Forte Endless Promise

I have the Nemo Forte 35° bag which I currently use for car camping and outdoor needs. I recently purchased the Hang Tight Special Edition HeatSeeker 20° as a more compact sleep setup. Nemo: 1234g Hang tight: 930g Both fit in the bar bag (dry bag with straps). After seeing these next to each other, would you opt for the additional ~$200 sleeping bag in the smaller form factor or would you continue to use the larger Nemo me you already own. Thanks

As a warm sleeper I would absolutely die in a 15 degree bag if it's 30+ out. I would have to fully unzip it and then struggle to regulate temperature all night. The Nemo gills help a little but they do not help enough if you're a warm sleeper and it's 15 degrees over your bag rating. I have a Nemo 35 degree bag that I use and I've never been cold in it even though the comfort rating is 40. If it's 50+ degrees out it gets too hot. 35-50 is definitely the sweet spot for it. Personally, as long as you're not in dangerously cold conditions, I'd always go with a warmer bag and wear extra layers to bed or have a backup quilt to throw over it in case it actually gets too cold. I've had way more camping nights ruined from having a bag that's too hot than one that's too cold. You can always add layers but once you have to fully unzip your bag because it's too hot you're in a tricky place with temperature regulation for the night. If you're a hot sleeper do not buy a 15 degree bag if you're basically only camping above 30 degrees. I would be looking at a 35 and then also buying a cheap synthetic camp blanket as an extra layer when needed or an only layer for nights that are 50+

6’4” claustrophobic big guy slide sleeper and the Nemo Forte has been amazing!

Cheap, warm, or light and packable - you can only have two, you’re never going to get all three. You’ll also be colder in a bag for two. The more air space in the bag, the harder it is for your body to warm all that space. So the colder it is, the less comfortable that will become. Mummy bags are designed to be conforming to your body for that reason. They are not meant to be zipped together. So a pair of rectangular bags will fit together but be bulkier and harder to be warm in. Nemo Forte, Disco and Riff bags will zip together and be warmer- but they will also not be cheap enough for you unless you get the heaviest versions. Synthetic also breaks down faster than down. They are a compromise between mummy and rectangular. Then there is the pad issue. Two single pads tied together will have a cold gap in the middle. A two person pad weighs a lot and takes up more space in a pack. Two rectangular pads will do better than two tapered pads, same trade offs. Everyone has a different equation for what is important. But it’s hard to sell the gear you no longer want unless it’s of sufficient quality to be desirable. Higher end sleeping gear includes Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends and the top tier versions of Marmot bags. if your boyfriend is already backpacking, he has cheap stuff. You say that he doesn’t have good stuff. I highly recommend that you start with moderate quality gear like Marmot or REI brands and get separate bags because you don’t even know how much you will want to backpack. He already backpacks and will want lighter and warmer. Get couples gear when you are sure you will want to go often with him.

I have the Disco Endless Promise. It’s not the same bag due to down vs synthetic but it’s very similar to the Forte. For of $40 difference, which is minor considering the overall cost of the sleeping bag I would go with the Forte. The gills are a nice addition. I am 5 foot 11 and I find the 6 foot length slightly tight. I would suggest if you’re 5 feet 10” or under you would be comfortable. Otherwise, I would go for the long version.

The forte is my favorite sleeping bag I’ve ever owned. Lots of nice details. Pillow holder, draft stopper, vent sections, phone/light pocket. And the spoon shape makes it so comfortable. I’m sure the tempo has a lot of the same, but the extra weight for 1 degree is definitely not worth it.

Totally get why you’re stuck on this they’re close enough that it’s not an obvious call. From my experience, that 1° rating difference never really showed up for me, but extra weight definitely did once the miles added up. I’ve usually been happier carrying the lighter bag and just throwing on an extra layer if it’s colder than expected. If you’re mostly hiking in, I’d probably lean Forte too, but I don’t think you’d be unhappy either way.