I need some advice on a +15 degree sleeping bag

[Roadkill]

Pick out a few and read reviews before buying.
amen to what bucknut said

[Broken Arrows]

I used a Wiggy's for a few years then saved up and purchased a 0 degree down bag from KUIU when they were on sale best move I ever made. Like others have said if you get to warm you can always open it up. The best thing is it packs small, it is light and will do both car or back pack camping.

[JusAGuy]

Originally posted by longbow fanatic 1:
I took the advice of JusAGuy and returned the 20* bag for a low quality 0* bag in hopes that it will cover ranges from 15* and up. Like you said, Monterey, I decided to go with something a little more comfy.

Hi Longbow Fanatic -

I hoping to clarify my thoughts a bit as regards my experience with sleeping bag temp. ratings and materials/design quality.

For the mid-level sleeping bags, i would add 10F to 15F degrees to whatever they rate them at.

So for mid-level manufacturers (or their mid-performance offerings mid-level manufacturers (or their mid-performance offerings) adding 10F to 15F degrees to whatever they rate them at works about right.

For cheap/lower-quality bags, in my experience, i add a minimum of 20F and more as the suggested temperature rating decreases.

For example, in the early 90's i wanted to explore the 2-bag sleeping systems which were being touted. I bought a Slumberjack "Everest ELite" supposedly rated to -30F. It had two separate bags - one rated to 0F and the "outer" rated to 30F.

I am a cooler sleeper so taking that into consideration, i took my nifty new Everest Elite on a moderate winter backpacking trip where anticipated temps would approach 0F.

I used two closed-cell foam pads as bottom insulation and slept in a tent.

AND FROZE MY HEINIE OFF!!!

The old "Nalgene bottle with hot water" trick was useful, but with that terrible bag it only lasted about 3 hours and them became a cold-water bottle.

Sleeping bag temp ratings are *very* subjective. Ya get what a pay for generally - there is no free lunch.

In fact, even in the highest level of sleeping bag brands there is some bit of discrepancy in temperature ratings.

The highest quality brands, in my experience have been Feathered Friends, Rab, Valandre', and Western Mountaineering with Western Mountaineering being the best and Valandre' coming in second. Feathered Friends has a reputation as being "border line" in their ratings, though still quite close to "accurate".

The problem is multi-faceted. Some people are "naturally" warmer sleepers - their metabolism remains higher even when sleeping (I am a cool/moderate sleeper even though my wife says i'm a furnace).

Another matter to consider (and perhaps the greatest consideration) is a person's hydration level. If dehydrated, the body's fluids thicken and remain closer to the torso so limbs/extremities do not receive that warm blood/oxygen supply.

General exhaustion and fatigue also affect the campers ability to sustain body warmth.

I just realized i'm typing a book.....

All the above is meant to say, leave adequate funds in your budget to acquire a good sleeping bag.