WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    Registered User Seabird's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-03-2012
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Age
    33
    Posts
    14

    Question Odd sleeping bag preference

    I'm going to be hiking the AT southbound either this year or next. My boyfriend may or may not be going with me, but he will definitely be coming on at least a few overnights/week trips between now and then, so we're working on getting gear together for him.
    We were talking about sleeping bags, and he mentioned that his primary concern is his feet. Namely, he has very hot feet- even on the coldest nights here (and we keep the thermostat really low to conserve energy at night...) when we're using a quilt plus a few blankets, he must stick his feet out of the blankets in order to be comfortable. This is obviously impossible in any sleeping bag I know of, and while I've been reading up on quilts it seems that many of them even have a footbox sewn in for the purpose of keeping feet warm.
    Does anyone know of a sleeping bag that maybe has a second zipper at the bottom, or any other recommendations for him? He asked me to post on his behalf. I'm aware that on cold nights he will want to keep his feet in, but any night above fortyfive or fifty degrees (or maybe colder!) he'd probably be rather uncomfortable.

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-08-2012
    Location
    Taghkanic, New York, United States
    Posts
    3,198
    Journal Entries
    11

    Default

    I believe* every bag I have is openable near the feet and just for the reason you state, some people's feet to get too hot. I don't think you will have any trouble finding such a bag.

    * Actually I know that all 4 bags have this because my feet sometimes get too hot and I need to do this too.

  3. #3
    Registered User Seabird's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-03-2012
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Age
    33
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Thank you, Starchild!
    The sleeping bag I have (old, cheap, going to replace) does have an appropriate zipper, but it's a big rectangle made for car camping and it looks like some mummy bags might not... Glad to hear that it shouldn't be too hard to find!

  4. #4

    Default

    Most of the quilts I'm familiar with the footbox can be eliminated by undoing some snaps or ties, leaving you with a flat quilt, if conditions and your preference merit that.

  5. #5
    PCT 2013, most of AT 2011, rest of AT 2014
    Join Date
    11-27-2011
    Location
    Tucson
    Age
    36
    Posts
    778

    Default

    A few quilts have the footbox sewn in, and some quiltmakers have it as an option (I know in particular that Jacks R Better does), but I spent all spring this year quilt-browsing online and I think the majority of them do not sew the footbox as their default option. Since the only major manufacturer that I know of that makes truly lightweight, high-quality quilts (less than 30oz) is GoLite, you have to look at cottage manufacturers if you're interested in quilts. WhiteBlaze's list of cottage manufacturers is invaluable for that.
    "Hahk your own hahk." - Ron Haven

    "The world is a book, of which those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine

    http://www.scrubhiker.com/

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-01-2006
    Location
    Bastion, VA
    Age
    60
    Posts
    3,604
    Images
    125

    Default

    Feathered Friend Rock Wren has a drawstring at the foot.

  7. #7
    GA-ME 2011
    Join Date
    03-17-2007
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Age
    66
    Posts
    3,069
    Images
    9

    Default

    Lots of sleeping bags have a full length zipper with pulls at both ends so you can unzip the bottom and stick your feet out.
    "Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-15-2011
    Location
    Lowell, MA
    Posts
    1,319

    Default

    For a great value on a high-quality quilt, you may want to check out http://www.enlightenedequipment.com/revelationx.html. There are plenty of other good quilt offerings out there that would work as well.

  9. #9
    Registered User Wise Old Owl's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-29-2007
    Location
    High up in an old tree
    Posts
    14,444
    Journal Entries
    19
    Images
    17

    Default

    And if you do not find what you are looking for ask for custom - you are just adding a small zipper. and/or a small baffle.
    Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.

    Woo

  10. #10
    Registered User brian039's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-27-2009
    Location
    Guntersville, Alabama
    Age
    45
    Posts
    580
    Images
    2

    Default

    Has he ever slept in a sleeping bag? The reason I ask is because your feet are always the coldest part, at least in my down bag it is.

  11. #11
    Registered User Papa D's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-23-2008
    Location
    Athens, GA
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,856
    Images
    7

    Default

    I'm not a big fan of the North Face (if I get hot, I just unzip my Western Bag) but their Fission bag has a footbox you can un-zip and stick your feet out of - - I'd be weary of their "20 degree" rating - I'd guess it's more like 32

  12. #12
    Registered User Seabird's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-03-2012
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Age
    33
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Thank you everyone for the advice! brian039, he has slept in a sleeping bag many times, and has coped with either finding a way to get his feet out or having hot feet, but now that he's really putting thought into making a big purchase for himself (rather than a hand-me-down or borrowing one) he wants to make sure it's as convenient and comfortable as possible for him.
    He says the Feathered Friends Rock Wren looks absolutely amazing and perfect, so we might see if we can find a more wallet-friendly used one online someplace.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-22-2009
    Location
    Ashburnham, MA
    Age
    80
    Posts
    1,951
    Images
    2

    Default

    Most of the cottage manufacturers would customize their design to suit his hot feet. In some cases it might even be a few dollars cheaper than their standard design. I'd suggest calling enlightened equipment, mountain laurel designs or Jacks r better and asking about it. Also, sewing a rectangular quilt with synthetic insulation good down to about 30F is pretty easy. Here's a place that sells quilt kits: http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Quilt-Kit/index.htm

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-23-2006
    Location
    Melbourne,Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,851

    Default

    Seabird
    "lots of" and "all" may sound good but what are their names ???(the full zip usually stops short of the foot box)
    The mummy bags I can think of(WM/REI/RAB/Macpac/Marmot) don't have a foot zipper, I suspect that it may be more of a rectangular bag thing..
    However I do know that some TNF and Kelty have (or had) a foot box zipper.
    Failing having members stating the name of those bags they have with that feature, you might just have to go to your nearest REI or whatever and have a look...

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-31-2009
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Age
    45
    Posts
    4,276
    Images
    17

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Seabird View Post
    We were talking about sleeping bags, and he mentioned that his primary concern is his feet. Namely, he has very hot feet- even on the coldest nights here (and we keep the thermostat really low to conserve energy at night...) when we're using a quilt plus a few blankets, he must stick his feet out of the blankets in order to be comfortable. This is obviously impossible in any sleeping bag I know of, and while I've been reading up on quilts it seems that many of them even have a footbox sewn in for the purpose of keeping feet warm.
    This is why I love EnLIGHTened Equipment quilts. Here's the end of the footbox. I think the picture says it all, but I have the same quilt with more down, so please let me know if I'm wrong.


++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •