Hi there, I am buying gear for my first adventure and I need an opinion on a three season sleeping bag.
What do you think of the followings?
– Big Agnes Torchlight Camp -7C
Thanks!
by matteiotone
Hi there, I am buying gear for my first adventure and I need an opinion on a three season sleeping bag.
What do you think of the followings?
– Big Agnes Torchlight Camp -7C
Thanks!
by matteiotone
7 Comments
Hard to say not knowing what kind of climate you ride in.
For me those bags are too much. I generally use a 0 deg C down bag and if it’s really cold out I wear some of my camp clothes to sleep in. And I always have a great sleeping hat, one that wraps my whole head and has tie downs.
Are you sure you need a synthetic 20f/-7c bag as your first bag? These are pretty heavy and bulky, they would shine if you are doing multiple-day trips in cold AND moist conditions, otherwise maybe get a down-filled bag and/or less insulation?
I have the Big Agnes one you mentioned. Was too warm on the one night that did go below zero C.
I really recommend a down bag if you can afford it. space is at a premium on a bike and down generally compresses much much more from my experience. I also recommend a down quilt over a bag, and i have a 10 degree F so i can use it bikepacking at lower elevations as well as backpacking in the high mountains (or cold desert floor). The quilt feature allows me to open it up and stick a leg or both legs out to regulate the warmth if needed.
I wouldn’t go synthetic. It’s bulky, heavy a and usually not as comfortable. The low is fine by me, I have the same (just one bag, and an emergency bivvy for the summer). Check out Criterion UK dawn bags, I’ve had one of those since 2019 and still going.
it’s been a while, but I like the Big Agnes, but they need to be paired with a sleeping pad – they don’t have the bottom insulation (which is usually compressed by your body weight to the point of uselessness), but have a sleeve for a sleeping pad. So the combo is nice because it saves a tiny bit of weight, but also since your pad is attached to your bag, you can’t slide off it in the middle of the night.
As others said, that’s a pretty hardcore rating for temperate climates, and I’d lean towards getting something less extreme, and having the ability to supplement it with a backpacking quilt, warming layers, fleece, etc. You’ll probably have the warming layers/fleece anyways, so it’s no extra weight and a bit more temp/comfort flexibility to have the option of sleeping in them.
I made a pretty cheap backpacking quilt off of some random internet plans, and it worked great, pretty cheap, minimal weight, and really helped if the sleeping bag wasn’t enough, and could do a partial on/off thing if was a bit much, but the bag alone wasn’t quite enough.
good luck! 🙂
Sleeping bags seem to be perpetually on sale somewhere. I see a REI, Kelty down 20 for $130 in the US, must be about the same up north. I think any modern bag by a decent brand is going to be fine. And as people said, get a good insulated sleeping pad. I’m still using a 25 degree down bag I got over 30 years ago from EMS and a more recent Klymit Insulated Static V pad which has an R-value of 4.4. If I get cold I just wear some of my cycling layers and a stocking cap, if I get hot I just unzip the bag alternate between open and closed. Have fun up there.