I went up to the Dacks last weekend and was already freezing my buns off in a 30 degree bag. I figure that I can eek through October with my current bag if I sleep with a down jacket etc, but will definitely need a heavier bag (mine is 30F) for the months ahead. I am thinking about going to a 0 degree bag (or would 15 be fine through the end of Nov? I think probably not as I tend to sleep cold). Naturally, there's a lot of debate on down vs synthetic. I am worried about a down bag getting wet in the late fall, but the synthetic bags are huge and not nearly as warm (from what I can tell). Any suggestions as to going one way or the other?
It's hard to get a down bag really disastrously wet. Maybe if you roll a canoe over or something. But normal care will keep it dry enough for a normal trip, even in the always-damp ADKs. So my vote is for a 0 degree down bag. (PM me if you might want to buy mine - see photo) Mike
I sleep in the Adirondack High Peaks lean-to's May - October with my Feather Friends 30 degree bag covered by a Wild Things eVent bivy (frameless). I've been very happy with this setup. In October, I may bring my Feather Friends sleeping bag VB liner for a little extra warmth / water protection.
Most down bags now are being constructed with hydrophobic down, so that should minimize a majority of your worries.
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