December 16, 2000


Will a better quality bag be warmer than my current bag?

I currently have a Slumberjack Deelite rated to 20 degrees. I'm looking to upgrade to a better bag and maybe something five to ten degrees warmer. Any suggestions? I looked at the Mountain Hardwear and the Marmot. Will a better quality bag be warmer than my current bag? Is a draft tube at the neck a necessity?

— Chris Lake Placid, Florida

Will a better-quality bag be warmer? Well, let's see. The answer to that would be (okay, let's do the math...15 times 24, subtract 7, carry the 4, um...er....): Yes. Definitely. A better-quality bag will be warmer. A warmer bag also will be warmer, exhaustive studies have shown.

But don't take my ribbing personally, I do understand the question! Plus, while there's nothing wrong with Slumberjack bags, which actually are typically good buys, in my experience, their temperature ratings are slightly optimistic.

So, you probably want a bag in the ten- to 15-degree range. Although, to be honest, you might find some 20-degree bags perfectly suitable. An example: L.L. Bean's Summit 775 20-Degree bag ($240). This is a lot of bag for the money, with 775-fill down (meaning its real fluffy), a water-resistant nylon shell, and nice touches such as a zippered pocket. If you're a bit of a warm sleeper, and put on some long underwear, that bag could easily take you down to ten degrees.

There are other choices, of course. If you want a synthetic bag, which is a little easier to take care of and better in wet conditions, take a look at Mountain Hardwear's 2nd Dimension Stormlight ($235). It's a classic synthetic bag —- Polarguard 3D insulation, ten-degree rating, with a nearly waterproof (the seams may leak) shell made of a material called Stormlight. Weight is par for the course: Just over three pounds. I also like the Integral Designs North Twin ($225), a ten-degree bag that uses Primaloft insulation. Primaloft is softer than Polarguard, and in my view makes for a more comfortable bag.

Marmot makes great bags too. One of my favorites in their line is the Pinnacle ($299), a 15-degree down-filled bag. A really nice all-around bag, top-quality construction and weighs only two pounds, five ounces.

Any of these should be just the ticket.

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