JakeC
Well-Known Member
I can vouch for Big Agnes with the tent. Their lightweight stuff is top notch for the money and their warranty is apparently very good. They don't really post it but I've worked with some backcountry pros and they say if your shame allows you to return stuff you broke they will replace it.
The Agnes sleeping bag is little less straightforward to me. I invested in their sleep system gimmick and I hate it. essentially they save you weight and money by not having insulation on the back of the bag since it just compresses under you anyway. The idea is to replace that "wasted" insulation with a good pad to do the job instead. It doesn't work for me. I need 2 pads and a space blanket under me plus full thermals, double wool socks, a puffy jacket, and hoodie. I also should not have been talked into the 20 degree. I have to double bag below 40 on top of all the above.
Some of that's me and some of that's the bag. Temperature aside the bag is built OK. The material is delicate as are the seams but it's built for weight saving. Zipper gets jammed easy because of the fabric but it's good quality. The bag is VERY light, and it's got much better physical fit than most bags for me. But I wish I'd bought an ll bean bag instead. I've never had a zipper foul and they are always warm for their rating. SOme people hate that, I do not since I sleep very cold. The material never feels like it's going to disintegrate from a sneeze or stray twig. They're heavier for it but there's better weight to save elsewhere IMO.
The Agnes sleeping bag is little less straightforward to me. I invested in their sleep system gimmick and I hate it. essentially they save you weight and money by not having insulation on the back of the bag since it just compresses under you anyway. The idea is to replace that "wasted" insulation with a good pad to do the job instead. It doesn't work for me. I need 2 pads and a space blanket under me plus full thermals, double wool socks, a puffy jacket, and hoodie. I also should not have been talked into the 20 degree. I have to double bag below 40 on top of all the above.
Some of that's me and some of that's the bag. Temperature aside the bag is built OK. The material is delicate as are the seams but it's built for weight saving. Zipper gets jammed easy because of the fabric but it's good quality. The bag is VERY light, and it's got much better physical fit than most bags for me. But I wish I'd bought an ll bean bag instead. I've never had a zipper foul and they are always warm for their rating. SOme people hate that, I do not since I sleep very cold. The material never feels like it's going to disintegrate from a sneeze or stray twig. They're heavier for it but there's better weight to save elsewhere IMO.
