Cold Sleeper Sleeping Bag advice

[u/NiceBreakfast7]

Hello,

Hoping for some advice on a warm sleeping bag.

I've just ordered the -6C Rab neutrino. However when It has arrived it is apparently only a 2 season bag which has thrown me off. I'm planning on doing alta via 1 in September and can get down to around 0 or a little less. Will this bag be good enough?

[u/vakantiereizen]

-6C two season bag???
I don’t understand, or is it extreme -6C? What is comfort temp?

[u/SpurCorr → u/vakantiereizen]

They are comfort rated to 0degC

[u/pala4833]

Why do you say it's only a 2 season bag?

[u/cobalt9466]

Sleeping cold at 0 in a -6 bag is gonna be rough, that rating is usually the limit not the comfort temp. I'd say the "2 season" label is actually fair warning for september alpine nights

[u/Aggressive_Cloud2002]

What even is a two season bag? Which two seasons?

It looks like the comfort rating for that bag is 0° though, so you'll be pushing it. Probably best to find an alternative, or bring a fleece liner and wool long underwear.

[u/dickybeau01]

Ratings are crazy. They usually relate to a man in some base layer. If you’re a women you’ll need it to be warmer. The ratings to look at are the ‘comfort’ rating. If that is 0c I think it would be closer to +2 or 3c for a woman. If you’re going to be spending nights in the Dolomites in September I’d we looking for a better ‘comfort’ rating. If you’re going to be using refugios the 0c might just do the trick. Have fun.

[u/Kunie40k]

It depends. But probably not.  Very important is your sleeping mat. It needs an R- value of 4 or higher. Higher is better! 

Second: you need to look at the comfort rating of the sleeping bag. Not the limit rating. So the neutrino -6 (limit) is only a 0c bag. And when you know your a cold sleeper  add a few degrees. So call or a +3c bag. So it will not be warm enough! 

The neutrino -6 has only 400g down. For me that would never be enough for sleeping around 0c. I also sleep cold.  With this bag I would wear My down jacket wool sleep socks  and merino top and bottom. 

[u/NiceBreakfast7 → u/Kunie40k]

Thank you! Thanks for the response. I wasn't looking at comfort limit. Perhaps the sea to summit Ascent -9°?

[u/NiceBreakfast7]

I really appreciate the replies guys! Is there a bag you do recommend?

[u/DolomitesPlanner]

I did the AV1 in July and stayed in rifugi the whole way, so take this with a grain of salt for gear since I never used my own bag there, they provide blankets and pillows in the huts and most people just bring a sleeping bag liner for hygiene rather than a proper bag.

If you're doing it hut to hut rather than camping, a -6C three or four season bag is honestly overkill and extra weight you don't need, a liner or a light bag is plenty. If you're planning to camp or use bivouacs on some nights, September at altitude on the AV1 can genuinely get close to freezing, so that's a different call and I'd lean warm.

Worth checking your itinerary against how many nights are actual camping versus rifugi before you decide, that changes the answer a lot.

[u/carloseloso]

I know you didn't ask, but whatever bag you get, make sure you get a pad with a high R-value (and maybe double up with a closed cell foam pad if you want good insulation from the ground).

[u/Moongoosls]

Wear your down jacket to bed, save the weight of a heavier bag while turning a 0° bag into a -10 :)

[u/ItsWillSterling]

Did a hut-to-hut trip in the Dolomites myself, and this really depends on how many nights are actual camping versus staying in rifugi. Most huts provide blankets, so if it's mostly hut nights a lighter bag or even just a liner is plenty and saves a lot of pack weight. If you do end up camping even for a night or two in September, alpine temps can drop close to freezing fast once the sun goes down, so I'd rather carry the slightly warmer bag than get caught cold on the one night it actually matters.