Starting to sort through my hunting gear in preparations for an upcoming western hunting trip and I think it may be time to replace my old sleeping bag. I know I want another down filled bag instead of synthetic, something in the 0 or colder range. What are some proven brands? I missed the part when sleeping bags got to the point of costing $800 plus. Not sure I need anything that sophisticated, but, it appears there are a lot of options $400 or less, although budget doesn't really matter. This is likely the last heavy bag I will need as it won't be used but probably every few years. Just looking for some recommendations!

My fav is the US Mountain bag my dad brought home from Korea. With the cover. A bit heavy, but never let me down .... to -20F.
Seen excellent used one pretty cheap.

Not down, synthetic, but the best I've been around are Wiggy's. Lifetime guarantee also. Really not that bad, I bought one twenty years ago that has been used a lot and stored stuffed a lot, which is something Wiggy's says is okay and almost every other brand claims is an absolute no-no. Bought one for the wife a couple years ago, was actually quite surprised, hadn't gone up much, if any, in price in twenty years. Still under $300 for the Ultima Thule (I think -35), I hadn't realized how much loft mine had lost in 20 years until the wife's showed up, but mine will still keep me warm at ten below. I've slept in it down to 20-25 below but it has been a few years since I've been out in it at that cold.

I missed out on that $$$ chapter too. I always have had synthetic bags that are cushy, warm, and dry easily. Even carried one backpacking into remote areas because it was so luxurious compared to mummy down bags. I have one now for truck access camping that is really really comfortable.

Anyway, I bought a gagging price down bag for an elk hunt. The hunt never happened because I broke my arm. It was rescheduled and I broke my back. The down bag may be good, light, and compress to the size of a deck of cards, but I don’t know so brand is irrelevant. In these modern times isn’t there a synthetic bag that gets close to down for compression and weight? Whatever you buy, get the best pad you can afford!

Long ago in a northern Maine in an only marginally heated cabin in cold weather, wife was sleeping in an old military mummy down and feather bag. (It was our warmest bag at the time.). She had a nightmare and woke up screaming and tearing her way out of the bag in a puff of feathers and down. She then spent the next hour sewing and swearing about the sleeping bag, an unheated cabin, and me. It was quite funny actually. Occasionally I ask her if she remembers that event.

I had one of those as a kid, really warm bag as long as it is dry, but heavy and soaked up water like a sponge, and wasn't warm when it was wet. Used to be able to pick them up at army surplus stores or thrift stores cheap though and they were warmer than 95% of those expensive bags on the market as long as you kept them dry.

Are you packing this bag in or carrying it from the truck to the wall tent?

My wife and I just used our ZenBivy quilt-style sleeping bags in Glacier park last week. Went to bed at around 60°F, woke up around 40°F. I wasn't bundled up with extra clothes at all, and I stayed perfectly warm. Used a Nemo Tensor sleeping pad too as an insulating layer under the quilt/bag. I'm not sure if they offer products working down to 0°F or below, but they may be worth a look! I am very pleased with mine.

If your packin the bag then western mountaineering or feathered friends. Buy once and cry only once.

Woods arctic sleeping robe. Heavy, but the best dam bag ever.

X2 on Wiggy's. You can also check for sales and discontinued items for better prices. Got my oldest kid a nice bag cause they had dropped the camo pattern it was made from. Get the FTRSS combo and you actually get two bags.......inner and outer. Mine is going on 20 years plus.

For more info........check out his blog thing below.

https://www.wiggys.com/

https://capriolas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bedroll-graphic.jpg

If your truck camping try a set up like this. I use a sleeping bag in mine and use it year round and even on elk hunts in the late season.

A wet down bag is worthless, A wet synthetic can be wrung out and still be 90% efficient.

I have a military down bag and it never gets cold enough to have it zippered up all the way.......jk

I carried a 10 degree down bag from REI on my Appalachian trail thru hike and it was great. Get the best pad you can, the pad is a big difference maker for comfort.

Western Mountaineering with Gore and wind stopper. It’s served me very well over the years

Get a synthetic in XL or Wide, even if you're not. You can put some of your next day's clothes in the bottom, and they'll be warm and dry in morning. We have good bags by North Face and Kelty, though they are all over 12 years old. Still work for us.

Don't forget to put your boots in the bag, keeps them from freezing when damp.

Also, with an oversize bag, you can put bag liner or quilt inside.

I used to be a goose down guy, but now synthetic. Unless you are backpacking in and weight is a factor go with synthetic. If it gets damp you will still be warm.

Whatever you choose open it up during the day to dry out the moisture from sleeping.
Dry is warm and dryer is warmer.