Nice inexpensive half bag on ebay.

[DanO]

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-Army-Wild-Thing-Alpine-Half-Sleeping-Bag-Unissued-/220369010375?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item334f043ec7

 

 

Just a heads up, I picked up a couple of these to try out, good quality, made in the USA , primaloft insulation and with epic shell

fabric. It is rated at 30 degrees and a little heavy for rating

and size, but a good deal for price. I would carry it without a

bivy sack in projected good weather or above the rain line, etc.

 

Match this with a belay jacket it would not be a bad outfit to carry on summit bids and for summer alpine camping.

 

Women and shorter guys may be able to get inside the half bag totally.

 

A good deal if on a budget and want to try this out.

 

I have not tried it out yet but expect to work well for what

it is rated at and intended for. Not as light as down, but also

won't collapse when wet.

 

Dan

 

Edited May 11, 2010 by DanO

[DanO]

By the way if you are on a budget you can pick up

a fairly good hooded coat cheap at a thrift store,

ebay, or other stores. The high buck belay jackets

are great, but are expensive. I have a good heavy

puffy jacket that I picked up years ago for 15 bucks

which is super cheap, it has regular polyester insulation

in it and weighs about 3lbs 3 ounces, (Super puffy warm coat).

I will use it until I can upgrade later on. Watching for deals.

 

The regular hooded coats don't compress down as small,

are more heavy on average(most likely about pound more heavy) but can work. I prefer synthetic insulation over down myself.

Get a fisherman scale to check the real weight of the jacket.

 

Then you got a combo for summer alpine maybe for less than a hundred bucks. Half bag and Belay Jacket. The weight hit is not as bad as it seems as you don't carry the extra layers of clothing as you normally do. You just have on the light stuff when hiking in etc and use the belay coat to throw on top when cold or stopping

or at camp etc.

 

Dan

Edited May 11, 2010 by DanO

[OlympicMtnBoy]

It's the military version of the wild things half bag, I really don't think there is any difference except this one is green instead of orange, and $60 instead of $200. I got one of these a bit ago and it does make a nice good weather sleep system and you aren't as worried about dew or dirt as you would be with an ultralight down bag.

[DanO]

My projected use is sleep in a tent and then carry it up

with me if I thought I may need it on the trip to the summit.

Or if in good weather can carry this without a bivy sack or tent and be able to bivy on a climb. Epic fabric is not totally water

proof from what I understand, but really water resistant and breathable, almost water proof.

 

Depends on the type of tent on how warm you can be. A really

warm type of four season tent can increase the temperature range and you can carry jacket and half bag to summit if you desire.

 

Snow caves/trenches are usually no warmer than 30 degrees so this is a decent rating if in a snow cave.

 

Dan

[robpatterson5]

How long are they internally? I have to admit that I'm kinda curious.

[DanO]

Ok, Got mine out and tape measure, got inside it with bare feet,

laid on my back with feet sticking up in normal laying down on

back position. The inside of the half bag is exactly 53 inches.

I am 5 foot 10 tall and the bag came in 2-3 inches below my

arm pits. This should allow for a decent overlap with a belay

jacket.

 

I plan to try this out this summer.

 

Dan

[John Frieh]

I've had one for a few years now. Great bag for trips you know you are going to get wet and/or routes you wont be able to set a tent up on.

[rhyang]

I used to have one of these -- the older version that weighed more like 1 pound 8 oz. Used it on a bunch of trips like Rainier in July and Shasta in May. I generally used it with the wild things belay parka.

 

Curious to know what the date of manufacture of these are. I eventually decided my old one just wasn't warm enough anymore (it was probably made in 2004 and you know how synthetic insulation is).

[robpatterson5]

Cool, I've been rocking a TNF Fission for those kind of trips but I find I never use it. At about two and a half pounds I think I'm good. Too bad the WT doesn't come up higher

[Dane]

After using a half bag for a few years I always thought a lwt full length bag was more efficient heat and weight wise and made more sense as bivy gear.

[Vickster]

Im selling a new one in the seattle are for $70 cash.