Amy's Question:

I'm planning a trip this summer with a friend to the Bridger Wilderness in the Wind River Range of Wyoming for about a month. I have a somewhat-worn, 20-degree, synthetic-filled sleeping bag, and I'm a cold sleeper. Should I invest in a new sleeping bag?

Amy
Great Neck, New York

Expert Answer:

A"somewhat-worn," 20-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag could now only be good for 30º F, which would not provide enough margin of safety and comfort in that location. Friends have spent numerous summers there — or rather late summers, end of August — and they feel you should have a bag that will keep you comfy at well below freezing.

As for specific makes, there are so many out there it's hard to make a specific recommendation other than to buy from a specialty store and stick to the top manufacturers. If you are small in stature, choose a short bag to save weight, perhaps a woman-specific model from Sierra Designs or the North Face.

Whatever bag you choose, take good care of it to maintain its efficiency by avoiding the use of a compression stuffsack and by not leaving the bag compressed longer than necessary.