Sleeping Bag Choice

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and new to multi day hiking too. I have a bit of a dilemma I was hoping some experienced people could help me with.

I currently have a big agnes buffalo park bag and insulate ba aircore mattress. I've been planning for a while to buy another big agnes in the 0 - 20 degree range that I can layer with the other.

However last week I camped for the first time in 15 degree temps (with an old Coleman 0 degree bag) and it really made me question whether the big agnes sleeping pad design could stand up to these types of temperatures (I was using the coleman and sleeping on a thick air mattress). I could layer five bags together, but it wouldn't make much of a difference if the only thing between me and the frozen ground is a 2 1/2" thick air mattress.

Does anyone have any experience with big agnes bags at these temperatures?
Am I worrying for no reason?
Is it feasible to get something like a Cat's Meow North Face bag and layer it with my big agnes?

My price limit for a bag would be not much more than $200 if anyone has any other suggestions.

Any and all info would be a great help.

Hi, and welcome!

Problem here is the Air Core. Even the insulated edition isn't very good below freezing, in my experience, and your body heat is simply bleeding off in a vain attempt to heat the planet. A warmer bag will only help so much.

What to do? You can inexpensively add a foam pad beneath your current mattress or you can substitute it entirely with a warmer pad--be it a self-inflator or air mat. These, however, can sneak into three figures for the most sophisticated and light models.

I'd settle the pad issue first before buying another bag.

Cheers,

I use a piece of "Bubble Foil Insulation" under my bag. I lay on top of my pad. You can also use an "Emergency Blanket", like those you can get at most camping stores, WalMart, K-Mart, ect...

Those reflect most of your body heat back into your bag and they're very lightweight and inexpensive.

When I go below 20 with my BA, I put it on top of a ridgerest. Very warm. I recommend just putting a CCF on top or underneath the BA pad.