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Looking for new zip together sleeping bags.

Original Post
DesertRat · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 196

I'm in the market for some new bags. I'm looking for a cold weather bag (-25 to 0F) that is down and will zip together. I've got two REI bags from the 80s that I still use for most stuff, with a liner if its nippy. I personally have a -25 Down REI bag as well.

What I want is to get my girlfriend a bag, but also need ability to make it a double. I was considering getting one of the Big Agnes 15F double bags, but then she wouldn't have a cold weather bag when I wasn't around.

Any experience, suggestions or tips are appreciated.

RockinOut · · NY, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 100

All REI Men's bags are compatible to REI Women's bags. I forget which, but one is left and the other is a right zip….on purpose.

Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

Keep in mind that mens and women's bags are different lengths and that if you zip them together they will not line up exactly unless its a womens long and mens regular.

marty funkhouser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 20

The zip-together bags are way cold. All sorts of drafts. You'd be better off just unzipping one bag all the way and using as a blanket if you have 2 people.

DesertRat · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 196

Thanks for all the information so far. My REI bag is a unisex long, so it might be difficult to get it to match up with a women's bag. Might drag it in to the store tomorrow to see though.

Maybe a double bag is the way to go, so that it stays warm.

ConsciousApe Ape · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

I have to respectfully disagree with funkhouser on this one. My girlfriend and I have zip together bags that we winter camp with all the time. In Canada. Our bags are rated -10C and -5C, respectively, which works out to 14F and 23F. The only thing that gets cold is my face, lots of heat to go around when you pack 2 people in a double bag setup. I find the biggest issue is enough insulation from the ground, not the zipper.

I actually like the zip in the middle because if I get hot I can unzip it a bit and still keep her mostly covered. We've never gone below -20C (-4F) though, so not sure if maybe the zipper would be an issue if it's colder than that. I'd say you're somewhat crazy if you are out sleeping when it's that cold though.

DesertRat · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 196

Took my bag to REI and it wouldn't quite work. The bottom sipped together fine, but the little metal tabe on the older bag is a little different than it is on the new bag, so it wouldn't work. I'm considering filing off part of the tab on mine, so that it might work.

Separately, I am looking at the Big Agnes Hahns Peak, but it appears to only come in left zip. Might give them a call tomorrow to see if it's possible to get a right zip.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

For me, when I want the double bag, I am sleeping in the back of the truck. I don't need light weight or low bulk.

I am soon going to purchase an $80 to $120 flannel lined big square bag from the hunting store. I'll throw an old down comforter over it in the winter. Two people and a cuddle bug of dog will be plenty in there most likely. When one of us needs to go alone, we already have regular good quality sleeping bags for that.

John Braun · · Hendersonville, NC · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 1

Lots of bags use a YKK #8 zipper, so different brands with the same type and similar length of zippers are sometimes compatible.

Have you thought about adding a 1 or 2 person down quilt instead of another bag?

marty funkhouser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 20

The draft I was referring to wasn't from the zippers but rather from the inability to cinch the bag around your head. Granted, the one time I tried a double bag it was probably in the mid-20's but well within the bag's temperature range.

chris v. · · Chicago · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 40

I'm all about the BA Lone Ranger and Roxy Ann. I was always unsure of how i felt about zipping 2 bags together but these bags changed my opinion on the matter. them not being mummy bags is key. the lady friend has the q-core and i have the insulated aircore, which is a little problematic because she has quite a bit more loft on her sleeping pad.

ConsciousApe Ape · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

We have mummy style bags and can still cinch up pretty good. Maybe we just got lucky with ours.

Michael Catlett · · Middleburg, VA · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 175

Just saw them on the Feathered Friends Web Site....cant beat their stuff

Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114

Depending on the partner I like the Alpine Affairs bags:

Camp 69 bags

Jason N. · · Grand Junction · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 10

Perhaps not the cheapest solution, but I've recently purchased a down quilt ( enlightenedequipment.com/) and use it as a blanket over our two unzipped bags on the bottom. It's worked pretty well for us so far. It even comes with elastic straps to slide onto your sleeping pad and secure the quilt over you. It's designed for ultralight backpacking for an individual, but I purchased it in XWide and XLong and it's plenty of coverage for two. You can also customize colors, temps, etc.

C Limenski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 15

that previous post seems like spam? 

i have no information of value re: double bags

what i really want is to look through that catalog Jason Todd linked an image from

Kam Ami · · Washington, D.C · Joined Sep 2020 · Points: 0

Hey C Limenski, This is not a Spam, If you don't want this information you can just skip. This information may good for other users.  

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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