I'm looking to pick-up a sleeping bag for late-October high mountain camping is support of elk hunting. I'm talking an unheated tent. The sleeping bag needs to use synthetic insulaltion which does not lose as much warmth when wet as does goose down. Any recommendations? I'm backpacking and will be making camp around 11,500', just below treeline in SW Colorado.
I use it for pack in hunts. The bag is not very heavy, but bulky. I use a 5500 cu in pack, and have always had to lash it to the frame.
Good Luck.
CE
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"A hunter should not select a caliber and bullet that will kill when everything goes right, rather,
should choose ones that will kill when everything goes wrong."
"Recoil lasts a second, but gravity lasts forever."
Alsatian, I have been using the Trekker Rectangular bag from Cabelas at a -20degree rating in the CO mountains. I went away from mummy bags awhile back, I sleep better this way. My big deal isn't the bag as much as the pad under me. I am old and crippled up, so 2- 4" foam pads allow me to sleep well. I don't pack in any more, so I can get away with this. And I found cots to be cold, too much cold air under you.
Gselkhunter
I've been using a North Face -20 bag for at leat 10 years now. I think I paid about $120 for it then. It has always kept me warm.
One of the guys I was hunting with this year had a fleece insert that he would put in his bag. I've got to have one of those before this years elk hunt. I looked very warm.
I"ll second wiggys. Just got a sleep system from them for my cold natured wife and she was extremely warm in the 0 bag. And we can put the outer bag on if needed to protect down below zero. Works when wet. ITs not the lightest but they compress well in their own stuff sacks. Walk ins to the store get a discount so if you internet them -- see if you can find someone in CO to buy it for you.
Worth the money for us.
Jeff
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Get as close as you can, but use your skills as needed.
Ruger- stabs us in the back on gun control- why support him?
I would recommend a bag in the 4 lb range that compresses well and is rated down to 0 degrees. To achieve that you basically have 2 options that I know of. Either one of the new synthetic down synthetics such as Polarguard 3-D OR go ahead and spend the money for a down bag with a goretex type exterior shell that sheds water. The major problem with the synthetics is that they will go flat quicker than Down. MUCH QUICKER. The way to extend the life of the synthetics is not to ever leave them in a compressed state except when packing in. I hang mine in a closet most of the year, travel with them in a big "storage sack" that usually comes with them, and put them in a compression sack only when I get to the trailhead and start my pack in. When I arrive at a backpack camp, I take the bag out as soon as I have my shelter up. If aren't careful, and leave them in a stuff sack for an extended period, they will lose their loft/warmth.
On the other hand, I usually try and treat Down similar, but have never had a probem with it going flat, even when I forget and leave it in the stuff sack for extended periods. With the new, Goretex type outer shell, it should be waterproof unless you drop it in a creek. My brother has one and hasn't had a problem with moisture, although we have never used it but in a tent.
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Venor ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
I have a North Face bag, rated to -5. Whichever bag you use, remember that 99% of the time, you get what you pay for. Backpacking into the Weminuche in the fall is no time to skimp on a bag. Also, I'm glad you're leaning away from a down bag. They'll get you killed in my opinion.
Cabela's Summit bag has done me well on alot of nights sleeping under the stars not in a tent. Even in the deep snow the -20 summit bag and the outfitter style bed roll has always kept me warm. I would suggest getting a bag that is just alittle bigger than what you think you need. So it won't twist you up like a pretzel during the night.
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Take a youth hunting and preserve the future.
Elk hunting sleeping bag
