I have a Marmot Pounder (40* synthetic bag....although probably closer to 50*) that I never use anymore and was thinking about selling, but have a question before I do so. If I layer this on top of my 15* bag (Marmot Helium), do you think it will make any noticeable difference?

Edit: I just did a search and it looks like this has been discussed on more than one occasion, but I'd still be interested to hear if anyone has specifically used the Pounder in this way or has anything additional to add.

Edited by csteutterman on 02/15/2012 13:13:37 MST.

i've done somethng like this before. last year before i had a true winter bag, when i went winter camping, i would bring my 40* bag and my 20* bag, put my 40* inside of my 20*, and it kept me very warm at around 0 degrees.

you could try putting the 15* inside of the 40*, but i would think you would compress more loft that way. with the warmer bag on the outside, its less compressed, and you're only slightly compressing the 40* bag on the inside.

I have done this with a 20 deg bag and found that adding the 40 deg bag made a big difference.

More info,

I did it with two down bags.

Since your 40 deg bag is synthetic, you may want to use it inside the down bag, if there is room.

The weight from the 40 deg synthetic laying over the down bag could compress the down enough to negate some of the down's insulation.

In my case, one bag was tighter that the other, so when I layered the tighter one on the inside and the looser on the outside, it didn't cause much in the way of down compression.

I use my 40 deg bag in the hot summer, the 30 deg bag fall and spring, and the layered bags in the early and late winter as needed. I will sometimes substitute puffy down clothing instead of the 40 deg bag depending.

Edited by brooklynkayak on 02/15/2012 16:01:51 MST.

I did it with two a few weeks ago. It was -30C/-22F. I brought a total of 6 bags out because I have two very ill equipped friends. I have 3 pulks as well so carrying wasn't an issue. I used two -10C/14F down bags from MEC with an Exped 9. Slept great until one of my arms managed to find itself laying on the tent floor. Other than that it was a comfortable.

As for my friends they used 3 bags in total, they both brought their own synthetic bags which looked to be about 0C/32F bag, then they each used 1 of my 0C/32F down bags as well as a +5C/41F MEC down bag. I have two of each because of the wifey. Their pad setup wasn't as cushy as mine but it worked out well enough, just some pine bows and some Z-lites.

Take from that what you will. I think the key is making sure you don't compress the insulation as posted above me. Oh and wear a Toque eh

Cheers