This is how I do it.
-15f 800 fill bag.
800 fill hooded jacket.
800 fill pants.
Primaloft booties.

With this combo you can mix and match depending on the temp, sleep in everything on cold nights or just thermals and the bag when its warmer.
The whole lot packs into whatever gaps I have left in my pack.

What up Brett :thatrocks:
Had no idea you were a splitty….
Good to know I now have a victim…errrr… I mean partner to drag along with me. :clap:

As far as your ?’s^^^ go ….call me I’ll help you figure most of it out.
From sleeping in Rock Creek(east side Sierra) one night at -22* below… to getting altitude sickness in the tushars at 12’000′ :rock:
I’ll also be traveling to slc this winter a few times, maybe we can make a trip work.
As far as the Tushars go…. they’re a pretty sketchy mtn range (snowpack, worse then the wasatch!) so heads up there.
I plan on getting back to the eastside this spring for some fun…we’ll have to talk about some stuff.
Bryan M.

@Taylor wrote:

I have been using a 0F Marmot Never Summer for about three years now.

Me too. Best bag I’ve ever owned.

I have also taken it a bit below 0 in a tent, Megamid, & back of a truck. After three years of fairly extensive (every weekend on spring & fall rock climbing trips) use it shows little signs of losing much of its loft, no leaks of any concern, etc…. fantastic bag and you can usually find pretty good deals on them online. Got mine from Sierra Trading Post for a heavy discount.

Good luck!

:twocents:
a 0 degree bag is fine for the wasatch in winter, outside of the once or twice a year cold snaps. If you make a snow cave it’d be fine then as well. I’d go for a -10 if you are anticipating trips to the tetons or March/early April at lower elevations in Alaska.

I read this book back in the 90s, had so much fun and stayed warmer and cozier than I imagined.
http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Caves-Survival-Ernest-Wilkinson/dp/1555660959

I love hearing about other peoples set ups.

my winter sleeping shelter set up is:
-20c/-4f down/synthetic hybrid bag(wish it was full down)
reactor liner
thin fleece top and bottom sleeping layer
primaloft booties
xtherme sleeping pad
black diamond tripod bivy ( wish it was a tent)

I sleep warmer than normal I think, but this set up is very warm and cozy. ive done a few -30c/-22f nights in Canadian rookies split camping.

@96avs01 wrote:

Which rated bag to purchase can strongly depend on the manufacturer. Especially Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends bags.

Agree 100%, I find the ratings from FF and WM to be conservative while many of the “name brands” are terribly overly optimistic. There is a big difference between “well you won’t die at 0 degrees” and sleeping comfortably. Look at fillpower of down and then at the fill weight, multiplyin the fill weight in ounces by the fill power will give you an idea of the total volume of insulation. When comparing different model bags look at the circumference between the models though also, a small change in circumference or length will make a large change in insulation volume.

I use a feathered friends vireo here in the PNW for climbing and riding. The legs are a tight cut and rated at 25 degrees, the top is cut wide to allow a parka to loft fully. When I’m hauling around a pound or more I certainly don’t want to just use it as a pillow and bring a bigger sleeping bag, so I really like the concept for weight and bulk. With a thin merino base layer my legs have been quite warm in that bag down at 20 degrees.
Feathered Friends also does custom work, so you could have them add more down fill for use in colder temps.

If you want to go light when it’s really cold and don’t mind forming a cuddle puddle with your partner I hear their spoonbill double bag is pretty amazing also.

http://www.chair2boardsports.com/blog/puffy

PSA:

Just pull the trigger and got two Brooks-Range 0°F Alpini Down Sleeping Bag – 850 Fill Power, Mummy for about $286.00 each from Sierra Trading Post. That is 48% discount off the retail price of $550 dollars.

2 pounds and 11 ounces for winter down bag is incredibly light!

I have acquired other Brooks-Range Products (tent, down coats and elephants foot sleeping bag); so I expecting the same high quality.

See http://www.sierratradingpost.com/brooks-range-0-f-alpini-down-sleeping-bag-850-fill-power-mummy~p~8085w/
Specs are Fill weight: 20.5 oz.
Sleeping bag shape: Mummy
Sleeping bag style: Down
Insulation: Goose down
Insulation fill power: 850
Temp rating: 0 degrees and below
Shell material: Nylon
Lining material: Nylon
Girth (shoulder/hip/foot): 56/52/40″
Fits to: 6′
Length: 80″
Stuff size: 20×8″
Zipper: Left
Storage sack: Yes
Weight: 2 lb. 11 oz.

Good buy, that’s how I scored my Sierra Designs Nitro!