Help w/ sleeping bag ASAP please and thankyou

[Canadian144]

Hi,
In about 2 weeks our school is going winter camping for 2 nights near a lake. We will be inside a canvas tent with a stove going. They say that our sleeping bags should be able to go down to about -10 C, however with ratings these days I'm gonna play it safe and go with -15C. I'm kinda confused about which sleeping bag to get- any input and a place that I could purchase it in Toronto (or even a link so that I could express ship it) would be GREATLY appreciated. I was leaning towards down, however synthetic would be fine.

I was thinking about one of these:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444228 0153&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302865703&bmUID=1201219760009#ReviewHeader
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444227 9983&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302701483&bmUID=1201219698291

The only problem is that the MEC mummy bags have the feet sticking up thing at the end, and I can't sleep facing up - I need to roll over, and I don't know if this would be possible in a bag with this foot thing.

From the North Face, these two appear to be well-suited to my needs:
http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=CA&model=AZF2&language=en
http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=CA&model=AJ6A&language=en

These two seem to be my top choices, just wondering if there was anything else out there that someone would reccomend.

Thanks!

[Turbo]

Maybe try S.I.R. http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prodlist.php?category_id=1&subcat_id=22&PHPSESSID=fd7db33a0ed53950830b387a6e1cdd1a
And look at the "outbound blizzard 5000" it's rated to -20C and is only
105$.

Bass Pro Shop http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResults?RequestAction=navbar&RequestData=page1&UseSheet=0&indexed=1&dct=basspro&TopNodeName=All+Products&ResultsPerPage=20&CatPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FUserSear ch%253Dsleeping%2Bbag&OrigCatPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FUser Search%253Dsleeping%2Bbag&AttribSel=&submitted=yes&viewastext=false&oneshot=1&eaport=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basspro.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs %2Fstores%2Fservlet%2F&storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&ea_sortDirection=&ea_sortColumnName=&currentpage=2

I was always cold winter camping so wool socks and a pair of those "trap door" long underwear were essential!!!!

Have fun and take a bunch of pics and post them for us.

[boakley]

Cool.... I taught winter survival skills for many years and still winter camp a fair amount. Personally if this is a new experiance and if you have a smaller build (not heavy like me), I would go much heavier than -15.

I know most say if you go to heavy with your bag you may sweat the bag up and it looses its insulation value. Myself I use a -45c 3 piece canvas outer bag. It is heavy and you would not use it to hike with but 3 piece bags are very flexible in that you can remove the liner to dry if you do sweat it up.

If the stove does manage to stay lit during the night, normally you need someone to get out of their bag every 1/2 hour to stock the fire -15c would be fine. My experience though is the stove gets going as you are getting ready to sleep but once everyone is in their bags nobody gets out to fill the stove and it dies out quickly.

My two cents is go heavier.

[Bad Company]

I agree with boakly.
I have a Woods 3-star that's rated for -40 and I'm glad I haven't tried to use it at temp. I've been comfortable at -15 to -20 though.

Just as important as the sleeping bag, you need to consider a Therma-rest mattress. It's a small self-inflating mattress and it has a "thermally reflective" property that keeps the cold "ground" side cold, and the warm "you" side warm. A mattress like this can make even a crappy sleeping bag more effective.

[barkerlakebob]

I agree with boakly.
I have a Woods 3-star that's rated for -40 and I'm glad I haven't tried to use it at temp. I've been comfortable at -15 to -20 though.

Just as important as the sleeping bag, you need to consider a Therma-rest mattress. It's a small self-inflating mattress and it has a "thermally reflective" property that keeps the cold "ground" side cold, and the warm "you" side warm. A mattress like this can make even a crappy sleeping bag more effective.

Best advice so far Bad.

Those self inflating mattresses let you get a good nights sleep as well as keep your sleeping bag dry - warmer - and almost puncture free on the bottom !!!

[Toban]

Getting off of direct contact with the ground is a big help no matter what you choose for a bag. I bought one of Therma-Rest matts a few years ago and love it. Better yet is one of those collapsable cots but if room is an issue, just go with a Therma-Rest.
As far as bags go, I'd go heavier as well. I use this Trekker that's rated to -20C and have no commplaints. Haven't winter camped though. Just into late October.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075-cat20144&id=0014945515359a&navCount=2&podId=0014945&parentId=cat20144&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20144&hasJS=true

[Palssonater]

He who has the warmest sleeping bag, and the biggest bladder, need not stoke the fire!

Seriously though, buying a sleeping bag "system" is a good route to go if you plan on using it quite a bit. I have a wiggy's system and it is 3 bags in one. Can't remember the ratings exactly, but I think there is a 0 degree one. -20 one, and combined is -45 or something like that. It was expensive, but a great investment if you see yourself doing things like this in the future. The good part about the Wiggy system is that it is synthetic fill(lamilite I think its called), and can be compressed into a pretty small stuff sack for ease of packing. The one downfall that it has is that it is synthetic, not canvas or fleece fabric, and a stove or spark could make short work of it.

[Canadian144]

Thanks everyone. I guess I will be getting at least a -20C rated bag. One of the teachers is supposed to be stoking the fire all night, but I doubt that they actually will (teachers need there sleep too lol).

I was looking at one of those 3-part bags, but they're pricy, especially if I won't be using it that often.

About the Therm-a-rest, do you mean one of these? Because I have something that inflates itself, it's from CT, but slightly different than this one. Should I get a real Therm-a-rest?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444220 5707&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396674033&bmUID=1201299090986&deptid=1408474396672192&ctgrid=1408474396672203&subctgrid=1408474396674033

[boakley]

Thanks everyone. I guess I will be getting at least a -20C rated bag. One of the teachers is supposed to be stoking the fire all night, but I doubt that they actually will (teachers need there sleep too lol).

I was looking at one of those 3-part bags, but they're pricy, especially if I won't be using it that often.

About the Therm-a-rest, do you mean one of these? Because I have something that inflates itself, it's from CT, but slightly different than this one. Should I get a real Therm-a-rest?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444220 5707&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396674033&bmUID=1201299090986&deptid=1408474396672192&ctgrid=1408474396672203&subctgrid=1408474396674033


good luck and wish you well.

Also at your age if you buy quality "stuff" you can look at the purchase as an investment for many more trips and adventures. As a young man you may get into hunting, quading, fishing, etc... that can take you out on many many outdoor and overnight adventures. If you get a good bag now you wil not only be comfortable and confident on this adventure but also have it for many years to come. The modern construction and material should last decdes for you if you look after it properly. Good quality stuff is a joy to use and can bring many years of comfort and enjoyment.


Cheers and good luck!!

[Bad Company]

Once again I have to agree with boakly.

My 3-star belonged to my Grandfather. I think he bought it in the late 60's
Either way it's been around a long time. I hope to be using it for many years to come, maybe even pass it on too.

It ALWAYS pays to buy quality gear.

[Canadian144]

Thanks for the advice guys. I picked up a -18 4 season down bag, made by Asolo http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=304548&cat_id=1&subcat_id=22&PHPSESSID=fd7db33a0ed53950830b387a6e1cdd1a (http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=304548&cat_id=1&subcat_id=22&PHPSESSID=fd7db33a0ed53950830b387a6e1cdd1a)

It sould be warm enough, our teacher said that there will be someone stocking the fire all night long, so we will be warm.

I'll let you guys know how it works and I'll take some pictures.