Sold - Vintage REI Mummy Bag - Temperature Rating 10° Approximate ------

Up for sale is a near "off the shelf" condition, vintage sleeping bag from REI. Check out the early label. I don't know its history to be certain but it appears to be hardly used....if at all. Totally clean! No tears, burn holes, fraying, missing stitch lines, stains or repairs. Colors look bright. Roomy cut in a size long, right hand zipper.
Features:

- Down filled hooded mummy with 6" slant box construction.

- Approximately 7" of loft. The down pods feel plump, fluffy and loose. Not matted or clumped

- No side block baffle so fill can be distributed between the top and bottom.

- 1.9 ounce ripstop nylon, blue exterior, tan lining.

- #10 YKK double toggle, tooth style plastic zipper. Draft tube backs the zipper.

- Judging by the loft and feel of the down within the chambers, I estimate its rating would be between +10 and 0 degrees F. Total weight is 4.5 lbs so possibly a lower temperature rating although fabric and zipper are heavier than today's materials.

Asking $125.00 plus shipping cost. PPFF or please add the fee.

Bump

fyi - people can buy a brand new zero degree bag for about the same price.  maybe you should lower the price to about $50

Your suggestion seems kindly made so I thank you for your input. I love vintage gear. All the better when in mint condition. Look at the loft in that beauty! I think there's more then price point for owning something. Without doing price comparisons, I think that in and of itself, $125.00 is not too much for a goose down filled sleeping bag, no matter when it was made, if its well made and in great shape. Cheers! -N

Sure if someone likes vintage gear then up to them. Im just saying if you really want to sell it you should lower the price (my humble opinion).

Bump

I think it's worth noting that down degrades over time. Especially if it's stored compacted for a long time. Also I would not put a temp degree if you do not know it. Sleeping bag rates have a survival and a comfort rating. Usually a 10degree bag means you will survival at those yemps with base layers. You might not be comfortable. I wouldn't want someone grabbing that bag and staying out in a bivy at 10 degrees in old down bag. Just some safety concerns 

Thanks for your thoughts Peter! I think you bring up some important considerations - All things degrade over time. If we were acquainted, you would know that I have 45 years of personal experience with gear including down as an insulator. Yes I have grown older! The info in my post is not based upon whim. I gave consideration to the suggested temperature range and noted this was my view and a approximation. This view is based upon the cut of the bag, the height of insulation known as loft and the feel of, albeit hidden from view, the down pods. The latter of course being an interpretation of feel and the least objective. My past experience viewing and handling 550 - 850 fill goose down leads me to "think" the fill power is higher than the 550 grade most commonly used at the time. How so?: Low feather/quill content and the down chambers were not densely stuffed full in order to achieve the loft. This "suggests" a larger down pod. The down just feels fluffy like in my Montbell parka. There are those who prefer a lower fill power and more quill content when weight is not a factor. A more densely packed chamber to achieve loft results in less insulation drift and the resulting cold spots that occur when the fill falls away or is more easily compressed from the inside out by say your top side hip when sleeping on the side. A differential cut helps avoid this to a degree but after all its not a Thermos bottle.

The original North Face Superlight, a fairly tight fitting mummy bag was rated at 5°. The specified loft was 6". Here's what I measure:

I'm a lay-man and personally don't know the exact effect of time in the degradation of a down pod stored under ideal conditions. The experts at Western Mountaineering could probably add considerably to this discussion. However, in 1974 I purchased TNF, North Face, which was their 1st -30 degree expedition bag. It had 10" of loft and 3" baffle spacing. The color by the way was Acapulco Gold. It was used now and again and always stored in a huge cotton bag. From the day of purchase to its sale about 8 or 10 years ago it remained as plump as could be. The buyer used it on Mt Mckinley and to my best memory reported that he was warm at -20. The nylon didn't self destruct, nor did the baffles pull out of the stitching. I agree with your assessment that a tightly compressed down filled item will result in a lessening of resiliency and a break down of the filament structure over time. I would add that cleaning with detergents results in a stripping away of the naturally occurring oils that help to enable down to bounce back from compression. This is, by and large, common knowledge these days, gained over time. As you are alluding, there are many factors which determine the warmth of a sleeping bag as experienced by each individual. Manufacturers recognize this and now days do suggest a temperature range for each product.

Time wise it is an older bag but by usage its really just beginning its life. To many, vintage means antique, over the hill, worn out. That is not always or necessarily the case. My rather obvious personal view is that this bag will perform as well now as when just manufactured, Enough said! Cheers!

Going to say, this bag looks to be in great shape.  I am selling a similar vintage version of this bag and it isn't in nearly the shape that this is.  Price seems fair (if maybe a little premium) for vintage gear in this shape.

Regarding the warmth rating.  I've spent a few winters in both my REI bag and a similar age Gerry Mountaineering.  Both were stored uncompressed, but old and well-used.  I found them to be comfortable down into single digits in open bivies and the -10* rating seems more survival rating than anything else.  That said, both bags were too large for me, so a larger person might be able to push them further  

I'll throw in an original NF Tadpole for another $125 for the vintage gear buyer.

Señor Arroz wrote: I'll throw in an original NF Tadpole for another $125 for the vintage gear buyer.

What??????? You want $125 for your old tent?  

Pine Sap wrote:

What??????? You want $125 for your old tent?  

No. I want $250 for your sleeping bag and my old tent. Antiques are expensive.

Andy F wrote: fyi - people can buy a brand new zero degree bag for about the same price.  maybe you should lower the price to about $50

Though indeed, it would be a rare find-

Pine Sap wrote: Thanks for your thoughts Peter! I think you bring up some important considerations - All things degrade over time. If we were acquainted, you would know that I have 45 years of personal experience with gear including down as an insulator. Yes I have grown older! The info in my post is not based upon whim. I gave consideration to the suggested temperature range and noted this was my view and a approximation. This view is based upon the cut of the bag, the height of insulation known as loft and the feel of, albeit hidden from view, the down pods. The latter of course being an interpretation of feel and the least objective. My past experience viewing and handling 550 - 850 fill goose down leads me to "think" the fill power is higher than the 550 grade most commonly used at the time. How so?: Low feather/quill content and the down chambers were not densely stuffed full in order to achieve the loft. This "suggests" a larger down pod. The down just feels fluffy like in my Montbell parka. There are those who prefer a lower fill power and more quill content when weight is not a factor. A more densely packed chamber to achieve loft results in less insulation drift and the resulting cold spots that occur when the fill falls away or is more easily compressed from the inside out by say your top side hip when sleeping on the side. A differential cut helps avoid this to a degree but after all its not a Thermos bottle.

The original North Face Superlight, a fairly tight fitting mummy bag was rated at 5°. The specified loft was 6". Here's what I measure:

I'm a lay-man and personally don't know the exact effect of time in the degradation of a down pod stored under ideal conditions. The experts at Western Mountaineering could probably add considerably to this discussion. However, in 1974 I purchased TNF, North Face, which was their 1st -30 degree expedition bag. It had 10" of loft and 3" baffle spacing. The color by the way was Acapulco Gold. It was used now and again and always stored in a huge cotton bag. From the day of purchase to its sale about 8 or 10 years ago it remained as plump as could be. The buyer used it on Mt Mckinley and to my best memory reported that he was warm at -20. The nylon didn't self destruct, nor did the baffles pull out of the stitching. I agree with your assessment that a tightly compressed down filled item will result in a lessening of resiliency and a break down of the filament structure over time. I would add that cleaning with detergents results in a stripping away of the naturally occurring oils that help to enable down to bounce back from compression. This is, by and large, common knowledge these days, gained over time. As you alluding, there are many factors which determine the warmth of a sleeping bag as experienced by each individual. Manufacturers recognize this and now days do suggest a temperature range for each product.

Time wise it is an older bag but by usage its really just beginning its life. To many, vintage means antique, over the hill, worn out. That is not always or necessarily the case. My rather obvious personal view is that this bag will perform as well now as when just manufactured, Enough said! Cheers!

I agree that loft looks good! And after all, insulation Is just trapped dead airspace so I think it's warm! Great post to man I enjoyed reading it.

Testimonial:

From Kim - I have four of these that belonged to my family. It’s an AMAZING bag even after all these years!

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Hi Kim, Thanks for the affirmation! What do you think about my suggested temperature rating? Cheers, Norm

Hi Kirk, It’s a really warm bag! I’m amazed at the loft after all these years. I think you’re about right on the temp

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