Cold weather bags for big guys?

[dla]

I'm looking for a 0 degree bag that is under 5lbs and roughly $100. I've done some research and the best bag for large folks seems to be The North Face Goliath (~129 @campmore). Is there something else I should look at also? Appreciate your input.

[jackfish]

You missed the Slumberjack Ultrapacker Magnum 0°F Quallofil® Mummy Sleeping Bag at Campmor.

Also look at the Trekker long 0 degree mummy bag at Cabelas.

[dla]

Thanks Jackfish. Problem is that I can't seem to find any info on the actual shoulder diameter of the Slumberjack Ultrapacker Magnum. The Trekker at Cabelas is a last resort as I would really rather get a packable bag.

[jackfish]

From what I can tell the Slumberjack is about 6" wider at the shoulders than the North Face Goliath.  It seems that there would be more room in both the Slumberjack and the Trekker than the North Face.  Both the Slumberjack and Trekker weigh under a pound more than the North Face and they both pack into a similar package.

[dla]

Jackfish: Thanks for the starting points for my investigation. I am such a cheapskate I must've spent 8 hours online reviewing big-guy synthetic bags. What I discovered is:

• Sierra Designs Sandman - a flex bag, is a great idea, but evidently lacks a chest draft tube/collar, which is a basic requirement for a cold weather bag.
• Sierra Designs Atlas & Paul Bunyan - lack a chest collar. But the Atlas is still available for $99 at Campmor
• SlumberJack uses the older Qualofil, which is why they end up too heavy for a backpacking bag. Otherwise they have the right features and price point for a big guy bag.
• The North Face Goliath has the right features, right price point ($129 & free shipping from Campmor) and enough online reviews for me to form an opinion.
• I assumed all manufacturer fudge their temperature ratings by 10 degrees. I will be enjoying some 15 degree nights while Elk hunting in late October (Eastern Oregon high plateu), which I why I looked mainly for 0 degree bags. Early October deer hunting averages high 20's at night.
[/list:u]

There are very good down bag manufacturers, and for the gear-heads who aren't trying to put kids through college the $500 price tags probably seem reasonable. But I live the Pacific NorthWest where wet is the norm. So I'm not interested in a bunch of soggy feathers.

I'll probably post my opinions on the Goliath in November - hopefully to help out another big guy :)

[dla]

Temps were in the low 30's - just starting to freeze my water.

Bag worked just fine. It takes a couple of trys to figure out the chest tube/draft collar cord adjustment - but it does the job. The main zipper is quirky,  but it doesn't bind on the fabric. The zipper is sensitive to the pull angle and it can be a trick to  pull it closed with one hand while in the bag. The velcro zipper and chest collar closures worked great - they'll even pop open in an emergency.

I would guess that the bag is probably good to 15 degrees or so. Although it is rated at 0 degrees, my guess is that the manufacturer took a 15 degree liberty with the numbers.

In a couple of weeks I'll get to try it in some low 20 degree weather while Elk hunting.

[Daveinthebush]

If the bag isn't quite there for the wampth needed:

1. Increase the insulation under you.
2. Always wear a clean pair of dry socks.
3. A watch cap on your head.
4. Wear a clean pair of long-johns.
5. Sleep with a friend. :grin:
6. Buy a liner or a bag cover.

[Billybob]

I regularly camp with friends in sub freezing weather. In fact we never camp during the summer months at all. Cant stand the bugs and we like having a fire. Last year we camped at -20. Coldest I have camped in was -40 with wind chill.
Eggs were frozen in their shell. Potatoes so frozen we had to chop them with a hatchet.
You dont have to spend $500 on a bag to stay warm.
I am a good sized guy over 200 lbs and most mummy bags are too small for me. I have an extra long, extra wide hooded rectangular bag that I bought at Bass Pro for under $100. Most mummy bags are too narrow in the shoulders for me. This bag fits me very comfortably. Last year at -20 I actually woke up  too hot in my bag.
A few things I do to stay warm. Get yourself a self inflating pad to sleep on. Staying off the ground even a little bit helps alot.
My bag is rated to zero degrees so when camping below zero I slide one of those $20 fleece summer bags inside my regular bag. I line the fleece bag zipper up with my sleeping bag zipper so I can easily get in and out.
Then before climbing in the bag at nite get yourself a couple of those Hot Hands hand warmers and throw them in the bottom of your bag by your feet.
You'll find they put off heat all nite long and keep you warm & toasty.
This year we are already planning a campout on super bowl weekend. We will get home in time for the game on Sunday. Laat year it was -20 on super bowl weekend and we camped and had a great time. Cold weather camping isn't for everyone but most people dont know what they're missing.
We took our atvs one year and camped all weekend at -9 degreees. We rode the atvs in the falling snow at midnite and had an awesome time. I took my 17 year old son cold weather camping for the 1st time and he had a great time.

[dla]

One more update on the North Face Goliath ($129 at Campmor).

I slept out in the open (no tent). Temperature was 28 degrees with a wind gusting to 20mph. I had two Link-Rest closed cell foam pads under me.

I was very warm. The chest collar and hood did a good job of keeping the wind out of the bag as I tossed around. I don't sleep on my back. My throat was raw from breathing the cold, dry air.

My sleeping attire is polar fleece pants, knit top, balaclava and good socks. I'm a warm sleeper, i.e. my internal furnace runs pretty good.

So far I think the NF Goliath is a pretty good big-guy bag, but I don't believe it would work at it's 0 degree rating.  I think it is an honest 10 degree bag.