Double Sleeping Bag Suggestions

[Unner]

My girlfriend and I are going to making a trip to SoCal/Arizona this December. We'll be out there for about a week and plan on camping the entire time. We normally sleep in the back of the 4Runner on top of a full size foam mattress topper. That's the plan for this time again, but it will be colder out there than what we've camped in before.

I've been looking around at double sleeping bags versus having two separate ones. Any opinions or suggestions on them? I know some of them can get very expensive, I'm hoping to keep it around $150 or so. I can go up a little more for the right one, but that's the target price.

The temps will probably be in the upper 30's to low 40's at night. Suggestions on what "temperature rating" I should be looking for? I know they're more of a survival rating so I was thinking 0* might be better than 20*, even though it won't be that cold. If we are too warm we can always unzip a little.

Since we're living out of the 4Runner weight or size of the bag doesn't really matter.

Any suggestions?

 

[FactoryRide]

I'm planning to order a Teton Fahrenheit Mammoth off of Amazon. The 0* bag is like $145ish. It seems to have pretty good reviews too.

 

[85straight]

I got me and wife just 2 basic Coleman 15* bags. They’re King size and when zipped together can easily cover a queen size mattress. Think I spent $45 a piece a few years ago. Since your sleeping in the truck I wouldn’t recommend anything warmer. Will you be doing some snow camping? If so maybe get a lower rated bag but even then you should be fine inside the truck

 

[IanB]

I was going to suggest a couple of singles zipped together to make a bigger one, that way you've still got single sleeping bags for when you don't need a double.

 

[Gunslinger-13]

I'm planning to order a Teton Fahrenheit Mammoth off of Amazon. The 0* bag is like $145ish. It seems to have pretty good reviews too.

This is what I've got and it is a great bag. I'm 6'1" 240 and my wife is 5'9' so we are both bigger than average and the bag fits us and a pitt bull at the bottom comfortably.

It's a warm comfortable bag and has a good deal of room.

 

[Unner]

I'm planning to order a Teton Fahrenheit Mammoth off of Amazon. The 0* bag is like $145ish. It seems to have pretty good reviews too.

That one does look very nice. It's huge too. 7'10" long. But it has great reviews.

I got me and wife just 2 basic Coleman 15* bags. They’re King size and when zipped together can easily cover a queen size mattress. Think I spent $45 a piece a few years ago. Since your sleeping in the truck I wouldn’t recommend anything warmer. Will you be doing some snow camping? If so maybe get a lower rated bag but even then you should be fine inside the truck

I won't be doing any snow camping, that I know of. Doesn't mean it can't snow while we're camping though. Sleeping in the truck isn't really any warmer than in a tent. The biggest pluses are being off the ground, and out of the wind. Once the cold comes in the truck it's not much warmer than a tent though. I'll look into the Coleman ones. 15* should be good enough for our uses I think.

I was going to suggest a couple of singles zipped together to make a bigger one, that way you've still got single sleeping bags for when you don't need a double.

I thought about doing this, but I have single mummy bags for when it's just me so I'd like to get a real double one, unless I find a good deal on two singles to zip together.

This is what I've got and it is a great bag. I'm 6'1" 240 and my wife is 5'9' so we are both bigger than average and the bag fits us and a pitt bull at the bottom comfortably.

It's a warm comfortable bag and has a good deal of room.

Glad to hear the positive review! I'm leaning towards this option.

 

[85straight]

[MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] what’s your itinerary look like? I could give you some unwarranted advice based on where you’ll be and when...maybe some must see spots and trails

 

[Unner]

[MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] what’s your itinerary look like? I could give you some unwarranted advice based on where you’ll be and when...maybe some must see spots and trails

Advice is never unwarranted!

It'll be over the first and second week of December. I'm driving from Alabama, I'll have a day to spend somewhere in Arizona or near Las Vegas doing some trails hopefully, my girlfriend is flying into Vegas at night and I plan to get to Arizona the night before.

We will be staying for at least 7 days before we start heading back, possibly longer depending on her work schedule, which won't be released for another couple weeks. The places I have on my list are:

Death Valley
Mojave Desert (Mojave Road)
Joshua Tree National Park
Sequoia National Park - in passing, I think it will be too cold to camp there or do anything other than look at the big trees really
Prismo - I've never seen the pacific ocean so I'm thinking maybe spend a little time playing in the dunes, camp along the beach somewhere, and drive some of the Pacific Coast Highway
Anza Borrego - not sure if we'll have time for this or not, but it's on my radar
Grand Canyon - I saw it awhile ago as a child, but she has never seen it. This would also be in passing, probably on our way back home.

I know this is probably too much for the time we will be there, but these are the places I have on my radar. I'll be ordering the Charles Wells guide to California and Arizona and trying to get a more detailed plan together over the next few weeks so this is a very rough outline.

Not looking for the craziest most technical trails, but more so fun trails that get you to some beautiful places. More like overlanding I suppose. And no plans to go near the big cities of LA or San Diego. Those aren't for me...

 

[Koko4]

I'd recommend getting a couple of sleeping bag liners (link). I've got this exact one, and it is a lifesaver for when the bag isn't warm enough. It makes my girlfriend enjoy camping much more, too. The first time I experienced one of these was at Yellowstone..we camped right on the Montana side of Yellowstone in a canvas tent in a cot, and this kept me super warm inside the sleeping bag. Great times!

 

[iabonir]

I had a double sleeping bag from Sportsmans guide. Was definitely under 150$ and was really warm

 

[2flyfishin]

For cold weather I use 2 cheap extra sleeping bags from Walmart. I unzip the both and lay one down under the sleeping bags we're in and the other over the top of the bags we're in. We have woke up with ice on our tent and still have been nice and toasty doing this and it's under $90.

 

[volkinator]

I thought about doing this, but I have single mummy bags for when it's just me so I'd like to get a real double one, unless I find a good deal on two singles to zip together.

What bag do you have? Does it have a matching counterpart? My wife and I were looking for doubles, but they don't pack up very small. We liked the flexibility of having two singles that zip together. If we're 'car camping' and need a little more we can always bring a blanket too..

Either way we have The North Face Cat's Meow bags (20*). They zip together well and are comfy. And they're pretty reasonable. I think your most economical will be to see if the one you have has a matching second though.

 

[Bumbo]

I bought this one... and I love it.

TETON Sports Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F38YI2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its well built, but very bulky to pack. So far its been a good temp rating (20 Degrees Fahrenheit) for CA deserts which is all that I use it for anyways.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

I have a couple extra large Coleman single bags zipped together. A 5lb. and a 3lb. Depending upon temp, if it isn't very cold I'll put the 3lb. side up. Most of the time it's the heavy bag on top cause my 'ol lady gets cold easy. :kiss:

 

[Bumbo]

I have a couple extra large Coleman single bags zipped together. A 5lb. and a 3lb. Depending upon temp, if it isn't very cold I'll put the 3lb. side up. Most of the time it's the heavy bag on top cause my 'ol lady gets cold easy. :kiss:

That is basically what I upgraded from... but after running that setup for 5 or so years you fill find in cold weather its not hard to get some cold air leaks though the zipper or some of the corner seams.

Doesn't feel like that big of a deal but sometimes when its real cold, its enough to make you uncomfortable.

That said, its before I got a nice tent, I used to sleep in my truck bed with that.

 

[oljedi11950]

Found mine on Campmor 2 xl Slumberjacks left & right zip awesome !

 

[Unner]

Thanks for all the responses guys!

I'd recommend getting a couple of sleeping bag liners (link). I've got this exact one, and it is a lifesaver for when the bag isn't warm enough. It makes my girlfriend enjoy camping much more, too. The first time I experienced one of these was at Yellowstone..we camped right on the Montana side of Yellowstone in a canvas tent in a cot, and this kept me super warm inside the sleeping bag. Great times!

Interesting, do these not end up getting bunched up and cumbersome?

I had a double sleeping bag from Sportsmans guide. Was definitely under 150$ and was really warm

I've been meaning to look there and see what they have. Thanks for the reminder!

For cold weather I use 2 cheap extra sleeping bags from Walmart. I unzip the both and lay one down under the sleeping bags we're in and the other over the top of the bags we're in. We have woke up with ice on our tent and still have been nice and toasty doing this and it's under $90.

I plan to bring extra blankets to do the same with just incase it does get real cold while we are out there.

What bag do you have? Does it have a matching counterpart? My wife and I were looking for doubles, but they don't pack up very small. We liked the flexibility of having two singles that zip together. If we're 'car camping' and need a little more we can always bring a blanket too..

Either way we have The North Face Cat's Meow bags (20*). They zip together well and are comfy. And they're pretty reasonable. I think your most economical will be to see if the one you have has a matching second though.

Honestly not sure what my bags are. They're not a big name brand, and not new anymore either. Probably like 8 years old now. I don't think they'd zip together, or be comfortable zipped together due to their shape and where the zippers are.

I bought this one... and I love it.

TETON Sports Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F38YI2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its well built, but very bulky to pack. So far its been a good temp rating (20 Degrees Fahrenheit) for CA deserts which is all that I use it for anyways.

That's the one recommended above by others as well. I'm leaning towards this option just because it has so many good reviews.

I have a couple extra large Coleman single bags zipped together. A 5lb. and a 3lb. Depending upon temp, if it isn't very cold I'll put the 3lb. side up. Most of the time it's the heavy bag on top cause my 'ol lady gets cold easy. :kiss:

This is a pretty good idea actually. I'm definitely the warm blooded one out of us. I won't be cold, but I know she'll get cold really easily.

That is basically what I upgraded from... but after running that setup for 5 or so years you fill find in cold weather its not hard to get some cold air leaks though the zipper or some of the corner seams.

Doesn't feel like that big of a deal but sometimes when its real cold, its enough to make you uncomfortable.

That said, its before I got a nice tent, I used to sleep in my truck bed with that.

That's another thing I've read about zipping singles together and makes me want a real double from the get go. I take care of my stuff so it should last me a very long time.

Found mine on Campmor 2 xl Slumberjacks left & right zip awesome !

I'll look there too!

 

[BikeDestroyer]

Unner,

Coming from a female who gets cold easily camping here are a few tips for your wife to keep warm at night just in case you don't already know.
1) wear a base layer at night. Can be anything from very thin base layer to thermal depending on the temps.
2) wear a hat. Most heat loss is through the head. I wear a balaclava as it keeps my neck warm too.

 

[Unner]

I ended up getting the Teton 0* Mammoth Fahrenheit sleeping bag. It was delivered yesterday and it seems really nice. It's huge, and should be very warm. All the stitching seems great, and the zippers are easy to use also. I'll report back how it does in the California desert!

 

[e60ral]

it comes rolled up, but to put back into the back you have to stuff it

be ready for a workout, its a giant ***** and a pain to stuff back into the bag