My cheap sleeping bag almost got me in trouble in the Smokies

I went cheap and bought a $40 sleeping bag from a big box store for a 3 night trip in the Smokies last month. First night got down to 40 degrees and I was shaking by 3 AM, couldn't get warm at all. Ended up having to cut the trip short because I was just miserable and worried about getting sick. Anyone else learned the hard way that sleeping bag temp ratings aren't just suggestions?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_murray881d ago

Did you actually check the temperature rating on that bag before you bought it, or did you just grab the cheapest thing on the shelf and hope for the best? A lot of those budget bags are basically summer quilts they slap a "40 degree" label on so they can sell them to people who don't know any better. The real issue is that cheap bags use synthetic fill that loses its loft fast, so there's zero insulation once you compress it by lying on it. How cold did the weather report say it was actually going to get that night, because 40 degrees on the bag label usually means it'll keep you alive but not comfortable at around 45?

paul_burns1d ago

Oh man, I gotta disagree a little bit @kevin_murray88. I mean yeah, checking the temp rating is important, but even a legit 40 degree bag from a decent brand can leave you shivering if you don't pair it with a good sleeping pad and some proper clothes. I've been in that same spot before, woke up cold and miserable in my tent, and it wasn't the bag's fault - I was sleeping on a cheap foam pad that was basically putting my body heat right into the ground. The real trick is layer up with a thermal base layer, wear a hat to bed, and make sure your pad has some R-value. You can drop $200 on a bag but if you're sleeping on cold ground you'll still be shaking by morning.