Big Agnes Sleeping Bag Systems

deepforks · Sep 1, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-12 AT 03:20PM (MST)[p]just curious if anyone uses the big agnes sleeping bag systems? found it pretty interesting that they utilize all the insulating material on the top while the underside just has a sleeve to insert a standard or insulated sleeping pad.

if anyone uses them, id like to hear your opinion, good or bad and which model you have. if i get one, it'll be a 25" wide, long, non mummy sack. looking at the zero degree hogan park model. i've got very broad shoulders and toss n turn like crazy when i sleep. mummy bags drive me nuts!!

thanks guys.

EVILNR · Sep 1, 2012

I have the Big Agnes Hog Park. A large, long, non-mummy style. I dont know how anybody sleeps in a mummy style bag. It's rated to 20 degrees. This bag has been on my AK Brown Bear Hunt (Oct), Aoudads in southern NM (Feb.) and many other hunts where the weather was in the 20's . I use one of those thermarest inflatable pads and in AK I also supplemented with another roll up closed-cell pad that i used to sit on while glassing. That extra pad made a difference as one night I forgot to slip it under my bag and i felt a little chilled from underneath. Overall a great bag, warm , comfortable, plenty of room, I love this bag!!! Just use enough pad underneath and you should be fine.

deepforks · Sep 1, 2012

if i get one, i'd probably get their 3.5" insulated pad too. thanks for the input. i've read some other reviews where they claim the temp ratings are way off, for the ba bags. i think those ratings can depend on quite a few factors. kind of like thinsulate.

BPKHunter · Sep 2, 2012

One of the complaints I routinely read when I was researching the subject is that the attachment of the bag to the bad actually leaves a space from the tent like effect, which cold air fills. If you want to maximize warmth, you have to eliminate the voids that cold air can fill.

deepforks · Sep 2, 2012

i'll have to look into that. i'm looking for a three season bag so insulation/warmth are key, as well as packability. the main reason i started looking at ba products is i can get pro rate deals through a military buddy, which knocks a good amount off. if i do go this route and am not super happy, at least it won't hurt the wallet too bad. looking at the copper spur ul 1 and 2 man tents as well.

beech18 · Sep 3, 2012

I have a Polmer Hoit bag. Im happy with it. I use it for my backpack hunts and it serves it purpose very well. I have a Wiggy bag for any other time not backpacking due to more room to sleep to toss around more.

DoeNob · Sep 4, 2012

I am kinda bigger (6'2, 220) and get too bound up in a mummy bag. Went with the Big Agnes Summit Park and their inflatable pad, and it is like the taj majal compared to the north face mummy I had before.

peez3006 · Sep 4, 2012

I have the a Lost Ranger (15*) and a Fish Hawk (30*). I use the BA pads also. I'm a bigger guy and a side sleeper. I toss and turn alot. My BA bags are great. I'm glad I got them. Money well spent.

Don P

DryFlyGuy · Sep 5, 2012

My partner uses the Pomer Hoit and is very happy with it's comfort and warmth. The only complaint is that his bag consistently has a thin layer of moisture on the outside of it in the mornings.

I use a Mont-Bell Spiral (something or another) and can't find a darn thing wrong with it. I love it.

deepforks · Sep 7, 2012

thanks for all the responses. think i'll drop the hammer on one when my buddy gets back from flying in osamaland.

BigPig · Oct 5, 2012

I love my Lost Ranger (15 deg rating) for comfort. It's good to about the high 20's/low 30's for me. The system is a brilliant idea, but I am a cold sleeper and find I need more rating than others. If you are the same, I recommend you select a lower rated bag.

COLOelkman · Oct 6, 2012

I have the 15 deg Encampment bag. Overall for warmer weather it is great and works as desired as I tend to roll around a lot and mummys are a problem for that so it much less interrupting to move around in the BA. The air space noted earlier is a reality and I'm not too big so I do find that when I move around, it fills with colder air. It helps to tighten up the bag around the upper part of the bag but it still will not eliminate drawing in colder air so wearing long underwear helps too. As such, I'd recommend getting the warmest rated bag as I would personally not use mine below about 40 degrees. I just go back to my mummy and deal with waking up when I toss and turn! Overall I do like the BA system and will use it for warmer weather hunts.....wish i knew this ahead of time as I'd have gotten a heavier bag.

elkmtngear · Oct 9, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-12 AT 10:09AM (MST)[p]I have the 15 degree Lost Ranger as well, and I love it. Nothing more irritating to me that sliding off your pad all night, the BA System solves that problem. I have not tested the bag in extreme cold, just during bow Seasons at higher elevation, but I was comfortable with morning temps in the 30s.

I bought it mainly for packability, weight, and the pad system. Been very happy with it.

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

Bruinbrewin · Oct 12, 2012

You will get your moneys worth out of buying any Big Agnes products as I have 3 of their tents and 4 sleeping bags and 4 sleeping pads and do not have a bad thing to say about any one of them. I am a warm sleeper and find that I sleep comfortable in them at the stated temp ranges but that may say something in itself that you may want to get something in the 10-15 degrees higher rating than you expect to sleep in if you get cold easier. So they do probably run a little on the short side of their temp ratings. Buy the temp rating bag for your needs (if camping in 15-20 degrees get the 0 degrees bag)and get the insulated Q core pad (3.5 inches of comfort) and you will be good to go. If you don't get cold easily get the bag as rated. let us know how you like them after you get to use it!The big thing is to make sure you get an insulated pad for the slot in the bag if you are sleeping in cold temps. The sleeping bags are not insulated on the bottom side as you are expected to be using an insulated pad
BB

Outdoordan · Oct 22, 2012

The big agnes bag system is awesome. We rent and sell them, along with several tents. I have only heard the complaint once about the space between the bag and pad. I personally can not replicate this and find that my bags are warm and roomy. The fact that you can not roll off the pad puts these bags in a class of their own. One thing that you have to get used to is the extra room in the bag will feel slightly colder as it will take a little longer to heat the extra room.

At the 2012 summer outdoor retailers show, the new products for 2013 will be a superlight Q-core pad! Also, the new BUZZZ in the industry is a coating that makes down waterproof! This will be offered in select Big Agnes as well as other sleeping bag manufacturers for 2013!

www.hunthardcore.com