrangells due to a Sept storm, down bag and clothing got so wet and he froze his feet, his partner had a down bag but synthetic clothing and lost nothing but I venture out in the extreme of Alaska where help and roads are days and 100 miles away so my kit has to allow me to survive not be uncomfortable for a night until back to the cabin or rig.
Of course I am out of the industry and things change but sleeping bag ratings are done by a dummy person with sensors inside cold room. The measure or time the dummy determines the rating. Some companies give average, and high and survival rating. Are they accurate and the same across manufactures, no but closer than many think. Oblivious the more dead air the insulation traps for the body to heat up the warmer the bag is. But, down is soft and drapes around the body for less dead space for the body to heat where as synthetics are stiff and do not drape around the body with larger dead air space. Primaloft has a higher cloe rate than down, warmer per ounce over down but is so fine and small it requires a scrim to hold together so adds weight. Those who say synthetics do not last again, most regurgitate something they heard Vs actual use. The day of hollowfill are over, Primaloft will last years. I have an ID Renaissance from 1996 that is still as warm in use as it was day I got it. I machine wash and dry it and it removes all the dirt and fluffs it back up, try that with a down bag and the seems will rip.
And, food intake, body hydration, the weather, mental state, a lot of things go into how warm you will be in a sleeping bag.
You want your sleeping bag shell to breath, NO gore or likeness or the insulation will absorb body moisture and lose its loft, its the law of physics not my opinion.
And, most comfort level comes from the state of the mind. You want to be there and enjoy the adventure then most likely you will be more comfortable than the other guy who is just not happy. I have seen across the mind set spectrum and from day one in the hills, its obvious once you guide for a while who will be comfortable and full of enjoyment and those who will not. Throughout the day even during sufferfest like 3000 feet of scree or miles of sidehilling, I would do a shake down and stop and view Alaska, give some useless tibbit and tell my charges to stop and soak it all in, you are experiencing the greatest view God has made in the greatest country the world has known and let them soak it all in and shake down their mind set, worked very well but still a few that are just angry at the world and themselves.
have fun and good luck
