Hello everyone, new to these boards and wanted an opinion about mummy bags. I'm looking for a around 20 degree rated,thats around 40 bucks. I am really concerned about size however. I want something that packs small and light, but is big enough to fit me. I am 6'0 and 190 lbs. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Here are some I found opinions are welcome.

Bag 1

Bag 2
Thanks

Find a used one at a garage sale. Please go to google and type in a shopping search with your parameters NOTHING will be around 40! Good luck

Both of my bags in my links are around 40 dollars

They may be around $40, but:

If it's anything like their other equipment, the Wenzel bag is junk - you'd be better off to just put your money in the trash can now; it will take up less room in the landfill, which is where the bag will soon go.

The Downright bag (which isn't down) is incredibly heavy at 4 pounds and, since it's got to be a cheap polyester (no-name for the type of poly fill), it's going to be about as compressible as a car tire.

On cheap bags, you also can't trust the temperature rating - my guess is that it's about 10 degrees too optimistic, at least.

The last time I was in Dick's, I didn't see anything that was suitable for backpacking at any price. Give REI a try - especially check out their Outlet.com tab. You may end up paying closer to $100, but you'll end up with something that is pretty close to your weight and compressibility desires, will keep you warm at the rated temperature, and will actually last more than a trip or two.

Your links didn't show up sorry. But you said pack small and light. No way! Sorry, that just is not happening. You'll have to weigh these bags (unless I missed it on the links) no weight is given. That is a dead give away to a heavy bag. Again good luck.

One bag weighed 4 pounds - no weight was given for the other, so it must be REALLY heavy.

Just looked at REI Outlet.com, and found several LaFuma and ALPS synthetic fill bags for $50-60, some REI synthetic bags for around the same price, and a couple of REI down-flled bags for around $100. All of those will be much better values, and might actually be warm.

Great thanks for all the advice. The outlet site is great

Hope you don't feel too beat up with the responses - but I agree with everything you've been told so far. A couple words of warning:

1) read the weight before buying. and remember synthetic will be bigger and heavier.

2) Be careful about the *size* of the bag. You are 6 feet even, which is right on the dividing line between most bag makers "regular" and "long" bags - you may end up wanting a long, it will depend.

If you are looking at REI outlet, and there is an REI in your area, it wouldn't hurt to actually go into REI, and *try on* a few bags if you have a chance. You may find you like some more than others. You may only get the *price* on the outlet web site, but if they have the same bag in store you can try a few on and decide what you like. The other thing you can do even if they do *not* have the same bag, is try a few on, even the expensive ones, and note the lenght and girth of the bag at shoulders, etc. even if you're buying a diffrernt one if you've noticed a fit you are comfortable with you can compare to the dimensions of the bag you are looking at buying online.

I think Tango is referring to a decent bag...sabrer11004...

I fully understand your desire to get a sleeping bag as cheaply as possible. If you are going to use it for any length of time at all, it is worth spending whatever is required to get good stuff. You will carry it on every overnight trip, so weight is important. You will sleep in it every night, so warmth is important. Some morning, when you awake revived and refreshed, the amount of money you spent on the bag will be trivial. Use a coffe can for a cooking pot and a painter's tarp for shelter, for a while, but get a good bag.

Long, long ago, I spent a month's salary on a good, light bag. It served me ably for over fifteen years and was still good when it was stolen. It worked in numerous difficult situations and repaid its initial cost, many, many times....

My thought is that you need a good sleeping bag, a good pack, and good shoes. Spend whatever is necessary (nowadays, it isn't necessarily a lot, especially with shoes) to be sure that you have those three suitable items. You can finesse the rest for a while.

Next you will need a good parka... And thus the addiction begins......