Old 0F sleeping bag = 0F TQ?

[turtlefeet]

Hey folks,
Getting ready to buy my first real camping hammock, and for 25 years I've been on the ground in an REI 650 fill 0 degree bag, year round camping. I'm getting a WBRR, so it's a bridge and for now I'm gonna be sticking with a 4.4R pad for bottom insulation. Is there any reason (like technological advances in higher fill ratings or something, or just the difference btwn ground and hanging) that I should bump down to a 20F TQ, instead of sticking to a 0F, just for the TQ?

All I've found to read is that the common higher fill ratings of 800-950 will just make it lighter and pack down smaller. It looks like most of you all seem to think a 0F TQ is complete overkill in the summer, but maybe this is regional differences? I'm usually in the Sierras, or at warmest on the Northern Cal coastal ranges during summer, so the lows are still in the low 50's at night for me, and I sleep kinda cold. I've always found using my 0F mummy open like a quilt and maybe kicking it off my feet and shoulders was all I needed to do in the summer, and that's only if I'm in a tent; I'm usually cowboy or tarp camping in summer and I am definitely not overwarm.

If I do get the 0 TQ, when I do get around to getting an UQ, what would be the effect of getting a 20F UQ while still using the 0F TQ? Or is that just idiotic?

I just feel like the all around (both TQ and UQ) 0 degree will indeed make it overkill, because I'm not usually in the deep snow during winter; just heavy and cold rain or sometimes hail. Very occasionally get a dusting of snow. It's more wind chill factor that makes it feel cold, which i think will be mitigated more by a sock or a well pitched tarp. Or, if I'm going to offset the UQ/TQ ratings should I have the UQ be warmer and the TQ the 20F?

Obviously, I don't know jack. Please help a rookie out!

[BananaHammock]

Many people do start the transition using what they have. That being said, you should totally use your bag as a TQ. You are correct in the idea that higher fill = lighter and more compressible. I’d recommend a 20 degree set to anyone as I believe it is the most versatile temp rating. If you had to have one be higher rated, I’d go with the UQ because heat rises and will keep the temp in your TQ more stable than in your UQ. If you are buying a RR, you will want to use a pad most likely in the beginning and then save funds to get the UQ made specially for that hammock. If you haven’t bought your hammock and tarp yet, send me a pm. I may have a deal for you.

[turtlefeet]

Many people do start the transition using what they have. That being said, you should totally use your bag as a TQ.

Actually I'm trying to drop the weight and bulk of the old 650 fill; that's the main reason why I'm getting a TQ right away.

I’d recommend a 20 degree set to anyone as I believe it is the most versatile temp rating. If you had to have one be higher rated, I’d go with the UQ because heat rises and will keep the temp in your TQ more stable than in your UQ. If you are buying a RR, you will want to use a pad most likely in the beginning and then save funds to get the UQ made specially for that hammock.

thanks for your help; yeah, I have seen this advice over and over here in the forums. I guess I'm just worried because a 20 deg ground bag has never been quite enough for me in winter and spring, so I'm afraid of being cold while I wait to buy the Lynx. And if I have to layer, that's likely going to negate my weight and space savings, so I'm just trying to do my best to get it right the first time.

Also, I've tried gathered ends using my old 0F bag and a low R rating pad somewhere with warmer overnight temps than i am used to (it was prolly in the dry low 60s) and I was still cold until i supplemented with a bivy bag. I assume that was likely the problem of the low R pad; but my point is that it's not like I was overwarm, even after I added the bivy. So I'm worried that I'll be even colder in the bridge.

thanks for the offer the goods! I'll PM you.

[KBr00ks]

I once had a very similar question -- my old sleeping bag is an REI 650-fill down bag rated to 20º, which I use down to about 45º only (with layers), really only 50-55º comfortably. Would a 20º TQ and/or UQ from a reputable small vendor be the same? The answer is no -- it will be warmer.

The key is that there's a big difference in "rating" between a big retailer or manufacturer like REI and a cottage vendor of the sort frequently recommended here. The rating of the big companies is more "you won't die down to this temp," not "you'll be comfortable." The more responsible small businesses use their ratings as an estimation of comfort.

[DrPhun]

They say you lose a lot of heat through your head. Supposing that the mass market sleeping bags are honesty rated, they have a hood and the rating expects that you have the hood on and snugged up so that just a blow hole is left. For a quilt, aside from more conservative ratings from these vendors, their rating is supposing you have a hat on but are not encapsulated like in a sleeping bag, so it has to be a little thicker to make up for that.

Overall the temp rating is closely related to the thickness. You can go on the vendors websites and see the thickness for each temp and compare that to the thickness of your sleeping bag.

[turtlefeet]

thanks KBr00ks; very helpful.

[turtlefeet]

thanks DrPhun, that's good to consider. I never would have thought of that.

[Shug]

For your perusal......
Shug

[turtlefeet]

Lol thanks Shug! i'm sure i watched that one last summer -- it helped out a lot, as all your vids do! thanks so much for all you do, man. I've learned so much from your vids. And laughed a lot. I really appreciate them.

[Shug]

Lol thanks Shug! i'm sure i watched that one last summer -- it helped out a lot, as all your vids do! thanks so much for all you do, man. I've learned so much from your vids. And laughed a lot. I really appreciate them.

I am bowing here....thankee.