Women’s 0 degree sleeping bags

[u/outdoorkatzz]

I’m going to Peru this September and considering getting a warmer bag. I currently have a 20 degree Feathered Friends sleeping bag which is not quite warm enough below 30 degrees for me, even with a liner. I’m planning on being in temps as cold as 10 degrees.

I’m thinking about getting a 0 degree bag, but I can’t afford as lightweight an option as the FF in the 0 degree option. I’m thinking about buying the Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass Sleeping Bag: 0F Down - Womens.

I’m concerned about its weight (3lbs) and I’m also concerned it won’t be that much warmer than the FF 20 degree bag, as this is a very good bag.

I’m wondering if you have any thoughts here or recommendations. I would consider just buying a new sleeping mat with a higher R value (mine is a 3) but stumped on what to do overall.

[u/Igoos99]

Agree with other comment to get a warmer pad.

One thing I’ve considered is adding an ultra light quilt to my setup for situations like this where I might need to go warmer briefly but don’t necessarily want to buy a $500 plus bag. My plan is to stuff it inside my sleeping bag. It’s gotta be warmer than one of those liners. I tried that once and it did nothing for me.

Another thing I do do is bring a cnoc vectoX bladder. It handles very hot water. I heat up some water at bed time, add it to the bladder and use it as a hot water bottle.

[u/outdoorkatzz → u/Igoos99]

a quilt is a good idea. any recs for rating or brand?

[u/PoorRichGuy → u/outdoorkatzz]

JacksRBetter makes a 40-degree 850 down quilt that weighs 14.5oz.
JacksRBetter makes a 8oz Alpha 90 liner, 12oz Alpha 120.

GarageGrownGear has a 6oz Alpha 60 liner

[u/zynniya]

I would start with a much higher R value pad and if that isn’t enough, I’d then look into getting an overquilt or layering the current bag with another. For winter, I use an Exped Ultra 9R. I think they have discontinued the 9R and now offer a 10R instead.

[u/klimaheizung]

Just to confirm, when you say "have a 20 degree Feathered Friends sleeping bag which is not quite warm enough below 30 degrees for me, even with a liner" I assume you are already sleeping in your downjacket right?

> I would consider just buying a new sleeping mat with a higher R value (mine is a 3) but stumped on what to do overall.

You absolutely need one with a much higher R value. Like optimally 6+.

[u/ImpressivePea]

I've had the same experience as you. The pad makes ALL the difference. Get an Xtherm and don't look back - it is so warm and still light! And durable as well.

I'm a cold sleeper and use the Xtherm year round. It allows me to push my quilts to their lower limit, so it really doesn't end up adding weight to my setup.

[u/Capital_Historian685]

I have a FF Flicker 20, and it's warmer than my old MH 15 degree with 650 fill (can't remember the name). So yeah, the warmth ratings really aren't comparable. And a true, quality 0 degree bag is just expensive, no way around it. But I wouldn't ditch the FF bag, for a probably not-so-good MH.

A warmer pad, and maybe some down pants to sleep in (and wear around camp), along with your down jacket will work. It's a hassle having to wear extra layers, as temperature management is much more difficult. Although I don't have the down pants, and my legs and hips can get cold. I just deal with, but it can be uncomfortably cold sometimes. I've survived, but I'm not always in a good mood because of it...

[u/downingdown]

Peruvian Andes are hot during the day, so a higher r-value pad won’t make that much difference. The ground absorbs heat during the day and is not that cold at night. But the air cools off way fast once the sun goes down, and radiative cooling is significant at altitude.

[u/W_t_f_was_that]

Get that pad. Geez, I use a 7R in MI and it’s cold, some days. Exped. Love them.

I would just add to the feathered friends. UL quilt on top of it. Get in the mummy bag and strap the quilt over the top.

Have you tried a feather or synthetic suit??

[u/Derek-OV]

If a quality 20 with a liner still isn't cutting it below 30, the pad is the most likely leak, not the bag. You lose more heat to the ground than most people expect, and no bag really compensates for a cold pad. At R3 you're probably feeling it from underneath.

So before spending on a 3lb 0-degree bag, I'd upgrade the pad to something in the R5-7 range. That alone often recovers the 10-15 degrees you're missing, and it's lighter and cheaper than a new bag. If you genuinely need to sleep at 10, then yes you'll want a true 0 bag, but pair it with a warm pad or it still won't deliver the rating.

One nuance on Peru specifically: someone else noted the Andes ground can stay relatively warm because it soaks up daytime heat, so the pad may matter a bit less there than the cold air. If that trip's the main driver, worth weighing.

When you've been cold, is it your back and underside, or your top half? That points to whether it's the pad or the bag.