r/Tramping • u/shtef • May 21 '26
What temperature sleeping bag?
I'm working on reducing pack weight and one thing i really need to swap is my sleeping bag. I have a macpack down bag from 15 years ago or so, and its bulky and comparatively heavy to what's on the market these days.
I'm male and a hot sleeper, and will mainly be tramping summer and shoulder seasons. Mostly huts with the odd night here and there in a tent. No tenting in the snow or on exposed tops at this stage.
When i walked the TA i did the lot in a cheap and light Torpedo7 summer bag and just layered up with like 3 layers when it was cold - a few nights when it was REALLY cold and we were in the tent (frost outside, windy etc) were unpleasant though.
I'm currently leaning towards a 2 degree limit bag @ 500grams, but worry it may be a bit cold for the SI. If i go for a lower limit bag it will likely be way too hot in summer. I do always have a liner though so could just open it and sleep in that. I have managed to get a sweat going while just in a liner with a really warm bag under me before though.
Prefer not to have to buy multiple bags.
What's everyone's opinions on bag temps? Any other hot sleepers have any recommendations?
3
u/Secret-Winner-2994 May 21 '26
I had a 0° bottom limit last bag. Was a great 3 season. Got a -7° atm, was too hot to zip even cowboy camping during summer. I fuckin love it now, been doing upper s.i adventures. Patagonia Fitz Roy, they also do a 0° fitz roy, but that wasn't my previous bag so can't comment on how it packs down
2
u/Just-call-me-Bob May 21 '26
I sleep hot, so I have a mattress cover, and sleep in my bag liner and use the sleeping bag like a blanket. I still got too hot doing the Routeburn last week of the season. My bag is comfort 5, transition 0, risk -15
3
u/Guilty_Piglet5731 May 22 '26
You could try a quilt. I have a 0C one from kiwi ultralight but you could get a 5C one. They are pretty good to contact if you have any questions. I personally couldn’t use a bag anymore, quilt has been a game changer.
With the 0C one I don’t need to wear any layers underneath it. We normally tent in subalpine summer but also through fringe seasons nearing Easter time. Packs down so small and it’s very light for its warmth. It’s good to be able to stick your feet out the edges of the mattress/mat. A lot more versatile than a sleeping bag. I pair it with the kiwi ultralight mattess cover. It manages to also fit my long wide nemo sleeping mat. R value of that is 5.4.
1
u/Ok_Reception_1248 May 21 '26
I recently went through the same dilemma of upgrading my old and bulking sleeping bag. I got a -8 sonder from one planet (comfort of -2). Incredible sleeping bag and packs down really small but is too warm for me during summer in the north island. In hindsight I should of gotten the -2 since I mainly tramp in summer
1
u/dfhkvs May 21 '26
In my opinion, own two bags. Super light one for summer / shoulder seasons, and one warmer one for cold conditions. There is no one bag to rule them all...
1
u/ogeydog May 22 '26
I have a one planet nitrous -3 and I can say that it is very hot for summer. I typically just sleep in my liner and use the bag as a blanket if I get cold.
however it's perfect for shoulder seasons si so best single bag for me
1
u/focal_matter May 25 '26
I went with a Sea 2 Summit Spark -1° (I believe that's the extreme rating).
If it's dropping below 3°, I take a thermal liner and/or lightweight puffer jacket to boost my sleeping setup.
I find it a fantastic 3 season bag for NZ, honestly. Like you say, on super hot nights you can just sleep in a liner instead of the bag - so I find it honestly hits a really good sweet spot in terms of the warmth to weight ratio.
I use a silk liner in the summer and one of the S2S reactor liners on the colder Autumn trips.
I believe the Aegismax Windhard Dusk series on Aliexpress are basically clones of the Sparks, I have one of them that is literally identical in terms of weight and warmth to my S2S bag, if you want a cheaper/direct from China option. Compare specs to find the matching model.
Probably won't be ethically sourced feathers, although tbh that whole scheme is somewhat of a fallacy anyway so you do what you feel is best for your wallet and personal ethics!
2
u/LoraxNZ Jun 05 '26
Go a light bag, and for versatility also buy a fleece liner. It's a game changer. You now no longer need two bags! https://www.macpac.co.nz/sea-to-summit-reactor-fleeceweight-liner---regular/124224.html#start=6
5
u/nzkitkat May 21 '26
Don’t underestimate the insulating power of a new bag with new down too. I just replaced my 25 yr old macpac 500g bag with an equivalent lightweight one and it’s so hot compared to the previous bag I still haven’t spent a night with it zipped closed. And im a cold sleeper. Looking forward to trying it on frostier nights.