[at-l] Re: Sleeping Bag Advice

[krk@speakeasy.org (Kenneth Knight)]

Well I will generally suggest down expect under a few limited circumstances (which you won't have).
A down bag will last a lot longer than a synthetic and be a lot lighter too.

For example, the Western Mountaineering <www.westernmountaineering.com> Ultralight will be at least
as warm as the TNF bag you mention and weigh a pound less. WM temp ratings tend to be quite
conservative so it is likely going to be warmer. I've used my WM Iroquois down to freezing under a
tarp and been comfortable (in a tent I've gone far colder) and the Iroquois weighs 1.5 pounds.

There are even lighter bags like those made by Nunatak <www.nunatakgear.com> that would also be
worth considering. The Alpinist has down just on the top and sides and a fabric floor (faffeta nylon
as I recall) and is quite light at not much more than a pound. Their Arc Alpinist is similar but it
does not have any bottom. Instead it has straps you can cinch around a sleeping pad to tighten it up
against yourself (think of it as a qulit that you can really snug down). The Arc is even lighter and
very toasty.

Campmor also sells some nice (reputedly) down bags that are rated just as highly as the TNF as far
as temperature goes (take all rating with a grain of salt unless you know how the company works. As
I said above Western Mountaineering is conservative; a company like Feathered Friends is a bit more
optomistic). The Campmor bag is also lighter than the TNF you mention (even the wide cut WM
Versalite is lighter than the TNF).

It isn't hard to care for a down bag.

  ** Ken **
  
On 10/20/01 at 11:03 PM, Leslie Booher <lwbooher@halifax.com> wrote:

> OK, guys.  Time for another of our annual discussions.  Sleeping bags.  I'm
> going to need to buy a sleeping bag for our 20 year old daughter.  We're
> planning to hike the Camino de Santiago early next summer.  I'm looking at a
> TNF Cat Walk.  It's a synthetic 20º bag and weighs only 2 lb. 11 oz.  I
> thought TNF was noted for their too-heavy gear.  Have any of you had
> experience with this bag?  It's high time for me to get a new bag, too.  I
> have an old 20º Kelty with the silver lining, but it's now more like a 40º
> bag.  It's really tired, but I love it.  Of course, if I have to buy new
> bags for Maggie and David, too, I won't be getting one next year.  They
> can't carry 6 lb. green fabric Colemans with plaid flannel linings on a
> major hike.  <G>  Thanks for any advice.  anklebear

**  Kenneth Knight    Web Design, IT Consultant, Software Engineer  **
**       krk@speakeasy.org        http://www.speakeasy.org/~krk     **