I just purchased a Big Agnus Lost Ranger bag which is rated at 15°. Which I think will suit me fine for Spring and Fall, at least in Michigan. But what about the summer? Michigan summers can get pretty warm and humid and I think I'd be too warm in this bag. Do you have any suggestions for a light weight alternative?
Bob A.

I assume Michigan can get pretty cold in the summer though? Find out what the temps can get down to and buy for that.

If the BA bag actually goes down to 15 degrees, I would be roasting in the Spring and Fall in Oregon. I have a Montbell Ul Super Stretch Down Hugger #2 (24 degree) for the shoulder seasons, and a #5 (40 degree) for Summer. It rarely goes to freezing even high in the Cascades, and I find the 40 degree is a very versatile bag.

Just make sure that if you do get a 40 degree bag, that it's a realistic rating. Some less expensive bags (and even synthetic) overstate their rating by 5-10 degrees.

For instance, I found the Campmor 20 degree down bag really was comfortable down to 32 degrees. Actually, at 2 pounds, it's really a great buy, but realize it's only good to freezing or so.

I found a 30 degree bag to be more than adequate for Southeast Alaska, which I'm guesstimating gets about as cold during summer nights as Michigan. I used to sweat a lot in that bag. My favorite one for summers has been a bag I made out of a military poncho liner. It's kept me warm (when I'm almost fully clothed while sleeping inside a bivysack) down to a breezy 35F. I think a good compromise would be a bag that's rated down to about 40F.

Western Mountaineering summer bags are very light, but too expensive, and a little warm for a hot night. Any summer sleeping bag that weighs more than 2 pounds would be for sure excluded for me as severe overkill. Beyond that, anything might do.

When night time low temperature don't fall below say, 50 or 60 degrees, which is fairly typical in eastern U.S. summertime, have sometimes brought lightweight long underwear, clean and fairly thick socks, a knit hat and a light pile jacket, and no sleeping bag.

The weight of this clothing is perhaps a pound, is adequately warm, and of course is more versatile than a sleeping bag.

Once, I took a bed sheet, but my extra clothing that particular night happened to be inadequate.

In doing this, more times than not, I've slept inside a sleeping bag cover, which is essentially a bivvy sack that has a water-resistant rather than goretex top, and a water-proof floor. It weighs a pound, adds warmth etc., and when folded up requires very little pack space. This addresses the desire to cover self with something while sleeping.

If nothing else, the approach saves wear and tear on the Western Mteering bag for colder nights, and my girlfriend can use my ratty old 'duck down & feathers" summer sleeping bag.

Next week I may do a little camping but don't have access to most of my gear. The girl friend would use WM bag and I'd take a light blanket in addition to above clothing (Might get frost).

Check out the Exped Wallcreeper....way goofy looking, but you can't beat it for versatility!

http://www.backcountry.com/store/ODR0047...eper|2080382799


BF

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I'll sell you mine. I have a like new Western Mountaineering MityLite. I used it about 3 times wearing clean clothes in a tent.

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/ind...mp;ContentId=15

It is rated at 40F and weighs 26 oz on my postage scale. I've never liked tight bags for summer sleeping, so I bought this bag for it's generous semi-rectangular cut. It fully unzips so you can use it as a quilt, too. Retail is $270, but I'll sell it for $170 with WM stuff sack and cotton storage sack. If you're interested, I'll send you pictures. david_eastwick@hotmail.com

My perfect summer bag is the WM Summerlite. When it gets too warm, I can shake all the down into the baffles underneath me and just have a light covering. Also, the full-zip is essential for venting in the summer. And when nights get colder than I expected, I can adjust the bag to be warmer and also use the hood. I love this bag... it's so versatile! It's rated for 32 degrees but I'm a cold sleeper and would need to wear a base layer in and stocking cap to sleep in it under 40 degrees. I do tend to camp a lot of places that are warm during the day but high enough in altitude to freeze during the night. With the right sleeping pad and keeping some extra clothes nearby, I've almost always been able to take the 19 oz Summerlite along.

“But what about the summer? Michigan summers can get pretty warm and humid”

My favorite summer bag is the western mountaineering caribou (35F); weighs 20oz. It can unzip fully which is much appreciated. And you don’t have to worry about down shifting. It stays in place. I love box stitched down bags.

If I know it’s not going below 70F, I take a cotton liner only (oh no! cotton!). This is about the only time I take cotton because when I have a heavy sweating day, I’d rather lay on cotton than nylon or silk.

Also consider the 15oz down quilt from Jacks R Better or a synthetic 14oz ‘Backpacking Light PRO 90 Quilt’

It’s not worth carrying heavy sleeping gear in the warm summer.

-Barry

Now THAT is a good deal for a semi-rectangular summer bag, esp. a WM bag.

I love my 30 F WM Megalite. I can shift the down from top to bottom (somewhat) and, best of all, it zips all the way open & I use it as a quilt on hot nights in the desert.

Eric

I love my WM highlite (35f sewn through baffles) for the 3 seasson. Most of my 3 season is down in higher eleveations where 40f at night is considered the norm if not a tad below. Last weekend I slept in it down to 25f but it was in my Tigoat (old one witht he purple bottom) and I also had on silk weight capiline top and bottom all under my tarp. So for me I recommend a 30-40f range bag for the 3 season. Prefurably a good 800+down fill bag, but id the budget is tight then a super light syn bag will work as well. If I know it is not going to get below 60 at night I drop the bag and just take my bivy and sleep in it with my cloths on.