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Reddit Reviews
Am I backpacking or car camping? If the low is 41 and I don't think it's gonna dip any further, than probably something that goes to 30F or so. \* Backpacking would be my old Big Agnes Deer Park 30F long down bag, or might risk it and run the Zenbivy 40F synthetic quilt (but I am also a human space heater) and good wool baselayers. \* Car camping would be Big Agnes Echo Park 20F long, because I sleep like I'm in my bed at home in that thing. General rule is that most bag ratings are more or less their absolute LIMIT rating. A 30F will help you survive at 30F, and is comfortable around 40-45+ depending on what temperature you typically sleep at. If you sleep too warm like me, you'll be fine. If you sleep a little on the cool side, I would offset the rule from around 10-15 degrees to at least 20F bags.
you could get a 40 degree zenbivy quilt synthetic, although it may not keep you warm at 40 degrees.. their 25 degree down quilts are at $230 if you're willing to cough up a little extra, but they may be too warm. i started sweating in 50 degree weather.
I have two zenbivy quilts (10° down and 40°) and LOVE them. I toss a half sheet on my backpacking sleeping pad and I’m set to go. I’m happier piecing together my gear than getting a bundle. However, the 10° is VERY warm and that might be overkill. It keeps me the coziest in below freezing temps- temps I would never motocamp in. Edit: I don’t notice the price of the sleeping pad. I have never used a zenbivy sleeping pad but there are definitely cheaper pads out there that will pair with a sheet just as well. My rec: get the quilt and a last-season sheet, get a cheaper and highly rated pad. Pillows are so personal so good luck on that one.
I love my 40 degree synthetic zenbivy quilt on the full length light sheet with insulated hood for late spring to early fall on my exped 5R sleeping pad. Comfortable, versatile, way better than any mummy bag I've ever used. I will likely add the 25 degree down quilt to let me push into colder temps when I can afford it (on sale).
I’m 5ft tall and I own a Zenbivy quilt, an enlightened equipment quilt, and I just ordered a Zpacks quilt. I got them all In the short length and they all fit me great (can’t speak on the Zpacks one yet bc it’s hasn’t come in but I’m sure it will too).
I don’t have much of a recommendation for bags. We use sleeping quilts…and if you want lightweight check out enlightened equipment as they are on sale right now. They are a little bit more than your budget but really lightweight. There’s also Zenbivy as well for quilts (we both have Zenbivy and I also have an EEquilt for summer). They are also on sale right now. I do want to point out (as I am 5ft tall and my husband is 6ft tall) that if you are backpacking in a cold climate I wouldn’t recommend a double bag. Even if you get ones that zip together they won’t fit well bc yours should be smaller than his. We got a double bag once and we used it on one trip (car camping) and never did that again. We FROZE. You need your bag to fit closely to you. For it to fit my husband it had to be big enough for someone 6’5”. So that left a foot and a half of dead space at my feet. It was an AWFUL idea. So when we got home I got me a short version bag (up to 5’6”). As far as pads go we like thick ones bc we both can’t sleep on thin ones. I just bought a Featherstone Calcatta and a Big Agnes Rapide and love them both. They are 4.5 in thick and 4.25 inches respectively. Big Agnes does make a double pad (I think it’s the rapide as well) and I think it weighs 2.5 lbs so that could work if you want a double pad.
My husband and I backpack and use a Big Agnes Rapide double pad and a Zenbivy quilt system. The quilt is far superior to a double bag, in my opinion, because it feels more like your bed at home, is less constricting, and is quite warm! We also have the extra liner for extra cold nights. You also cut way back on space and weight (important for us when backpacking, less important for car camping) using a quilt. We have a sheet for the pad that the quilt hooks onto, making it super easy to get out on your respective sides without jostling your partner or getting airflow if one of you sleeps hot. We eloped and backpacked on the Isle of Skye for our honeymoon and stayed cozy and cuddly even on super windy 40°F nights. Never going back to a double bag again!!
Whenever you see a picture of a sleeping bag like this and it looks extremely think/plush. They have inflated something inside to make it look that way. Zen bivy do the same. My zenbivy quilt is so fucking thin I can pinch my fingers from both sides and feel NO down in spots.
Get a quilt and never go back. I love my zenbivy.
All you need is the quilt. If you want to fasten the quilt down which reduces drafts you need the sheet. You don't need their pad to make the rest work. In general I love my zenbivy and will never go back to a bag.
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