I am going on another Colorado elk hunt this fall. Last time my sleeping bag was not quite insulated enough. What rating would be best for the side of the mountain? If it gets down to 20 let's say, do I need a 20 degree rated bag or something better? I was thinking a 0 degree rated bag. I don't want to burn up but I most definitely don't want to be cold.

You won't burn up with a zero rated bag. In my experience, when things like boots and sleeping bags say rated down to whatever, you can just about take it to the bank that they really meant about 40 degrees warmer.

If it were me and I didn't have to hump it up and down the mountain everyday, I'd buy the warmest bag I could get. Bad weather has a habit of busting you when you're least expecting it.

This is what I was thinking about getting.

http://www.backcountry.com/marmot-trestles-0-sleeping-bag-0-degree-synthetic?rr=t

You can always get cooler but it's tough to get warmer in cold temps. I have a 5 degree Western Mountaineering Sequoia and it works great.

Are you backpacking or hunting out of a base camp?

If weight is an issue then go as light as you can afford to go. The one you are thinking about is fine, but pretty heavy for backpacking - which is why it is so economical. If you double (or more) that price you can get into a down or high quality synthetic down bag with about half the weight. Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends, Marmot, and Big Agnes come to mind as brands to look at - there are several others.

If you are base-camp hunting where you can drive to camp I prefer a more roomy canvas sleeping bag with a quilt lining. These can be either down or synthetic filled since weight is not an issue. These greatly increase comfort and can be had pretty economically since weight is not an issue.

Good luck on your trip!

A 20 degree bag with a good pad should keep you quite toasty, all the way down to 0 degrees. While the bag is important, the type of pad you are using is just as important

Pad is key yes.

And some companies are known to be spot on with their comfort ratings - while some are not. It's been too long since I researched it but an internet search should provide that info.

The rating is generally meant to be the temperature you can survive in. It has nothing to do with being comfortable, most of the time. No way would I want to be in 20 degree weather with nothing but a bag rated for 20 degrees. Go lower than the temps you expect. Like Nog said, it's easy to open it up and cool off. Getting warmer when your bag isn't cutting it? Good luck.

About the ratings they are standardized

"EN13537 requires a thermal manikin test which produces four temperature results — upper limit, comfort, lower limit and extreme. These temperatures were worked for normal consumers."

"idfl-certified" is mainly used for down bags.

Key to sleeping bags is thermal loss out the bottom. In cold weather an insulated pad makes a huge difference.

I'm a fan of mountain hard wear gear, both tents and bags

My usual rule of thumb is the bag is comfortable to withing ~15 degrees above it's rating. I have a 20-degree ultralight down bag (1.8 lb) that I backpack with and use down to about freezing (with a good air ground pad). It packs up to slightly larger than the size of a soft ball. If it's colder than that, I have a -20 degree down bag that get's the call. The -20 bag goes to elk camp.

Down is a thermo-regulating insulator. So, it will be comfortable across a broader range of temperatures than many synthetic fabrics. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. But a good down bag, if maintained properly, will last a life time.

Same here. I have one of these and have slept comfortable in it on a good thermarest under the stars at -7F.

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-hard...0NhdDcxMTAwMDE1

backcountry.com has some great deals going on right now on bags - and everything else.

model close out time. Some steals going on on boots also

Think I've been look at new gear lately lol

It's funny you bring them up.... Lol

I don't even have anything in mind and I still want to buy something.

Sleeping bags are rated to the temp they will keep you alive at. Not keep you comfortable. Add about 20 degrees to the rating and that is what it will keep you comfortable at. I temps will be in the 20s get you a 0 rated bag. Or get you bag system that can be used with the liner for multiple temp uses making it more than a one season bag.

Snugpak sleeping bags all the way with a good mat for padding & insulation barrier

I've spent many many many nights in the Colorado high country. 6000 plus ft. Buy. Yourself a -30 down bag and don't look back. It's a life time investment that will keep you comfy or alive in any Colorado weather...

On my 20 degree bag I got cold anytime it got around 35 or below. I bought a liner and wear a pair of thermals and I am just fine. When you have to pack in on your feet you need to go lite and improvise.

I HAVE 3 mil. bags 2 extreme weather bags and one mountain bag. i have been too warm, but not cold (no i don't use them all at the same time)

I HAVE 3 mil. bags 2 extreme weather bags and one mountain bag. i have been too warm, but not cold (no i don't use them all at the same time)

Good lord I'd burn up in some of yalls bags. I have a western mountaineer bag rated at 25. But my research on all the forums from guys using that bag($500 down bag and weighs 1 pound for true back pack/bivy hunting) said it sleeps more like a 20 bag. They were correct. Sept archery elk hunts is what I use mine for though. I've been in 20 degree nights and have stayed toasty as long as I had a good pad and slept in my base layer.