Big Agnes Ethel Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Down - Women's - 2008 BCS

This bag was AWESOME! I loved it. I used it for my 9 day backpacking/car camping trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone June 2011 ( Might've gotten down to 30-40s). It was light weight and packed down to a great light-weight size. Once out of the compression bag it puffed up very nice and was very cozy. It was roomy enough for me to squirm around in the night as I always do. I ended up just sinking down into the bag like a bear in a cave. All the nights I was very comfortable and cozy and warm in that bag with just a shirt and long Ibex woolies. I'm 5'1'' and I got the petite and had a little extra room, but it still warmed up nice. I love this bag: lightweight, warm, roomy for squirmers and side sleepers. A+ I also bought the Big Agnes Insulated Core Sleeping Pad with it, they are a nice combo.

I am 5'5.5" and I ordered the petite with a dual core insulated pad. The petite is supposed to be appropriate for heights up to 5'8". When it arrived, I jumped and and found that my feet were straining against the bottom of the bag. I was a bit worried when I blew up the pad and it wasn't more than 5'4", so I'm hanging off of both ends of that, too. Love the bag. High quality, great materials and design. Just too short. I'm reordering the regular size bag. But beware if you aren't a "true" petite.

I have been using this bag for over a year now mostly in snow and rain - freezing temps. Now, it probably has not dropped below 15-20 in my wanderings, including snow packing, but I know that I am a cold sleeper and I bought a zero bag for these temperatures. The "rating" on sleeping bags really refers to what you could *tolerate* not what you are comfortable with. That said, this is perfect for me and I also have the 15 degree bag for warmer weather.

I love the BA system; I am short "curvy" girl but I also am a side sleeper, including fetal position. I love the fact that I can roam in my bag. It also warms up real quick after I move around. If its not cold enough, I end up sweating.

Lastly, I use my bag with an insulated pad as well as a foam pad underneath the bag. When snow camping, that's all that is between me and the snow and it is nice to have when it's extremely wet.

Following up on my previous review, I returned the petite bag for the regular size bag. It is perfect for my height. The interior is roomy. This is the first "mummy bag" (if you can really call it that) that I have been able to move around in a bit while I sleep. I have broad shoulders which usually forces me to purchase men's bags, but this bag has plenty of shoulder room. I find I can easily zip up the bag from the inside with one arm across my chest. I can bring my knees up to my waist when sleeping without a problem. The pad keeps the bag from twisting. You must use a pad with this bag because it lacks any insulation on the bottom. The pad brings the insulation, so be sure to note the R rating of your pad. The pad and bag are a great team. Once blown up, the pad slips right into the bag like an oversized pillow into a pillowcase. This bag doesn't skimp on the details. It has a draft tube, a chin tube, ties on the bottom for a bag liner. The firmness in the pad can be adjusted from releasing air from the pad--which you can do from inside the bag in case you get in and find it is too firm. Have used it once on a 30 degree night in the midwest, but it did the job. Plenty warm and really comfortable. I coupled this with a Big Agnes air pillow and I don't know that I'm as sold on that product. I may play around with a combination of travel pillows, but still, a great night's sleep. As an entry level backpacker, I greatly appreciate it's light weight. The color are funky in a fun way. Highly recommended.

I took this sleeping bag with me on a two week trek in Nepal and was very satisfied. Temps at night were in the 30s and 40s, not as cold as I expected but I felt the bag could easily have kept me cozy and warm at lower temps. This is my first non-mummy bag and I loved having the extra room. I am 5'3" and had tried out the petite Ethel bag, but it was just barely long enough for me. I returned it and got the regular bag so I could put clothes at my feet. I also used a liner so I appreciated the loops inside to tie the liner down in place.

One thing that I did not like was the velcro strap at the face. On nights where I wanted to keep the bag open a little, that velcro strip would scratch my face. For future models - I also recommend putting fleece in the foot box especially on the 0 deg bag, and a pocket would be nice.

Overall, I'm very happy with my Big Ethel!

I have used this bag for 50+ nights in the summer, and also used it on and off in other 3 seasons with a sleeping pad. This bag is fine for summer camping, when temps are above 40 degrees at night. HOWEVER-do NOT purchase this bag if you are planning on sleeping in colder weather. Though rated as a 0 degree bag, the lack of insulation on the bottom (that's right, no down on the bottom, just a pocket for the sleeping pad), and crappy construction does not make this bag appropriate for mountaineering or serious alpine backpacking. If you are summer car camping in warmer climes, go for it. I am a 5'4'' woman, 120 lbs, and a cold sleeper. If you are a warm sleeper, the bag MIGHT work for you at colder temps.

I purchased my Big Agnes bag for my climb up Kilimanjaro last February. I am 5'4" and the petite was just right. I don't like being too hot when I sleep - my Big Agnes was warm and I loved being able to curl up on my side to sleep.
Highly recommended! I'm looking forward to taking Big Agnes to Nepal next year!

This bag left my teeth chattering on 30 degree nights, even with a Big Agnes Diversion Core insulated 15 degree pad. It's so comfortable room-wise that I'm going to experiment with a 0 degree pad and different clothing, but I'm not very hopeful. Very disappointed in this bag.

I backpacked the Tetons with my 2 sisters and she had this bag. She raved so much about her Big Agnes that it was almost like we had a fourth person on the trip, named Agnes. When she gets the sleeping pad inflated and the bag set up in the tent, her bed looks so comfortable and plush, making my little mummy bag look completely pathetic and was dwarfed by Agnes. the bag was really roomy for her too and she could sleep in the fetal position easily while I was limited to one position in my bag.