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My neighbor said his cheap sleeping bag was fine for summer, but his trip to the Poconos proved him wrong
He was telling me about his weekend hike and mentioned he woke up freezing at 3 AM even though the forecast said 50 degrees. He bought a $25 bag from a big box store, and it just didn't hold any heat once the damp set in. I've been there, thinking a bag is just a bag for warm weather. It made me realize that 'summer' ratings can be super misleading, especially with humidity or elevation changes. A good review I read last month on a 40-degree synthetic bag talked about the fill power and how it handles moisture, which is key. Now I'm rethinking my own warm-weather setup. Has anyone else had a bag fail them on a supposedly mild night? What do you actually trust for those borderline temps?
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emmar7513d ago
Right? What is it with those thin summer bags just turning into a wet paper towel? I froze my butt off on a July night in the Adirondacks with a bag rated for 50 degrees. The damp air went right through it and my cheap foam pad did nothing. Now I won't use anything less than my 30 degree quilt if there's a chance of dew.
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michaeladams13d ago
Sounds like your neighbor just learned the hard way that a sleeping bag is basically a fancy blanket. I've used a cheap bag in the Poconos before and yeah, you get cold, but you just put on more clothes. People act like you need a science degree to pick gear for a summer overnight.
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Dragged a buddy of mine out for an overnight in Harriman State Park last August... he showed up with this old Coleman bag he'd had since high school. Thought he was fine cause it was 70 degrees when we set up camp. Woke up at 3am to him shivering and cursing, the thing was soaked with condensation and @michaeladams is right about just adding layers but my friend had packed nothing but a t-shirt and shorts. Ended up giving him my fleece liner and he still complained the whole hike out. Some people just gotta learn the hard way that cheap gear plus no backup clothes equals a miserable night.
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