February 9, 2001


Are there any sleeping bags made for big guys?

Are there any bags made for big guys? I need a winter season down or synthetic bag, but find most mummy bags to be too snug around the shoulders.

— Terry McCormick Port Allegany, Pennsylvania

Sure, there are several bags made for guys like you. What you probably want is a semi-rectangular bag, which is a cross between a super-snug mummy and a roomy (but heavy and inefficient) rectangular bag. Trouble is, there aren't a ton of models out there, particularly in a winter-type bag. Probably the best is the Bristlecone Super MF from Western Mountaineering. It's a down bag designed for big folks, with a roomy semi-rectangular cut. Rated to —10 degrees, it should keep you plenty warm under most conditions. The price is a bit on the steep side ($510) but Western's bags are absolutely top quality, and it should last you for many, many years. Another good option is Feathered Friends' Penguin Max, a —20-degree down-filled bag that goes for $490.

After those two, the list gets very short aside from some 20-degree bags that are more for spring/fall use. REI makes a synthetic-fill semi-rectangular 0-degree bag called the Syn Cat, which has Quallofil insulation and sells for $135. Certainly a bargain, but fairly heavy (5 pounds, 14 ounces, compared with 4 pounds, 2 ounces for the Bristlecone and 4 pounds for the Penguin) and bulky. But it's a possibility.

Anyway, shopping for this should be easy —- these really are the only good choices out of the hundreds of bags on the market.