what degree bag

**friend of Bills** · 10-06-2011, 06:31

Hi,
I'm new and planning a thru in march of 2012. I've been hammock camping for a couple of years here in fl. I'm planning to use an inflatable bag pad for insulation. What degree bag should I buy and how much do they usually cost? Thanks in advance for your replies and any other advice for staying warm in my hammock.

**SoundMan** · 10-06-2011, 08:17

FoB- pop over to "WhiteBlaze"- they have a section dedicated to all aspects of Thru hike planning. The thru hikers I have talked with use (2) one warmer bag when they start -as they are catching the tail end of winter in the Smokies and then a summer set up for the rest of the trip.

I am like you in that I started with the idea of using my sleeping bags with my hammock set up...I am now transitioning to an top quilt & underquilt setup. My sleeping bag was pretty heavy and my pad set up was not comfortable OR warm enough! A standard progression from what I read in this forum.

Happy hiking-see you on the trail.

**storm** · 10-07-2011, 21:13

I'm also a newbe to hammock hiking and also planning a thru starting in March next year. I currently have a $400+ Montbell 15 degree bag and it's going to have to do. My wife would get the gun out if I started talking top quilts and under quilts. I plan on using a closed cell pad under the bag in the hammock. That said I will hang the hammock in my back yard this winter so if it is too cold I can easily bail into the house. My only other option would be to go back to my tent for the start of the hike and I don't really want to do that.

**Catavarie** · 10-08-2011, 04:23

Some people are not only able to get comfortable with a pad, but actually prefer them to under quilts. But the major advantage with a pad is the ability to go to ground easily. Of course the AT has no lack of trees and one should never have need to go to ground when thru hiking it. The CDT and PCT may be another story though, I'm not terribly familiar with those.

As to the OP, look around your local REI/outfitter shop and see what they have available. Or even consider using a top quilt with a pad. We have several great cottage manufacturers here that produce outstanding equipment.