 
Sleeping Bags, Bivies, etc. !
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From: Spencer, 12/04/97 The survivor is rated at 20 degrees. I purchased my '96 model survivor on sale for $100. After a week long hike on the AT the hanging loop broke off and the seams came undone. I called slumberjack (the number is embroidered on the zipper pull) and they replaced it promptly without any charge. They sent me a '97 which comes with a compression sack. The '97 is an excellent bag. It fits my 6'1 frame and has kept me warm in 10 degree weather. On one trip my bag became wet and still kept me warm. The zipper can be opened from the top and bottom for max ventilation in warmer weather. It features a hot hood design which is shaped perfectly for a head. The face and shoulders have easy to find pull ties. A small pocket on the outside is useful for holding small objects. Overall the survival is an excellent bag. Just be sure to get the latest model.
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From: Sean Parker, 07/30/97 Cascade Designs also makes the closed-cell Ridgerest. Reg. 48x20x3/4 inches and weighs 9 ounces. The Long is 72x20x3/4 and 14 ounces. I use the 3/4 ridge rest myself. I like the fact that I can just plop it down any where on the ground and lay down on it while resting, reading etc.. Once it gets torn up beyond use then I just buy another. Lightest out there, great insulation,cheap and bomb proof.
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From: Switchback, 01/11/98
Weight: 1.75 oz. I have used my stuff sacks for pillows, but here is a product that really makes for a better night's sleep. This is simply a pillow stuff sack made of 100% nylon that is SUPER SOFT, comfortable and a nice size. I put my tent rain fly in it and carry it within the tent stuff sack. In camp I just pull it out and throw it into the tent with the sleeping bag. If it rains you can just put clothing in it, when you use your tent fly for the rain. Really a neat little product that helps produce that important good night's sleep. --------------------- Editor's note: I think these are called "Pocket Pillow" and they are made with a "scrubbed" nylon which resembles the softness of flannel.
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From: Madam Zup-Zup, 01/11/98 This sleeping bag is a great deal for the price, weight, and warmth. I would reccomend it to everybody. -------------------- Editor's Note: Any product that's been around for as long as this one, must be considered a time tested and proven performer. The North Face uses slant box (overlapping) baffles to prevent cold spots, and its continuous channels allow you to shift the down in response to changing temperatures. It has a nylon taffeta shell and lining, 550-fill down, and is rated from 20 to 35 degrees. Typically, this bag retails for a little over $200 but look around and you should be able to find it cheaper that that. Purchased new, it comes with stuff sack and The North Face storage bag.
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From: Sue Holloway, 03/16/98 This is a terrific sleeping bag. If you're only going to buy one sleeping bag, I recommend that you seriously consider this one. It is extremely lightweight and it compacts into a very small stuff sack. It is rated to 20 degrees and I have found that to be pretty accurate. I've used it in colder temperatures and just slept in warmer clothes. Like all North Face gear, it is backed by a solid guarantee if you have any problems (which I doubt). While it retails for $199, there are a number of places now that have it on sale for $159.99, notably Campmor and REI.
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From: Ted Coleman, 01/25/98 I would urge you to examine a bag by Wiggy of Colorado. www.wiggys.com. I've used about every one of the modern fills over the years, none of which has performed as promised, especially in the loft retention dept. I've got a 250.00 Moonstone bag hanging in the garage filled with Polarguard HV. The day I purchased it it had 7" of loft. A mere four trips or so later it had 2-1/2 " of loft. I've used the Wiggy for years with almost no measureable loss in loft and it's machine washable. I wash mine after every trip. I've jumped into the bag when it's been completly soaked, (actually it can't absorb water as the fiber fill is silicone coated), I've been wet and cold, and within minutes be nice and toasty to wake up with a completly dry body and bag. (I'll tell you that campfire story in private). The bags are not as light as Down, but (and I know we are all very, very careful) if you get your down bag soaked you are in for a long, cold night. Hopefully it will happen at sea level on the hottest night in summer. I go back and forth wanting to use down for the weight savings. But one thought always stops me: Other than falling off a cliff or eating my hiking partner's cooking, hypothermia and exposure are about the only things that can ruin my trip. My Summer bag is a Wiggy Overbag rated at 35 degrees. It weighs 44 ounces; 2 lb. 12 oz. A couple weeks ago, here in Seattle, I slept out in the backyard when the temp. dropped to 29 degres in that bag wearing only a pair of lightweight poly pro long undies, on a full length Thermarest ultralight pad. Warm and comfy. It stuffs into a 6x14 sack easily, although I personally don't use stuff sacks for my bag or tent so the other minimalists I associate with won't kick me out of camp.
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From: Tim Kearns, 02/02/98 I must say that at first glance, this bag looks to be quite the wonder of nature. She is not. She will keep you cramped up all night long. She will not keep you warm, despite her efforts. This bag is about as useful as a tablecloth. Perhaps, if the harshest weather you will see is a windy night with a low of 35 degrees, then MAYBE you should waste your hard earned currency on this little snazzy garbage bag. Did I mention to be care- full with the zipper, it is quite delicate.
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From: Brad Grant, 04/28/98 The Spruce Mtn sleeping bag from Alps Mountaineering is remarkable. It is a 550 goose down filled bag, mummy-style with draft collar and even a zippered pocket on top for eyeglasses or a watch. I previously owned a 5-degree synthetic fill bag. The Alps bag, rated at +20-degrees, feels much warmer and is incredibly roomy. It only weighs 2 pounds 7 ounces and comes with a compression stuff sack that packs it to the size of a small football. And it costs less than $200! They also make a long version that weighs 4 ounces more and adds 6 inches in length and 2 inches in width. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
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From: Dave Tokarz, 04/16/98 I decided to buy this bag on the spur of the moment while at the store to take advantage of the sale. This is one of the few times in my life where that kind of thinking has paid off! I could not be happier with the bag. The first three times I was "lucky" enough to coincide my camping trips with terential downpours in 30-50 degree weather. The bag despite my concerns performed beautifully. On one occasion my tent leaked and let the bottom of my bag sit in a puddle of water. I didn't even notice it till morning because my bag stayed perfectly dry inside. This is the best $124.99 i've spent in a long time. I would even buy it at $210.00(org price.
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I have stated the problem, now I shall state
the solution. US ARMY Poncho Liners! I love
these things. VERY inexpensive, very light
in weight, and most of all, very versatile.
Our prospective sleep system would look
something like this: buy one cheap MIL-Spec
liner and sew a zipper onto it; make sure
this initial liner has a zippered hole for
your head so that it may be worn as a warm
garment, in the style of a poncho. Then
purchase a non-zippered Thinsulate poncho
liner and use it as the inner lining for your
original poncho liner. If you are in need of
something for a bit colder weather, you could
then purchase a Sportsman blanket (basically
a heavy duty sheet of mylar with nylon on one
side and grommets) and tie this as the outer
layer of your sleep system. When travelling in
warm temps, there is no need to carry the extra
weight, so your modular sleep system will work
for all seasons. Don't you remember always
being told that layering is the key? It is,
in sleeping as well.
I plan to use this on the pacific crest trail
and in my opinion, it works very well. Try it!
The liners can be purchased from Brigade
quartermasters or US cavalry. you can find
them on Yahoo!.
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From: Stephen Dmetruk, 02/24/98
This is an excellent self inflating pad.
Comfort: I've never slept on a Thermarest, so unfortunately I can't compare it to what
would be the most viable alternative. But then again, I can't imagine sleeping on
anything more comfortable (short of my own bed
Setup/Use/Maintenance: This pad does not always inflate itself (I've read other reviews
which expressed the same complaint). It always requires a bit of blowing, which is
disconcerting since I imagine this will shorten the life of the pad because of mildew
issues. The pad is also somewhat of a pain to roll up to fit it in its stuff sack and
it takes a bit of time.
Packability: The pad rolls up into a package the size of, oh, a cylinder with the
diameter of the middle of a football and about the same length. This is much much
smaller than the Thermarests compress (I'm comparing to comprable Thermarests - not
the ultralightweight ones). The package is very very dense once rolled up and I find
it awkward to fit on the inside of my pack (I used to use a ridgerest, so having a
pad in my pack is strange to me to begin with).
Durability: This pad is probably a little more delicate than Thermarests, but I
have yet to experience any problems with it on the trail. I did, however, put it
up against a wall which had a small pin (smaller than a sewing needle) sticking out
of it and this punctured the pad. I didn't have time to repair the hole before my
next trip and the pad didn't leak at all - I was shocked. I give the durability
of the pad one thumb up
Verdict: I like this pad a lot. Its not perfect, but I have yet to find gear that
is. I would buy it again (although maybe in a lighter weight - there are smaller
ones). Yes - I'm quite pleased with my sleeping pad.
Also, the surface is the tackiest available, thus
there is no sleeping bag slippage whatsoever.
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