So I will be spending a semester next year in Leadville, Colorado. An item on the packing list is a synthetic sleeping bag rated to 0F. I have never been out west, but I've done a lot of backpacking over here in the catskills and other parts of New York. I'd prefer to buy a down bag, but It's apparently a must that I get a synthetic. I have a mountain hardwear lamina 35, and an insulated big agnes pad, as well as a sleeping bag liner from sea to summit that adds 10 degrees of warmth. I know that combination will not suffice, so I have been looking at the Montbell super spiral 0, TNF Snow leopard, and the MH lamina 0. I like my lamina, but it's just not that warm, and I have doubts about the 0F brother. Was wondering what advice you guys could offer me? Thanks in advance.

i've used the lamina at 0*f. i was wearing wool mountaineering socks and a mid-weight base layer and relativly thin liner hat. i also started the night with a hot water bottle at my feet. other than the bag being heavy and big in comparison to my wm antelope i was very happy with its performance.

Thanks Richard. I'll definitely take that into consideration. I wish i could get a down bag, but rules are rules :(

What rules? What organization?

So it's a school called High Mountain Institute. http://www.hminet.org/

And the packing list specifically states that if we bring a down bag, we will be forced to rent a synthetic bag. I don't understand it anymore than you do.....

Sounds like someone at the school is a Ray Jardine fan.
Let's be real; getting down wet in the Rockies takes some gross negligence, and is altogether pretty unlikely.
I've had a wet synthetic bag due to my own stupidity, it's effing miserable, much the same as wet down. Nothing is warm when it's wet.


So as not to derail the thread too far:
If you're only gonna buy it for this one semester, maybe take a look at the Kelty Cosmic 0F as well. It's crazy cheap and gets good reviews.

Edited by COHiker on 06/12/2012 21:23:41 MDT.