TrailHead 20˚F Mummy Sleeping Bag

If you’re hitting the trail only 3 times a year, go with the Marmot Limelight 2P of your list. It’s better than the Kelty or ALPS and almost always includes the footprint which will save you a $30 hidden cost and keep your gear from soaking up ground moisture Alternate - Naturehike Star River 2 (20D) because it’s the budget UL king from everything I’ve tried and tested in the past. [11 Best 2-Person Tents for Camping and Backpacking](https://alaskanarrows.com/11-best-2-person-tent-camping-and-backpacking/) would be a good source for other tents in your budget range too For your sleep setup - stack a NEMO Switchback foam pad under a Klymit Static V2 and you’re set with the back support you need for your joints while actually insulating you from the ground. With that + a TETON Sports Trailhead 20 or an REI Trailmade 20 and you’ve got a legit setup that fits your $300 budget

Honestly for 50°F you don’t need anything fancy. A cheap 40° bag will be totally fine. I’d look at something like the kelty cosmic 40 sleeping bag or the TETON sports trailhead sleeping bag , both pretty affordable and solid starter bags. Also, since you’re a bigger guy, just make sure you grab the long/wide version if they offer it. Makes a big difference in comfort.

A specific sleeping bag I recommend is the Teton 20 degree synthetic mummy bag. I got mine for around the same price as the one you’ve got there, and it’s about 2 pounds. Get a compression sack off amazon and it’ll pack down to about 6x6x10, maybe even a little shorter. I’ve used it in about 30 degree weather very comfortably, even without an insulated pad underneath. General cold weather sleeping recommendations: insulated pad; separate set of warm dry sleep clothes, like thermals and wool socks (never wear them for anything but sleep); fleece hat For sleeping bag care, remember never to store it compressed all the way down. It’ll come in a stuff sack, and you should immediately take it out of that and put it in a big bin or laundry bag or something like that. Whether you get a down or synthetic bag, that’ll add years to its life before it loses loft and goes way down in temperature rating. Final sleeping bag note: the rating is for survival, not comfort. If you get a 20 degree bag, you’ll sleep fine in 30-40 degrees, but an actual night in the 20s will be complete misery without a nice bag liner, extra clothes, a WELL insulated pad, etc. Have fun!

Ive used their 20 degree bags in mid 30s to high 20s before and it did well enough, I was still able to comfortably sleep even though it started to push that comfort rating. I'd trust the teton brand to be accurate for their temp guidelines, heavy af though.

I have the teton bags. I have the 0f and the 20f. I have used the 0f down to 17f and i was cold all night. I would add 20 degrees to those ratings to be comfortable but they work and do the job. Make sure you plan the temperature accordingly. This will make or break your trip. Dont forget an inflatable pad and a closed cell foam pad too, it adds to the warmth and comfort.

I have a Teton 20° bag and I put a down puffer blanket in the bottom, under my legs, and around and over my feet, and overtop my legs, *inside* the sleeping bag. Then I wrap a second puffer blanket overtop on the outside. This, good wool socks, and sleeping in smartwool base layers, and I was toasty down into the low 20s.

The Teton sleeping bags are really warm and comfy.