AegisMax UL Sleeping Bag thoughts

[Figaro]

I'm slowly collecting my gear for the TransAm next year. Have my Trek520 an Ortlieb handlebar bag, Ortlieb rear panniers are on the way, have an MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent. I'll be doing unsupported and plan to stay in motels some and campings some--maybe 50/50. I want to travel light. So, I'm now researching sleeping bags and am thinking about the AegisMax UL bag. Thoughts are welcome...I'm  mainly concerned about whether this may be enough for nights in the rockies--I can handle cold pretty well, but am just not familiar with weather in the northwest nights in mid June to mid July. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY1bJPSZWnY

[John Nelson]

It may never get below freezing. If it does, it’ll only be once or twice. Stay in a motel those nights.

[Figaro]

take a look at the Big Agnes Encampment 15deg F Sleeping bag
https://www.bigagnes.com/Encampment-15_2

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIAQhEYK6t8

I have been using the Big Agnes Encampment 15deg F Sleeping bag since 8-2012 for
my Stealth Bicycle Camping trips in  Southern California and I love using it

Looks like a great bag....especially with the pad on the bottom. But is a little larger than I’m wanting to carry.

[Figaro]

It may never get below freezing. If it does, it’ll only be once or twice. Stay in a motel those nights.

Thanks John.

[Nyimbo]

I’m terribly afraid of cold so I wanted a warm bag. I did have a couple nights where motel was not available - one in Yellowstone in early July was below freezing.. 

Someone posted a suggestion here when I was purchasing to buy two bags which is what I did. I used the warm bag from Oregon to Pueblo and then shipped it home and picked up my lightweight bag that I mailed  to a friends home. And carried on the second half with a light weight more appropriate bag for the rest of the trip east.

[John Nelson]

My philosophy on bags is to assume that on the coldest night, I will be simultaneously wearing every article of clothing I brought with me inside the sleeping bag. Then I buy the right bag for that assumption. Also remember that you won’t (or shouldn’t) be sleeping on the top of the Pass. You’ll descend to some place much lower before making camp.

I agree with Nyimbo that Yellowstone is most likely the coldest place on the TransAm that you will camp without a reasonable indoor alternative (unless you pay a fortune and make reservations a year in advance).

[Figaro]

Yes, I'll be leaving mid to late May going East to West, so hopefully won't experience extreme cold--I think I can handle a couple nights of 30 degree weather in a lightweight sleeping bag with layered clothing if needed. Just doing some research to find the right bag that will compress into a small package and is under a couple pounds ideally.

[John Nelson]

Your air mattress makes a huge difference to your warmth too.

[Figaro]

Well, after a couple months of research and looking at dozens of bags and quilts, I finally settled on my sleeping bag for my TA trip. Ordered the NEMO Riff 30 Long bag. The ultimate selling point for me was the wide body--spoon shape--and to a lesser degree the built-in pillow pocket. I have never liked mummy bags, so was looking at the more traditional box shaped bags and seriously looked at some quilty, but this seemed like the best solution for me. It's a little on the expensive side, but hopefully it will be worth the money.

https://www.rei.com/product/112099/nemo-riff-30-sleeping-bag-mens

[DaveB]

Your air mattress makes a huge difference to your warmth too.

Remember a true "air mattress", i.e. just an inflatable plastic shell, provides nearly no insulation under your sleeping bag.  I recommend a foam filled air mattress like the Thermarest  or one of it's knockoffs.  They can be reasonably light and roll up small but do provide some insulation.  Non-inflatable foam sleeping pads can be light and do insulate well but aren't the first choice for comfort.

[Figaro]

Your air mattress makes a huge difference to your warmth too.

Remember a true "air mattress", i.e. just an inflatable plastic shell, provides nearly no insulation under your sleeping bag.  I recommend a foam filled air mattress like the Thermarest  or one of it's knockoffs.  They can be reasonably light and roll up small but do provide some insulation.  Non-inflatable foam sleeping pads can be light and do insulate well but aren't the first choice for comfort.

I'm thinking about getting this. Seems a little bulky, but I guess I can just bungie it to my rack. Seems to have really good reviews.
https://www.rei.com/product/829826/therm-a-rest-z-lite-sol-sleeping-pad

[BikeliciousBabe]

Got this last year and love it. Wait for the member sale and use the coupon.

https://www.rei.com/product/135411/sea-to-summit-comfort-light-insulated-sleeping-pad

Paired with a compression sack, this packs down to about the size of a football, and it's lighter and cheaper than the Nemo:

https://www.rei.com/product/111165/rei-co-op-igneo-25-sleeping-bag-mens

[DarrenBnYYC]

Your air mattress makes a huge difference to your warmth too.

Remember a true "air mattress", i.e. just an inflatable plastic shell, provides nearly no insulation under your sleeping bag.  I recommend a foam filled air mattress like the Thermarest  or one of it's knockoffs.  They can be reasonably light and roll up small but do provide some insulation.  Non-inflatable foam sleeping pads can be light and do insulate well but aren't the first choice for comfort.

Actually, that's not quite true. Some air mattresses also have a high R-value. They are pricey, but Thermarest, for example, makes their NeoAir XTherm insulated air mattress (R 5.6). But it is still super lightweight and packs down to nothing.

But I agree that, generally, you have to pay attention to air mattresses when it comes to ground insulation.

[Figaro]

Got this last year and love it. Wait for the member sale and use the coupon.

https://www.rei.com/product/135411/sea-to-summit-comfort-light-insulated-sleeping-pad

Paired with a compression sack, this packs down to about the size of a football, and it's lighter and cheaper than the Nemo:

https://www.rei.com/product/111165/rei-co-op-igneo-25-sleeping-bag-mens

The sleeping pad looks interesting, but the bag is just not for me--can't deal with mummy bags. I got to have room to move :-)

[BikeliciousBabe]

If you go with an inflatable mattress, make sure it's insulated as noted above. Some makers have insulated and non-insulated models. Personally, I would avoid one with vertical baffles. Had one. It was like sleeping on an inflatable pool raft. The Sea to Summit one I am currently using is easy to inflate and deflates completely in an n-sec. I open the valve while I am on it all the air comes whooshing out. Another nice thing is that the material it's made of is tacky enough that it doesn't slide around when you are rolling it up. I had a Nemo mattress that did that. Drove be batty.