Sleeping bag suggestions please.

[TX-Hunter]

I'm ready to buy my first "good" sleeping bag. Till now I have only used the bulky $10 walmart special sleeping bags.

I want to hear yalls suggestions.

The winter temps here rarely get below low 30's at night. Occasionally we get a cold snap that drops us into the teens. Normal night temps are low to mid 40's. Should I go with a 40 degree bag and just bring along a fleece liner for the nights I expect it to go lower?
I want the lightest weight, smallest packable size I can get, but i'm not willing to pay out the nose for it. I intend to spend about $80 tops.
I'll be sleeping in a hammock or in a tent mostly.

I've been looking at the Slumberjacks at my local Gander Mountain. Are they pretty good bags?

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[Dixie Dude]

Wiggy's  I heard you could sleep in it in the rain and stay dry. http://www.wiggys.com/

[TX-Hunter]

thanks, i'll check them out.

 

[corbanzo]

Wiggy's is good, but most of their stuff is pretty expensive.  Take a look at the kelty lightyear 25 degree bag.  It is a great bag and packs down rediculously small.  It is a little over your prive range at I think I paid $140 for mine, but you definintely won't be sorry.  I have a small polypro liner for mine, which mades it really nice. 

[victorcharlie]

Wiggy's is good, but most of their stuff is pretty expensive.  Take a look at the kelty lightyear 25 degree bag.  It is a great bag and packs down rediculously small.  It is a little over your prive range at I think I paid $140 for mine, but you definintely won't be sorry.  I have a small polypro liner for mine, which mades it really nice. 

The wife and I both have Kelty lightyear 25 degree bags.  They're good bags for the money, weigh 2lbs and pack small.  I will soon upgrade to aMarmont helium +15 degree bags.

In the $80 range, have a look at REI or Campmoor.

[TX-Hunter]

Campmor has a Slumberjack Lattitude 0 degree bag for $50.  I think i'm going to get that one.

Does anyone have experience with this bag particularly or Slumberjack in general?

Thanks

[corbanzo]

Slumberjacks are good bags.  The only problem with their lower end bags is that they are pretty bulky. 

[TX-Hunter]

yea, i was noticing that.  campmor catalog says packed size is 11x21.  that is  smaller than my $15 walmart bag.

[d_hiker]

My sons and I have 3 Slumberjack bags and like them.  The only problem we had was when my son tried to wash one in the agitator type washing machine at home.  It did snag and put a small rip in it.  We have washed them at the laundromat in the tumble type washers with no problems.  For drying the bag I have 8 to 10 clean tennis balls I throw in the dryer with the bag.  They help fluff the insulation as the bag tumbles.  A pair of clean tennis shoes also works but who can find a CLEAN pair of those.

Our bags did not come with compression bags, we bought those later and they did allow us to shrink the packed size by quite a bit.  Do not leave your bag stored in a compression bag or it will be hard to get the loft back in the insulation (ie. won't keep you as warm).

[victorcharlie]

Slumber Jacks are both bulky and heavy.  This isn't a problem when car camping.   If you're backpacking there are probably better choices.......and the same warmth can be had in a much smaller and lighter package.....

[d_hiker]

It depends on what Slumberjack bag you get.  Mine is rated to 35° and the carry weight is 2lb 12oz, it packs in a stuff bag about 6"dia x 12" long.  I picked it up on a end of season clearance for $40 and have been very happy with it.  For me when the temp drops into the 30s I throw my jacket or coat on top of the bag for a little added warmth if I didn't bring a clean pair of polypropylene underwear to sleep in.  And a stocking cap always helps on those cold nights even with the bag hood pulled tight.

[LEO]

The big thing to remember about temp ratings is that they are pretty optimistic for most people, while if you have a bag rated to 30 degrees and it gets to 30 degrees you will not freeze to death but you may not be comfortable either.  If you are in an area that it rarely gets below 30, I would recommend that you buy a bag rated to 10 degrees, 0 degrees would be even better.  They cost little more and can add to your comfort considerably.  Now as far as the Wiggys bags goes, I have one of their light weight bags and like it, but they are expensive.  I went with the Wiggys because they compress to a very small package and you can leave them compressed and they still fluff to retain their insulation qualities.  Mine is only rated to 30 degrees but that is fine because I use it during the spring, summer and fall.  I have probably close to 100 nights in mine now and I only have one complaint in that the way the ziipper is made, it can get uncomfortable if you twist around and wind up laying on it but that is a minor complaint for a infrequent event. 

[dla]

I'm ready to buy my first "good" sleeping bag. Till now I have only used the bulky $10 walmart special sleeping bags.

I want to hear yalls suggestions.

The winter temps here rarely get below low 30's at night. Occasionally we get a cold snap that drops us into the teens. Normal night temps are low to mid 40's. Should I go with a 40 degree bag and just bring along a fleece liner for the nights I expect it to go lower?
I want the lightest weight, smallest packable size I can get, but i'm not willing to pay out the nose for it. I intend to spend about $80 tops.
I'll be sleeping in a hammock or in a tent mostly.

I've been looking at the Slumberjacks at my local Gander Mountain. Are they pretty good bags?

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

Head over to Campmor and look at their Campmor down bags. I own a bunch of 20* and they work pretty well. They stuff down small like pretty-much any down bag.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Have a Moonstone down bag here----probably more than you need inTX------Cabela's has a nice selection of bags too.