Sleeping with double synthetic sleeping bags, 10C and -5C, will they be good for a -30C winter?
Not really, probably still cold. The R value will stack but it can be tricky to convert into temperature ratings.The first thing to know about sleeping bags is that the pad is more important. You loose 80% of your warmth the ground. Protect that first.The second thing know is that while their are temperature rating there is a level of subjectivity to them. What you eat befor bed, how much you've drank, and your general condition have a huge effect to. Having complex fats and proteins to eat in particular can keep your warmer.Third, when it comes to winter is that more is better. More sleeping bags, more layers could work.Managing moisture is the other tricky part. Winter camping is wet. Synthetics are good but many people also use water resistant bivvy bags to hide in. This keeps the snowfall that builds in winter tents from soaking the bag when it's packed up.
Sleeping Bags, Goose Down fill 600 vs 750 loft?
the fill is what gives a bag it's loft combined with construction. The numbers signify the amount of fibers per oz ,more fibers mean better insulation. Get the most your money can buy. Down is rated according to fill power-meaning the number of cubic inches one ounce of down will occupy. For example, if one ounce of down takes up a volume of 650 cubic inches, it is given a 650 fill power rating. Loft refers to the thickness of the insulating material in a sleeping bag or garment. The quality of the down is directly related to its fill power rating. Thus, down warmth is a function of both fill power and the amount of fill in a sleeping bag or garment. High quality down has a high fill power and is much loftier than down of a lower quality, requiring fewer ounces of down to create insulating warmth. Most companies use only goose down which has a minimum fill power of 500 to 550.The higher the fill power, the better the down will insulate because there is less of a chance of "cold spots"-areas in the bag or garment where there is no down. Today's higher-end manufacturers offer 600 to 750 fill power as their standard fill. If a label doesn't specify fill power, it is usually because the down falls in a range below 400 cubic inches or the item contains less than 75% down.
Where should I buy a sleeping bag?
You can buy a sleeping bag online or in a retail store.First, though, I would ask you what your budget is, and where you’ll be using it as part of your sleep system.Simply put, I would not buy a sleeping bag from Wally-World (Wal-Mart) or one made by Coleman, or any bag with the retail store’s name, like Cabella’s or Bass Pro Shops. They are typically not of the highest quality and are often heavy. That aside, there are plenty of reputable gear manufacturers that make well-made, cost-effective sleeping bags. To whit, Kelty makes a line of bags with both synthetic insulation, as well as down, and are reasonably priced.A few pieces of advice:If you can afford down, get it.The r-rating of a sleeping bag is the very coldest temperature you can survive for twelve hours provided you are wearing a base layer, socks, gloves and a hat, and you’re protected from the elements and you’re on a matt or pad. It is not the ‘comfort’ rating. I don’t heed comfort ratings. Rule of thumb — add ten or so degrees, such that if a bag says it will go to 20* F, it should keep you comfortable at freezing.Don’t join sleeping bags, even if it says you can. The bag was designed for one person.Quality sleeping bags will almost invariably have a ‘YKK’ zipper.Mummy bags are smaller, lighter, and conserve your heat better than rectangular bags.A sleeping bag is part of a sleep system. Also included are your air mattress, a closed cell foam pad, along with what you sleep in.Synthetic bags break down after a couple of years. So, if you bought a synthetic bag some time ago, consider its rating to go up. I have a bag I bought a few years ago rated at 20* F that I would trust down to perhaps 40* F now.Finally, if you can’t afford the right bag for the trip, either don’t go or rent one.
Do blankets inhibit a sleeping bag's warmth?
In most cases adding blanket will increase the warmth overall. It will compress the insulation to some degree, but will almost definitely trap more hot air in the long run. It is also smart of you to put a blanket underneath, since the insulation on the bottom side of your bag is highly compressed and you will very quickly lose heat to the ground. Even better yet would be to get some cheap foam sleeping pads to lay between the bottom blanket and the ground. Chemical warming packs work well in gloves and boots, but they don't work all that well in trying to heat up a large volume...you would be better to get a good plastic water bottle (like Nalgene brand) and fill it with very hot (not quite boiling) water. Place this between your thighs and possible put others under your armpits. In reality, additional heat sources such as this will probably not be necessary for the temps you are talking about, but it could be nice to plan ahead just in case it gets colder than you thought.
Wet, down-fill sleeping bags?
Put the down fill bag in the dryer with a tennis ball or a pair of worn-out (clean) sneakers. Turn it on low heat. The ball will help loosen up the wet clumps and get back the fluffiness during the drying process Try it out.
What are the best sleeping bags?
Gear should be built to meet a need. It can be nice to have something to do it all, but when you need the right tool for a job, it's best to have that right tool.For me the best sleeping bag on the market for what I do is the Neutrino Endurance 400 from Rab. This bag weights less than one kilo, packs down to 2L, offering the superior performance you would expect of down.But what sets it apart form the competition is two things.The first big difference is that like all Rab products, the bags have a hydrophobic treatment, that repels water. What this means is that if you roll off your mat at night into a puddle of water, when you roll out, there is no wet, or loss of heat retention ability from your bag (personal experiences). This also makes the bag dry off much faster if it does get wet. On long trips this is a huge asset.The second benefit is the outer shell of the bag is made of Pertex Endurance. This breathable windproof material is waterproof to. 5,000 mm of water pressure ( true waterproofing is considered by quality brands to start at 7,000mm.) what this means that in anything short of a torrential downpour this bag remains cosy, even exposed to the elements. If you enjoy camping ultralight with a tarp shelter, or in a bivvy then this is perfect. As a generic camping sleeping bag they are probably over kill, though function just fine.
Sleeping naked in a sleeping bag?
I went on a camping trip and my friend talked me into sleeping naked in my sleeping. She said it would keep me warmer and more comfortable. It's polyester inside and out and it indeed kept me warm I still can't quite determine if having no clothes on made me warmer but I was plenty warm and it was certainly twice as comfortable sleeping that way in the soft material. Does anyone else practice this?