Suggestions? I would love to be able to spend $400-500 on the "perfect" bag, but I can't. I definitely need a long.

Have you ever thought about getting a quilt? I ordered my first quilt recently, still waiting for arrival but it would meet both you requirements.

+1 on quilt. In that price range, check out Enlightened Equipment, you'll even save some money.

look for a used WM (think i saw a hilite somewhere here)

That is where I got mine from, I can not wait to try it out.

The Kelty Cosmic Down bag received a good review here on BPL, and is available in a long size. Only costs about $120 dollars, too (unless you find it on sale, in which case you may pay less than $100 for it).

hydrogen ... properly en-rated bag ....

there are people here that use it just fine ...

http://www.spadout.com/p/marmot-hydrogen/

The EE Revelation looks like it might be a winner.

Is it true that quits aren't good for side sleepers?

Used WM or Stoic Somnus 30. I don't care for quilts and I'm a side sleeper. I find them very drafty.

@Diana

The Kelty Cosmic is $90 at Campmor right now.

"Is it true that quits aren't good for side sleepers?"

Nope, plenty of side sleepers such as myself use quilts and prefer them. You can always order it a little wider to be on the safe side if you're larger or really thrash around at night.

I agree with Jeffrey,I am a side sleeper and I use a quilt no problem,just make sure it is wide enough like he said.You will see they come in different widths on the site chart.

I bought a quilt last year and I am a side-sleeper. It took me awhile to figure out how to keep warm with it in weather under 50 degrees. Here is what I found (recently):

1.) Make the footbox and wear socks

2.) Tie the sides underneath you closer together than the width of your pad

3.) Tie the top two edges together and cinch the shock cord snug around your neck (not too tight)

The thing that made me cold was cool air coming up under the quilt. Keep it snugged up underneath you and it's very warm. I'm a bigger/wider guy and I'm claustrophobic in most mummy bags. I'm happy with the quilt now that I understand how to use it.

Having said that, I still want to try a Montbell UL Super Spiral Down Hugger bag ;-)

"Nope, plenty of side sleepers such as myself use quilts and prefer them. You can always order it a little wider to be on the safe side if you're larger or really thrash around at night."

+3

Just make sure it's not too narrow. A regular or wide quilt will be awesome for a side sleeper.

Quite a bit of difference in bulk between a bag and a quilt (I like small narrow packs), and weight as well, though that wasn't as much an issue to me. Try as I did (2 different quilts), I ended up with a heavier bag than is likely more than necessary (WM Ultralite), and I'm satisfied.

Very warm and comfortable, no fuss, and I have one bag for the camping that I do.

If you have the time, try to keep an eye out on the forums for one of the original Golite Ultra 20 quilts and give that a shot, if you don't like it sell it back for little/no loss. Part of me wishes I kept it for the warmer trips. The width was nice, though wider would have even been better as a side sleeper. Then you get into the bag weight territory of course.

WM and Montbell get mentioned a lot on this forum, as well as the others mentioned above. The Kelty is not a bad bet for $90. Good to have a back up, loaner, car camping bag. Who knows, maybe you'll be happy with it and save $200. I'd try a Montbell Super Spiral on sale if I was you.

Whatever you buy, if you pick one of the bags that get mentioned often in these threads you'll, from my experience, get your money back if you re-sold; especially so if you got it on a good sale.

With the quilts, I took a hit because quilts by cottage industry manufacturers are full retail and you'll eat that if you don't like it/need the money.

Good luck. Most costly part of my kit when all was said and done (2 quilts, 3 bags tried).

I have a Montbell 3 UL down Spiral. The regular not the stretch version. I quite like it and it usually comes on sale at campsver for about 200 once a year.

I would say you cant really go wrong with any of the better brand name bags or quilts. Find one on sale or used and go for it. I think that you should be able to get a good bag in the 200 dollar range rather than 300 and still get an 800 fill power bag

I am 6', 155lbs. I do roll around a lot at night.

My husband, son and I all have WM Caribous. I think they are rated at 35. With a down jacket I was comfortable down to the low 30s last summer and I sleep cold.

With most sleeping bags, I need a long. How does sizing work with a quilt, well since it has no hood?

I have one of the new Zpacks sleeping bags. I ordered it extra short, extra wide, with a head opening so I can wear it around camp when it is cold. Unzipped it makes a nice quilt with a foot box. I got the 20 degree version. The cost is just over $300 depending on what you get. You may want to check them out.

I have an original Ultra 20 and like it. There is one on Gear Swap right not for $175. Reasonable price for a quilt of this weight. Get it fast, it won't stick around very long! If you don't like it, you can easily resell it the same day you list it on GS.

Paul, PM me about a Valandre Mirage I have for sale on the Gear Swap. Should work for your temperature range.

Richard

the golite ultra for sale right now is a short and would not fit you since you are 6' tall and a short fits up to 5' 6".

I own two of the bags mentioned here... both are 30* down filled and light.

One is Marmot Hydrogen, the other is Stoic Somnus 30. Both are very good bags and can be bought relatively cheap if you wait or search around. I got Marmot for around $150 and Stoic for around $110, both new.

Marmot is slightly heavier due to thicker outer shell and full length zipper. It is also a side entry unlike the top entry in Somnus.

Somnus is lighter, but the fabric feels slightly more fragile since it is thinner. It is also a top entry which can be good or bad - depending on how you use it. If marmot can be unzipped to almost a quilt like blanket, the somnus won't allow for that. It is also a bit of a distraction to feel the zipper on your face when you sleep in Somnus.

Both are excellent though. I think stoic is not as warm as Marmot, but very close.

"With most sleeping bags, I need a long. How does sizing work with a quilt, well since it has no hood?"

Most quilts I've seen sized for people of your size are 78" long. Enlightened Equipment has a helpful sizing chart here. (scroll down)

RE: side sleeping w/ a quilt,

I am a side sleeper and use a Katabatic Gear Palisade without any strap system and it works great. You just have to remember to keep it tucked. If you sleep under a tarp or open shelter, a bivy would help a lot.

i use a warbonnet black mamba long/wide for hammock use, but i'd be totally confident in that extra material being plenty for ground sleeping. in the hammock it just piles up on top of me into warmy goodness.

http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/topquilt.php

I find the Mountain Hardware Phantom 45 to be a nice bag. It is warmer than my 32F rated bag. It is very conservatively rated IMO and I have found it comfy down to 30 or so without supplemental clothing. It is in your price range and might work out if it is warm enough for you.

Another vote for the stoic somnus.

You can find them on gear trade for $100 if you wait around long enough.

I am not a quilt guy but I have read nothing but rave reviews.

http://enlightenedequipment.com/index.html

Get a Hydrogen on sale or at REI with a 20% coupon and you are at $300 or better.

Feathered Frends' 30 degree bags are just over $300, if you can swing a little more.

FYI, I'm not a quilt person.