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Reddit Reviews
Look up spoon shaped bags. I have a nemo tempo 20 (which is synthetic) but they have down versions for more money. As a side sleeper it allows enough room to turn over in while also still packing to a compact-ish size.
Really depends where you are, not sure where OP is exactly. Here it can be almost 30°C (86°F) during the day, but drop to around 0°C (32°F) overnight. I use a Nemo Tempo 20 and still need a warm liner sometimes.
I haven't used these specific bags, but I did have a women's Marmot Trestles bag, rated for 15°F and I always slept very cold, even when temps were just hovering around freezing but not below. I bought a Nemo Tempo, rated for 19°F, and sleep significantly better, even when temps go below freezing. I also love the flap at the top, if it's cold or the sun is coming up and too bright, I pull it over my face and it's nice and cozy. The Marmot definitely feels like good quality, the zipper was really solid, it had a pocket (my Nemo Tempo doesn't), and just felt really nice, but did not keep me warm for some reason.
I love my Nemo Tempo. A quilt would probably be better, but they aren't in my budget.
Which 2 in 1 are you referring to? The ones that come to mind would exceed your budget, but examples help. What temperature are you expecting at night? Mainly, I would suggest finding an insulated sleeping pad with a stated R-value. Depending on how cold it will be, the R-value changes (higher R for colder temperatures). For sleeping bag, add at least 10°C, so for example, if you expect overnight temperatures around 5°C, find a bag rated for -5°C. I have a Nemo Quasar insulated pad in the double width (I move a lot), and a Nemo sleeping bag (in their "spoon" style because I can't sleep in a mummy style bag).
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.
Just be aware of that shoulder girth spec — for the regular version, Tempo has a few more inches and may be a bit more comfortable if you’re a side / active sleeper. If the shoulder spec isn’t a concern the Forte seems like a nice bag at that price. I have an older version of the Tempo and really love Nemo’s spoon shape.
Nemo bags zip together, or at least some of them. I have the tempo and it'll zip with the opposite genders bag.
I like the Nemo sleeping bags that have the gills. You can open them when it's warmer and zip them up as the temperature drops. Works much better for me than just opening the side zipper, which I find let's too much heat out.
I have a cot also but would never sleep on it without a pad when it's cold. I need the insulation. I really like the Nemo spoon shaped bags to be able to move around but why not pile up thick blankets for your first time out before dropping the money on a good bag.
BLUF: Test fit at a store or use the 30 day return policy. Only you can determine what length you need as there are multiple factors that go into that. Cost is based off several things and comfort isn’t usually one of them. A few things. For determining length: Most camping stores or stores that sell sleeping bags will let you try them on at the store, plus there is usually a 30 day return window. I’ve noticed a difference in actual bag length both from the same brand and definitely between brands so doing a test fit is always beneficial. Finally, how do you sleep? Do you keep your feet at a 90* angle from your legs like you are when standing and measuring your height? Do you relax them or point them away from your head (some side and most stomach sleepers)? Do you put your “pillow” in the hood of the sleeping bag or leave it outside? Do you put your clothes in the bag with you to keep them warm for the next day? All of these things will determine what the right length of bag for you is while remembering that large unfilled space will require you to heat it or fill it. Bag temp should be based off of night time temperatures. Yes, you can use a colder rated bag when it’s warmer, but people often can’t figure out why they are cold in a 10-15* bag when it’s only in the mid 30s and think they need a 0* bag. Price could be due to better materials, insulation (lots of different qualities between the various “synthetic” insulations, type of down and it’s fill count), “compressibility”, brand, and quality of product. Finally, comfort is entirely subjective. Lighter is definitely better when you have to carry the sleeping bag; however, lighter may mean it’s a tighter mummy fit which may make you more comfortable or may make you less comfortable. As a side sleeper/rotator, while I could sleep in a mummy bag, once I tried the NEMO spoon shaped bags I started sleeping so much better and will now only rock a mummy when I’m really worried about weight or when the temps are in the low teens and below. Also, how noisy is the sleeping bag? How noisy is your sleeping pad and bag? And how does the sleeping bag slide on your pad? Some of the fabrics over the years have not only been very noisy, but also very slippery and both of those can cause issues. Once while on a week long backpacking trip, I was ready to kill my hiking buddy because his new sleeping pad was so F***ing loud that anytime he moved during the night it was like someone getting into a fight with a bag of chips and I would wake up. He also had the problem of the two fabrics being extremely slick and so if we were on anything but perfect level ground he was sliding downhill. Needless to say he never used that very nice and very expensive sleeping pad again.
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