Requesting Sleeping Bag/Pad Recommendations Please

[Birdbander]

What sleeping bag & pad would you recommend for a hike in ptarmigan trip of 10 - 14 miles, camping at 10,000' +/- for a few nights in mid September in Colorado and/or Utah?

I will be using a 3 season backpacking tent with ground tarp. The dog will be sleeping in the tent with me.

Thanks for any helpful gear advice.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

What sleeping bag & pad would you recommend for a hike in ptarmigan trip of 10 - 14 miles, camping at 10,000' +/- for a few nights in mid September in Colorado and/or Utah?

I will be using a 3 season backpacking tent with ground tarp. The dog will be sleeping in the tent with me.

Thanks for any helpful gear advice.

I'm a fan of extreme comfort in the field. So I'll sacrifice a heavier pack for a better pad.

I enjoy this one, the XL makes it so you don't fall off so easy like some of the narrow ones

Insulated Static V Luxe™ Sleeping Pad | Klymit®

The most comfortable insulated inflatable pad at 2 lbs. V-Chambered surface and Klymalite™ fill deliver warmth and freedom to move at night.

klymit.com

 

[Birdbander]

My thoughts exactly, I'm willing to carry a little extra weight for comfort. A good, comfortable, warm night's sleep goes a long way to an overall enjoyable experience

Good R rating & price on that pad too, thanks.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

My wife and I have camped years of our lives due to the type of work we used to do and still do sometimes. It was often backpacking. It took us far too long to discover that really high end sleeping bags like western mountaineering or feathered friends are worth the extra money. There's not so many diminishing returns on those. If you're not going to go a lot, just buy any named brand used down bag on ebay, wash it in a rotating washer with the special soap, and then dry it with no heat with a dryer with lots of tennis balls. That will take like 12 hours, so yeah, make some time for it. You'd be amazed at the crappy matted down stuff I've gotten at thrift stores and turned into like new.

For a pad, I still like an orange thermarest the best. The others are too slippery and I wake up on the ground. But they hurt my back now. However, I just bought a nemo tensor. I'm going to try spraying it with thinned down silicone through a paint gun and see how I like it. That's the main pad that a lot of of folks I know use now if you want to know what the "best" is consensus wise now.

 

[Birdbander]

Thank you @nomadicbohunk. I'm very willing to pay for warmth and will look into your suggestions.

I'm not too proud to learn from the trials & tribulations of others.

 

[El Jason]

I have a Nemo pad and really like it.

 

[Birdbander]

I'll check it @El Jason, thanks!

 

[Sheltowee]

Our Britt likes this one: https://www.rei.com/product/242522/ruffwear-highlands-dog-sleeping-bag

Oh... you mean for you?

 

[Birdbander]

Our Britt likes this one: https://www.rei.com/product/242522/ruffwear-highlands-dog-sleeping-bag

Oh... you mean for you?

For me but thanks

 

[rjthehunter]

I sleep really well on the Static V pads. I have an insulated one and an uninsulated one.

I have a couple of different bags. My 0 degree bag is a Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass, and my 20 degree bag is a marmot (can't remember the model). I'd go with a 20 degree bag for Sept and probably October too. Maybe drop down to the 0 degree bag if it's forecasted to be cold!

 

[deer_shooter]

I have a Big Agnes 15 degree bag and Sea to Summit pad that works well and didn’t break the bank.

 

[Treeshark]

Western Mountaineering Antelope bag with either a Big Agnes QCore or Neoair X Therm pad (depending on temp) is my all-season setup. Augment with liner and/or puffy if it gets really cold.

This setup may be considered overkill for mid September, but there have been more nights that I was thankful for it than wished for a lighter bag. Unzipping is easy enough.

 

[TOGIE]

32 degree bag is plenty at 10,000' in the september co mountains.

my neo air x lite is plenty comfy and surprisingly durable.

 

[Treeshark]

32 degree bag is plenty at 10,000' in the september co mountains.

my neo air x lite is plenty comfy and surprisingly durable.

I got cold just reading that

 

[TOGIE]

I got cold just reading that

effin hot up there in sep

good puffy jacket turns a 32 degree bag into a 20 or better anyway

 

[Treeshark]

effin hot up there in sep

It certainly can be.

Part of the factor for me is my propensity to camp near water out of laziness- that seems to be good for 10 less degrees at night.

 

[Birdbander]

Looks like I have more internet scanning to do. Thanks for all of the info.

I don't have any puffy gear, not intending on buying any. I'd rather go a bit over cautious with the sleeping bag, and I'll only be getting one so will go with the colder rated.

Much appreciated!

 

[TOGIE]

It certainly can be.

Part of the factor for me is my propensity to camp near water out of laziness- that seems to be good for 10 less degrees at night.

Just depends on the person too. Some folks sleep colder than others. My bag is actually a 30 degree, just double checked, and i actually don't own anything warmer than that. I'd say I have yet to feel like i need something warmer, especially in regards to colorado alpine backpacking through september. The day may come though.

 

[Bambistew]

I've been happy with Nemo pads, have used tensor and Astolite. They seem to be pretty durable and weight/comfort is great. I prefer the wide, for the extra oz or two. I think I have at least 20 different pads, from cheap costco to expensive for kids, dogs, wife, etc. One thing I would recommend if you plan on camping a lot is get a small air pump. They're about the size of a C cell battery pump. Breathing hot, moist air into a pad will ruin them with mold over time. Some pads come with an inflation bag that works well too.

 

[Birdbander]

Thanks @Bambistew, good tips.
I'm realistically looking at maybe 5 trips probably spread out over the next ten years or so. The time and money just isn't there to make the drive more and still be able to have friends join me for a couple of weeks of grouse hunting in the UP. (we have access to a private cabin in UP, if that becomes unavailable we have all the gear for comfortable car camping)

As things are slow on & off at work I'll get to doing research on all of the suggestions.