Temp difference for men and women in cottage gear...

[Clisbyclark]

Before I saw the light and bought quilts for the family, I had a Kelty bag that claimed to have a rating for 21 for men and 32 or so for women. I've noticed all cottage vendors only list one rating. In your experience have you found that to be good for both men and women? Thanks!

[TominMN]

It's all about averages. Cold sleepers, hot sleepers. And, generally speaking, women, on average, tend to be colder sleepers than men. But averages mean almost nothing if you're not average!

Bottom line (I think there's a pun there), you need to understand how you, as an individual, compare to average, whether male or female.

Now I'm sure that didn't help all that much!

I think even most sleeping bags have only one rating and I'd guess that ratings are mostly targeted for average men and not average overall. The common wisdom seems to be to factor a decent amount of buffer into what you purchase unless you have some specific individual requirements, e.g. you sleep "hot." And the better brands and vendors (like the cottage vendors you often see recommended here) tend to be honest and conservative in stating ratings.

[grannypat]

Depends on the age of the women.

[dkurfiss]

Depends on the age of the women.

Werd!

[TominMN]

Depends on the age of the women.

Ain't that the truth! (Speaking from experience as a man married to a woman only two years younger than me and I'm not young...)

[TominMN]

Werd!

NO, not weird at all!

[bkrgi]

Take the quilt rating add 10* to the plus side and that is the true rating for me using minimal clothing.
A 40* TQ for me is good for 50* plus. Below 50* and the chill starts to sneak in and I need to layer a little more to make 40* (And that is using a 20* UQ)
Same with my 15* SB....good till 25-27* at which point I need to add layers to me but can easily take it to 15* with the 20* UQ and said layers on me.
(using 850 goose down in all quilts/bags)

Honestly One can NEVER go wrong keeping that 10* buffer on the ratings to conditions you will be in.

[Nighthauk]

I have found out through the years that there is about 30* difference between my wife and I. I run a warm she runs really cold. So last year just to get her down to as cold of temperatures that she wants I bought her a Hammock Gear -15* short incubator. With that and a 20* Phoenix she made it down to zero.

[Demeter]

I am a very cold sleeper. I use my 20* UQ for anything above 50*, and my 0* UQ for below 50*. With the extra bottom insulation I don't need as heavy a TQ for the milder temps. I have made it to -5*F by layering my 2 quilts.