Older REI Expedition -20 degree bag

[n47w122]

I picked up an older (maybe 10 years old) REI Expedition -20 degree down bag this past week, and had it out this weekend in single digit temps, one night in a snow cave and one in my 4-season tent. While I don't expect a bag to really go down to its rated temp, I was rather surprised that I did get rather chilly in this bag, and had to put on my down jacket after a couple hours.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this bag? It's solid black, with a red/blue draft tube. Seems extra roomy inside (I'm 5'11", 165 lb), maybe too roomy for me to keep warm in. And it *is* a long, which I don't strictly need, but is nice for sticking my boot liners in the bottom. For what I paid used it was a good deal, but I'm not sure if it's a keeper.

[jfs1978]

I've open bivied in mine in low teens and moderate wind and actually been tooooooasty warm.

[genepires]

down or synthetic?

[denalidave]

I used a down one like that (a few years older) on a 35 day trip in the AK Range and froze my ass off, even with puffy coat, heavy fleece(s), poly pro liner, bivy sack, down booties, and all the poly pro layers I had (light, med & heavy) in an exp tent. However, we saw temps in the -40 to -50F below zero (April). My buddy had a Marmot CWM -40 and was comfy the whole trip. I'd add +20 to the rating for "comfort". You would likely survive at it's rated temp. Also, if it has been used a lot or not stored properly over the last decade, it could well have a lot less loft, especially if it is down...

[n47w122]

Nice point about "survivability" temperature. I'm going to think about temp ratings that way from here out.

 

The bag seems to have been stored well, and was even washed now and again, something I'm guilty of not doing.