Yet another sleeping bag question

[the_camera_poser]

Hi all,

My budget is going to be a bit more than I thought. I was getting Mountain Designs bags for us, synthetic bags rated to -5, but they are a bit heavy (1.8kg), and now I'm thinking of getting somethnig lighter. I found these Montbell ultralight bags, which weigh in at around 700g, and are rated for 30f. They have elastic in them, so they stretch, which is good, as neither Helen nor I like a mummy bag.

These bags would be 4 season bags, and I'd use reactor liners with them. I'm tempted to go for the 25f bags, but then I think they'd be too hot in the Summer. In any case, I was planning on using the PO Ether Thermo Mats with them.

Here's the 25f bag:
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.ph ... id=1121726

Here's the 25f bag:
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.ph ... id=1121726

In your opinion, are these the right bags for us? I don't plan on using them in exposed or severely cold areas during the winter, but I could see myself going above the snow line in more mild winter weather. Otherwise, I want to be able to use them for 4 seasons, if possible. I plan on getting a REactor liner for them as well.

If not, what bag would you recommend?

[the_camera_poser]

Incidentially, I'm a medium-warm sleeper, Helen's a cold sleeper, and we both sleep in polyprop. thermals. Laura's a medium sleeper like me. She sleeps in whatever we put her in.

[the_camera_poser]

Or am I better with a 15f bag?

[dee_legg]

All i can suggest is that you make sure the temperature ratings you're considering are comfort ratings not extreme ratings. I'd say the 25f bags would probably be a good safe option depending on the difference in price but the 15f would be overkill. I spent Tuesday night (the one that produced the horror icy road conditions that killed nine on tassies road ) in the hut at Twilight Tarn and i was cold in my Mont Brindabella which is rated on their website at -3 (comfort) -12 (extreme). I got cold wear a merino thermal tee, a 320 weight icebreaker and polar fleece pants on a 5cm thermarest. Must've been cold!
Anyway, that story doesn't really have a point but i hope it gives you a few things to think about.

[the_camera_poser]

that's exactly what I need to know. I was resigning myself to the 15f bags, but the 25 might be a good compromise. We can always carry extra clothes.

Ta!

[Taurë-rana]

Thanks Dee, you've answered a question for me, and that is "Would the Mont Zeal be too warm for Tassie conditions?" but obviously you could have done with it the other night. Mind you, it was exceptionally cold that night, but it's no fun sleeping cold, done that for too long camping.

[dee_legg]

Yes would've been very nice! Was the first time i'd been cold in the bag even a night in a tent on the Eliza Plateau on a good snow cover last July was fine. For those who know the Twilight Tarn Hut they will also understand what i mean when i say how poorly built for sleeping it is. Three rooms, two of which have bunks for 4 people and then huge wasted space and is impossible to warm up!
Anyway, in my perfect world i'd have the brindabella for 3 season use and a spindrift or telemark for special trips

[the_camera_poser]

Sleeping bag shopping is a pain in the rear- ideally I'd get a 20f bag, but Montbell doesn't have one in the super-stretch line. So the choice falls to 15f (too warm) or 25f (too cool). I reckon I'll go for the 25, and experiment with a liner. If that doesn't work, maybe a comforter would.

[Taurë-rana]

If that doesn't work, maybe a comforter would.

Is that why you're setting your wife up to go bushwalking with you?

[the_camera_poser]

Naw- last time we hiked I groused the whole way about how heavy my pack was, and she never said a word, and even offered to take a bit off of mine. Afterwards, we weighed up- mine was 20kg and hers was 25kg. THAT'S why I take her! My little mule!

[wanderer]

Hi there, I've got a FairyDown Everest bag for my colder trips in Tas. About 900 loft
and rated at -23 deg. Wouldn't like to test it at that temperature but it has been good at -10 deg
on Ironstone. I saw one on sale at the MacPac shop in Hobart the other week for half price.
Good thing with the quality ones are that you dont get too hot if you strip down abit, they
seem to breath quite well. Also has a Dryloft exterior.
Cheers

[the_camera_poser]

I'm keen to give these Montbell's a whirl- both the Mule and I hate (no, I should say HATE) sleeping in Mummy bags- I actually suffer (no, it's not always a good thing) from having a build like a New York Jet linebacker, and I just don't fit in the dand things, at least not comfortably. I was looking at a Mont rectangular bag, but the stretch-to-fit design of those Montbells really strikes my fancy.

I'm going to start a poll on Temperature ratings I think!

[Taurë-rana]

I think I'd feel claustrophobic in a stretch to fit bag, just the thought of them gives me the horrors! Luckily I have plenty of room in a mummy bag.

[dee_legg]

Definitely agree Devon Annie! I couldn't think of much worse than a stretch to fit bag, i can also imagine them being cold where the elastic (assuming that is what makes them stretchy) bands are. My semi rectangler is find for me to still get into the foetal position although my knees get cold when straining against the fabric of the bag but hey, thats what the hood of my downie is for!

[the_camera_poser]

Mummy bags = buried alive. Both the spouse and I detest them.

As for the cool spots- I wondered about that, but the reviews of these bags are unreservedly positive, so they must have found some way to fix it.

[Taurë-rana]

Well, some of us have a bit more room in a mummy bag than others

[the_camera_poser]

I'm not compact.