Sleeping Bags

Hi Silverthorne

did anyone ever replied to your comment

So Mountain Hardwear has just released their Ghost Whisperer Sleeping Bag - rated -7c comfort, with water repellency and individually treated down designed not to absorb water - and it weighs just under 800g. It sounds perfect for the Berg. Well, aside from the $570 price tag!

I was lucky enough to pick up the down jacket from the same range on a clearance sale in the UK last year (a friend brought it back) - although I am yet to have a chance to test it. The jacket is hooded and weighs less than my lightweight fleece. I'll have to find some good snow this year.

Note: I am not sponsored by Mountain Hardwear.

Wow that is slightly lighter than my summer bag

It looks quite puffy, I can think its a -7°C bag.

Currently about R6'800, that is a lot of money...

A full 1kg lighter than the FA Ice Breaker. For that matter - just above half the weight of my MHW Lamina 20.

As far as I know, the North Face Inferno North Face Inferno is the lightest -40c sleeping bag around right now, at under 1.8kg. MHW's equivalent bag, the Ghost -40 is almost 400g heavier. But seeing as the Ghost Whisperer's equivalent Inferno bag is about 300g heavier, I await MHW's release of their Ghost Whisperer -40c bag.

Not that I think anyone on this site is in the market for a -40c sleeping bag right now. A bit warm for Everest, but would be useful in the Arctic or Antarctic.

I am still very happy with my minus 7 degree down bag purchased from Z Packs - weighing in at 628g. It does not have a cowl but I had it custom made for me, with a baffle and a longer length so that I can pull it up around my head when it gets very cold. I have used it on the escarpment during two Winters and never felt the cold. My only complaint is that it is sometimes too hot and I then have to open it up like a duvet, especially in the lower Berg. Yes it cost a lot at the time, about R 6 000, but still feel it was a good investment!

Down 800/850 fill, I assume. That is very light. How have you found the lack of a cowl, especially in a cave on a windy night?

Hi Ghaz - actually its 900 fill power goose down. We were in Upper Injasuti Cave last year during a massive storm where the wind and sleet blew in to the cave - I drew the top of the bag around my head and was very sheltered and warm. So if you are considering getting this bag ( get someone from the States to bring it over) ensure that you have it made longer. I also had a full length zip and baffle made as mentioned . This bag also packs down very small which is a bonus.

Interesting. I'm not planning on buying a -7c bag right now, I already have 2 of them. I'm likely to need about a -30c bag next year, though - I don't think my -14c will cut it. Hopefully technology will keep moving forward, and the ZAR will get a bit stronger before I actually get one. I shudder at the cost of gear for the greater ranges.

I saw a pair of La Sportiva Olympus Mons mountaineering boots marked down heavily a few weeks ago - and they were still about R10k. Not that I need those for anything I'll be doing any time soon.

a good tip for cold sleepers is to use a space blanket... for winter I have once of the heavy duty ones for the tent floor. It makes a massive difference and is lighter and smaller than the blue mats. My thermarest also provides a thin air layer which insulates. Is good for caves too!

PS. Montbell also sells -7 bags at around 900gms and closer to 300$

I was browsing the net and found this chap for R8475 so was curious about it:

www.mountainmailorder.co.za/mammut-sphere-down-winter-sleeping-bag-400059.html?cat=16095

The Mammut website is rather weak on info so I e-mailed them:
www.mammut.com/p/2410-00944-5670/sphere-down-winter/

So if anyone is interested in their sleepings bags I have attached the two PDF's they sent me. I'm not in the market for a bag but thought I'd share this info. They have some great bags that are super light weight. (And no, I'm not affiliated with any of these companies)