What do you guys use and recommend for a -20° sleeping bag? Looking for comfortable, warm and bot to heavy. Doing a DIY Alaska caribou hunt this September and a DIY Alaskan Yukon hunt next year. Thanks

I have a 3 piece gore Tex bag I was issued while I was in the service. I’ve slept in a tent in below zero conditions in my underwear and was almost too warm still. You can add on each of the layers as needed, all the way up to the waterproof bivy. It’s the end all be all sleeping bag system in my view. They can be found on eBay for a good price!

Were regulated on weight. Also needs to be light.

You sure you need a -20? That’s pretty extreme

Biggest question how big are you and how do you sleep?


Synthetic the best bang for buck is the Hyper Liama from Mountain Hardware

If you are a big ol boy 6+ and wide, go with kifaru Wide slick bag.

If you trust hyperbolic down, Mountain Hardware, Western Mountaineering, stone glacier are at the top.

I run a 0 degree and 20 degree quilt just about everywhere now. Most the mummy bags are just too constricting for me now. But I don’t advise a quilt for a single hunt.

The outfitter for both hunts has suggested -20° sleeping bag. I'm 5' 11" 230lbs. I have a muscular build so I need.some room.

This ^^^^^. I question the -20 degree bag though. Seems way too extreme. At most a 0 degree but probably fine with a 15 - 20.

Brands as Bobo listed above. Mountain Hardwear, Western Mounatineering & Feathered Friends are my recommendations. Need to decide on down vs synthetic. Pros and cons to both.

Sleeping bags are like boots. No one size fit all.

I’d double check the -20 again, just to be safe.

I hate mummy bags but I would call Kifaru, Western mountaineering, Stone glacier and feathered friends and see what they have in a 66” ish+ girth in the appropriate bag and have them sell you on why you need it. Honestly it’s a flip of a coin. All four are also pro hunting. Nemo is another one but I don’t know if they make a below -15 bag

I’m pretty sure All of them us a EU rating system so they are pretty spot on temp wise.

Also remember you can wear clothes in a bag to increase warmth . Synthetic bags are also good for drying clothes out while you sleep in them. Heard people swear you can in a dwr down too, but never tried it.

I like the Kifaru wide. They have it in a -20 but I think you guys have convinced me to go with the 0°. I like the fact that its synthetic as both hunts will be in wet areas and I really like the wide bag. I cant do a mummy bag. I wear a 50 r jacket and they just wont work.Thanks for the input

In my experience a -20 bag just means you may not die at -20 but you won't be warm. I have spent plenty nights below zero in a tent, on the ice or in the back of a pickup truck from Alaska to Montana. Yes they are too warm when it's nice out but you just unzip them, but it is hard to get proper sleep when you are shivering all night.

I doubt your outfitter would lead you astray but I would double check. Also Aaron at Kifaru will be able to advise you on what you need. That center zip is incredibly handy. I wish my hyper liama MH bag’s zipper was as deep as the Kifaru.

Those EN ratings are normally between comfort and alive. The alive on an EN rated -20 bag might be -30 and comfort -10. If that makes sense. It’s best to just call and have them walk you through it.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. This is my first trip to be dropped off in the middle of bow where so I want to make sure I'm prepared!

To all the comments about -20 is too much:

Did ya'll miss the part about Alaska?

Nope, season starts in Aug and runs until Dec. He is hunting in September thus why I said double check with outfitter.

I can tell you, my -20 wrath Mountain Hardware bag is miserable above 15 degrees, and because it’s a true -20 bag it’s designed to be restricting so it’s hard to vent, the Goretex out membrane doesn’t work real great at letting moisture/sweat out. I also have a cabelas guide bag that’s a zero and although is the most comfortable bag I own, I wouldn’t take it below 25 ish degrees with out adding a ton of layers on

Once you've used a Wiggy's bag, it's all you'll ever own. I have three of them. You are very likely to get wet and nothing even comes close to working as well as Wiggy's when damp/wet. Their Ultima Thule and a light weight bivy is all you'll need. You can order direct from their website Wiggy's.com. Made in Colorado as well.

I can tell you that a -20 bag is not unreasonable. I personally use a North Face Bigfoot XL. After two or three days in a tent, in that bag, you will appreciate room, warmth, and the ability to put your arms outside when sitting around.

Call the people here at Barneys in Alaska, and listen to what they tell you. They do it all, 12 months of the year and carry not only the best but will steer you in the correct direction for your own choices. Their Frontier brand of equipment is unrivaled.

https://barneyssports.com/product-c...g-systems-and-accessories/sleeping-bags/

The above recommendation for Wiggy's is spot on too. Lifetime warranty and available in large and wide sizes, if you can move your feet they will stay warmer.

I will agree 100% that the guys at Barneys knows their stuff. They outfitted me for my upcoming Alaska trip this year. They will know what you need but I would also listen to your guide. A -20 degree can definitely be reasonable if temps require that or entirely unreasonable if you don’t approach those temps at all. I have the Mtn Hardwear Phantom 0 degree bag and if it’s not below 20 degrees it’s way too hot to be inside of. Talk with your outfitter and confirm what they recommend. I would hate to have the wrong bag. It’s rated a temp range for a reason. Outside of that range and it has lost its purpose and comfort.

Barney’s is a perfect example of what I’m trying to state, they only handle top end.They don’t have a -20 degree bag on their website, they have some with a EN rating extreme limit of -20, but it’s not stated as a -20 bag. Why I referenced EN rating earlier, it’s the only true rating scale. Moral is don’t look at the bag number look at the EN rating.

A true -20 bag is expedition grade

Get you an army sleeping bag, the OD green mummy types and you'll never feel cold or have to look back. Believe they are -10 rated. I spent the winter of 1990 sleeping in one at Fort Knox, KY, several nights approaching 0-10 degrees and never felt anything but warm.

I'm a spoiled dude. Even though I hate to admit it. If weight isn't an issue I do a cotton sheet and wool blanket inside the bag- along with the clothes I'm going to wear. Then I use my regular bag.

Basically a wiggly’s with flame retardant exterior shell, just really heavy when you are limited to x amount of weight

I keep shopping for quilts have even clicked in buy but haven't pulled the trigger. But I fight the mummy bag all night I hate being constricted. That stone glacier bag looks pretty roomy for the weight though.

Lower 48 fall hunting, I love the quilt. You will either love it or hate it. No in between. Weight wise it really adds up to about the same when you toss in beanie and insulated pad, but much more comfortable and versatile.

I run synthetic wide long EE’s, about the same weight as my higher end goose down bags of equivalent rating



Oh OP. Ask your outfitters if you need to bring a pad. I highly suggest an insulated pad w/moderate to high R rating, compressed insulation isn’t that warm

Kinda off subject but I'm transferring to hammock camping this fall. Slept some in Oklahoma in April and loved it did not wake up sore because I was laying on an inch of thermarest then the ground. I was already planning on buying a klymit insulated pad for more cushion. Now I'm back and forth between pad and underquilt. I'll get more use out of pad and of something happened like my strap broke or no trees bla bla I can set my tarp up and be good.

That settles it new pad.

Look at outdoor vitals also on Hammock specific

I was there earlier today after listening to a podcast they did with hunt Backcountry.