Cold weather sleeping bag

[Rick]

Nadine,
I am pretty happy with EMS ratings.

I have an down EMS -5 (Circa 1999) that is good to -5 easy and my old 1983 EMS-20 Robson Long Down bag which after 20 some years is still kicking butt, though it leaks a down fluff here and there.
Good Luck
Rick

 

[bobmak]

My experience in the past has been that EMS sleeping bags have better construction than REI products. I can't say if that still holds true, I haven't looked at these in years. I bought a -20 EMS down bag as a loaner for friends and haven't heard any complaints. I'll keep my eyes open for you N, if I come across any bargains in the near future I'll PM you.

 

[NYBRAD]

Take a look at Wiggy's

Nadine, I would encourage you to take a look at Wiggy's Ultima Thule. Rated at -20. It's a great cold weather bag for the money. It's not offered in a women’s model, but there is a Reg/Reg. I had one, but sold it to a friend after taking a small loan out for a Western Mountaineering. Not many people have heard of these bags, but there might be some members here who can also vouch for it's value, warmth and construction.

A link to wiggy's.http://www.wiggys.com/category.cfm?Category=6&StartRow=1

 

[Rick]

uh-oh here comes the lamilite argument....
- i'm only joking, of course. There were some loooong heated threads on this about 5 years ago on RBC.

 

[jfb]

I'm looking for advice on a winter bag.

The only thing I'll add is that you'll probably want a bag that's roomy enough to change clothes inside (socks, long underwear, pants, etc.).

 

[DougPaul]

The only thing I'll add is that you'll probably want a bag that's roomy enough to change clothes inside (socks, long underwear, pants, etc.).

On the down side, too much room in a bag makes it colder.

The EMS -20F bag is fairly roomy--62in shoulder girth. The REI +20F, and 0F bags are fairly slim--57in shoulder girth, but the -20F (reg) is roomier (64in shoulder girth) than the EMS bag. I find I have plenty of room for a water bottle and inner boots in my EMS bag. (I usually keep them near my knees.)

From the web site descriptions, the REI and EMS bags look like they have very similar features and performance. (The most obvious difference is a draft tube (EMS) vs a double zipper (REI). Both ok AFIK.) However, I would want to check out the REI bag in person given what I know about the higher temp bags.

Doug

 

[Nadine]

Thanks Bobmak. I'll try EMS on sale day. If I have any trouble I'll send you an email and maybe you can take a look down your direction.

NYBRAD I checked out the wiggy bag, thanks for the link

It sounds like most folks are happy with EMS quality and not so happy with REI. I'm going to opt for the EMS bag in the regular length, provided I can find one on sale day. If not, then I'll check out TNF, Mtn Hardware, SD and Mamut. This bumps me into the over $350 range though.

Isn't duck season coming up? Maybe I could get few duck feathers and beef up my +20 degree bag

LLBean has a minus 20 for less than 3 bills, but it weighs over 5 pounds and is not nearly as compressable.

Nadine

 

[SherpaKroto]

Nadine,
If you want the EMS bag, call EMS directly. When I was looking for my winter Schoeller pants, I could not find any my size. I called them and they found a pair in one of their stores, and sent it to me express. They are very good at going the extra mile for their customers.

BTW, the bag I was in on Chimney Pond last year was a 0F bag by The Backside. It is well made for the price I paid., and both of my winter bags are made by The Backside. Their bags are all cut wider than most out there (which is why they are good for me).

 

[Puck]

On the down side, too much room in a bag makes it colder.

The EMS -20F bag is fairly roomy--62in shoulder girth. The REI +20F, and 0F bags are fairly slim--57in shoulder girth, but the -20F (reg) is roomier (64in shoulder girth) than the EMS bag. I find I have plenty of room for a water bottle and inner boots in my EMS bag. (I usually keep them near my knees.)

From the web site descriptions, the REI and EMS bags look like they have very similar features and performance. (The most obvious difference is a draft tube (EMS) vs a double zipper (REI). Both ok AFIK.) However, I would want to check out the REI bag in person given what I know about the higher temp bags.

Doug

Doug do all of the EMS bags run this big (62")? Would this space fill up with a liner and other things that go into a bag at night? I am also looking for a winter bag and looking into my options. This may be to big for me.

 

[hikingfish]

Hi!
Shameless plug for a Canadian company...but the Mountain Equipment Coop has the MEC Hybrid -20C sleeping bag available (brand new) for 135$ CDN. I bought one last year and I've always been hot in it (too hot actually! but I haven't tried winter camping yet, but those huts in the Chic-Chocs can get pretty cold). Here's what they say about it:

This bag combines synthetic insulation with down, positioning each fill where its particular qualities shine. Areas that are compressed or exposed to moisture while in use – the bottom of the bag, the hood, and the end of the footbox – are insulated with shingled MEC Hyperloft. In the top of the bag, a single layer of Hyperloft is quilted to the outer shell. Between the Hyperloft layer and the liner is a layer of 575 fill power duck down, held in place by box baffles and positioned where the down can reach maximum loft...

Hybrid Bag

Very affordable and very warm!

Fish

 

[DougPaul]

Doug do all of the EMS bags run this big (62")? Would this space fill up with a liner and other things that go into a bag at night? I am also looking for a winter bag and looking into my options. This may be to big for me.

Don't know (I have only studied bags of specific interest to me). But the info is on their website: http://www.ems.com/. (REI does also: http://www.rei.com.)

The REI +20F and 0F Kilo series bags are cut rather slim, the -20F Kilo series bag looks a lot roomier.

I used to use a much narrower bag system and had space for a water bottle and boot inners around my knees. The EMS -20F bag has significantly more space, so I should be able to fit the same amount of stuff within... As for using liners etc, the combo typically weighs more and takes up more space in your pack than a warmer bag. If you need to fill space, you can always use your down jacket (we used to do this to improvise a draft collar in bags that didn't have them).

Doug

 

[bobmak]

I was just browsing LL Beans website and saw the Katahdin -20 sleeping bag; it seems like a bargain at $250 though a tad heavy at almost 6 pounds. But the price is right... it's all about trade offs. LL Bean has a great reputation of standing by their products; does anyone have any opinions on this to share with Nadine?

 

[Rick]

Doug do all of the EMS bags run this big (62")? Would this space fill up with a liner and other things that go into a bag at night? I am also looking for a winter bag and looking into my options. This may be to big for me.

I am a big guy and from my experience, both my EMS winter bags are cut larger (greater girth) than my EMS 20 and EMS 40 bags (all are long). I always feel more comfortable in them and usually even bring them whenever possible. The larger girth is also why I keep purchasing them (Oh yeah, the employee discount really helped too)

 

[sapblatt]

Employee discount

Rick -

Can I go shopping with you sometime?

 

[Nadine]

MEC Hybrid question

The MEC Hybrid bag has me curious Anybody heard anything about them yet? If any of the Montreal/Ottawa Crew (Pete, Meo, Jean, Neil, Hikingfish, Louis, et al) has seen one, would you post a few words here please.

I own a few pieces of mec gear and haven't been disappointed yet.

Thanks,
Nadine

 

[Gris]

Also might consider a Big Agnes down bag. Can usually find their ridiculously light high quality down bags relatively inexpensive on net. I'm notorious cold sleeper & a year ago retired my synthetic 30F bag in favor of 35F B.A. down bag that's much warmer & lighter (at cost of $125). I know they make a 0F down bag for about $250 that's less than 3 lbs.

 

[Chip]

I was just browsing LL Beans website and saw the Katahdin -20 sleeping bag; it seems like a bargain at $250 though a tad heavy at almost 6 pounds. But the price is right... it's all about trade offs. LL Bean has a great reputation of standing by their products; does anyone have any opinions on this to share with Nadine?

I'm suspicious of any sub-zero rated bag that uses less than 800 to 900 fill down. I'm not saying it isn't possible, it just hasn't been my experience.

 

[DougPaul]

I'm suspicious of any sub-zero rated bag that uses less than 800 to 900 fill down. I'm not saying it isn't possible, it just hasn't been my experience.

The EMS Dhaulagiri bag (1974-5), rated -40F or -50F (depending on the year), 10 in loft, used 500-550? cu-in/oz fill duck down. 5lb, 5oz total weight. One kept me nice and comfortable on a rather cold night in the Whites (-30F measured the next morning). (Back in the 70s, high fill goose down was _very_ expensive.)

By comparison EMS's current -40F Mountain light, weighs 4lb 11oz and has a 12 in loft. Fill is 800 cu-in/oz fill goose down.

The lower fill down works just as well as the higher fill downs--you just need more of it. It is also cheaper. Some have theorized that the lower fill downs degrade more slowly than the higher fill downs when moist.

Doug

 

[Neil]

The MEC Hybrid bag has me curious Anybody heard anything about them yet? If any of the Montreal/Ottawa Crew (Pete, Meo, Jean, Neil, Hikingfish, Louis, et al) has seen one, would you post a few words here please.

I own a few pieces of mec gear and haven't been disappointed yet.

Thanks,
Nadine

Nadine,
I have the Hybrid -12C bag and every time I use it I wonder how the hell did they get so much sleeping bag into such a small price tag? For more money I'm sure you can get more bang for your kilogram but really this bag just can't be beat. I'm sure the -20 unit is every bit as good.

 

[bobmak]

I'm suspicious of any sub-zero rated bag that uses less than 800 to 900 fill down. I'm not saying it isn't possible, it just hasn't been my experience.

The -20 EMS that I mentioned in an earlier post is 600 or 650 fill, and I've used it comfortably at below zero temps when I let my camping partner borrow my Feathered Friends bag. And if I remember correctly, when I bought my FF Ptarmigan back in 1999 or so, it came standard with 650 or 700 fill and I upgraded to 800 fill, which was pretty unheard of at the time.