Big Agnes Lost Ranger Sleeping Bag: 15-Degree Down - 2008 BCS

I've been camping and backpacking dozens of nights in this bag, and before I owned it, I'd been out hundreds of nights in other bags. This is my favorite by far. Less than 3 pounds and warm enough for 3 season use, but you have the roominess of a large rectangular bag. I can sleep in almost any position that I do at home in my bed (example: on side with knees up towards me). I am 6'0" and I have the long version. The regular version was just a bit too restrictive girth wise for me, but the long is perfect. Very durable--no issues at all with the zipper or fabric or anything like that. I also use the Big Agnes inflatable air pad, but I've also used this bag with a 20" wide thermarest in the pad sleeve. My wife has the Encampment (synthetic version of this one)--she loves that one too.

I've been searching for (and dreaming about) a bag with just a bit more room - something that could match up with my traditional car-camping bag that is rectangular and nice and wide. This is by far the closest/best match so far. It's weight and packability is similar to other down bags with the same temperature ratings, so it's great for backpacking. And, I get to finally stretch out and sleep on my side (I turn from one side to the other multiple times a night - it works perfect in this system)!

The icing on the cake is the quality build and the ability to support a Colorado-based company!

Roomy bag but not really that lite nor small packing for a down bag but having the integrated pad sleeve and using a big ag pad that packs with it - great system for the money & at this time, the bag, pack size, and weight really shine.

Does what it says and does it well - if you plan to use this in colder conditions, buy the dual core pad vs the single core insulated big ag pad - a few bucks and ounces more, but so worth the weight.

I have been very happy with the performance of this bag. It is a very roomy bag and gives me the option of sleeping on my side. I am a fan of down bags and this one packs down small and comes with both a storage sack and a stuff sack. As with all Big Agnes bags, it does not have any insulation on the bottom and relies on your sleeping pad for that. You will want the 20 inch rectangular pad for this bag.

If you like a bag that gives you room to move this is it. Just understand that that extra space will make it a bit colder than it's 15 degree rating. I'd actually call this a 30 degree bag, but when I put it inside my other Big Agnes (cross mtn. synthetic) I have a 2 bag combo that can handle any temp. In reality I only do this when car camping since I'm not interested in packing 2 bags.

I have had this bag for about 2 years and my other Big Agnes bag for about half as long. I love this bottomless bag design, and the sleeve keeps the pad from wandering away in the wee hours of the night. However if you are one who likes to curl up keep in mind the attatched pad does kind of keep you restricted to laying straight.

I used a regular length Insulmat pad when I first got the bag (which is in my opinion identical to the BA pads, and later got a long BA pad to better fit the long bags (I'm 6')

Another nice little feature is the pillow pocket in the top that you can stuff with (hopefully clean..er) clothes. If you're one of those gram counters you can always cut it out.

I have nothing bit good things to say about the construction and quality of every BA Item I have (Have the HUGE Emerald Mtn. 3 tent too)

I've had this bag since 06. Its great. You do have to be careful about which type of pad you use, depending on the temps. But It pack super small and is so light for a 15 degree bag. I also love the sleep pad sleeve. Since I've had this bag, I've never slipped off this bag.

This is an excellent bag that you can sleep on your side, stomach, back or even upside-down in. It's very roomy and plenty warm. The DWR finish works great, I've woken up with dew, frost and ice all over the feet of this bag but nothing penetrated though to the down.

I've used this bag in -5F while wearing a down coat and it worked great. Perfectly comfortable in 15F with just long underwear.

The reason some people may be cold with this bag is that you have to consider the correct diet if you're camping in such cold weather. Have a hot meal before bed and you'll be shocked at how much warmer you are.

I've had mine for 6 years and its the best "sleeping system ever". I'm a active sleeper, yep always ending up off my pad, not anymore!!! Took it to Philmont twice and lots of BSA campouts. When it gets real cold, I line it with a fleese sleeping bag liner and I've been good down to 5 degres F.

This is the best bag I have ever had. There is a ton of room and I stayed warm even though it got a little wet. I love how the bad slips in the back of the bag and how there is a special pocket for your pillow.

I've used this bag in warmer and colder conditions. Did great in the warmer, but I was pretty chilly in southern Utah when I got down to the 20s at night -- woke up every hour to bundle myself with more clothes. Got a warmer bag for the colder conditions, but would use this one for my warmer trips in spring and fall. Also -- plenty roomy if you want to keep things (shoes, clothes, etc.) in the bag to stay toasty with you. The extra room in the bag may be what leads to less warmth though. Over all good warmer-weather bag.

Never going back to anything other than Big Agnes bags. This bag is comfy, packs ridiculously small if you use an inflatable pad (and you should!), and is really well put together. I've used it open in hotter conditions, closed and battened down in cold conditions, and most things in between. Your choice of pad is VERY important in the warmth of the bag so choose smart (I favor the Exped Synmats). My only serious complaint with the bag is that the bastard zipper loves to get jammed on the draft flap when you're zipping up from inside.

The first time I used this bag I had borrowed it from a friend and slept like a baby (something I never do while camping). I immediately went out and bought one for myself along with the Air Core insulated pad. I use this as my spring, summer and fall sleeping bag and it keeps me very warm. My only complaint is that it is a little heavy.

Ive taken this bag on a few trips now, in the Cascades of WA state, and i gotta say its the best bag ive ever owned. I did not buy the B.A. brand pad, i used my Thermarest Prolite 3, it works pretty good, however, we had one trip where the air was very moist overnight, and because my pad doesnt 100% fill out the air pad pocket, it started to draw in condensation. It was very light, but still. Im assuming the pad 'made' for this brand would be better. Overall very warm bag, i used it in around 37deg weather just fine so far, it stuffs into a small stuffsack easily. Id highly recommend this bag to anyone!

There are a couple of problems that are not usually mentioned when the Big Agnes sleep system is being extolled.

But let me start with the good stuff: This bag is is truly comfortable due to its size. Removing the insulation from the bottom allows BA to make a bag that is both larger and lighter.

The biggest problem with the BA sleep system---inserting the pad in the pocket on the bottom of the bag---is that it is not very compatible with the way most people sleep. I bet most (not all) people sleep curled up on their side. And this is also the warmest way to sleep, to conserve body heat.

If you insert the pad inside the bag, you can't sleep comfortably or warmly on your side. The bag will pull tightly over your shoulder, which I find just as restricting as a mummy bag. Worse, from the point of view of wamth, you can't curl up and pull the bag close to your body because it is being held rather rigidly by the pad. If you imagine tucking your bed covers in tightly on 3 sides of the mattress you can picture the problem. Your shoulders make sort of a tent, surrounded by air pockets. You wouldn't do that in the winter, would you? No, you would pull the blankets close to you.

I solve all that by not putting the pad (I have the insulated Air Core) inside the sleeping bag pocket. I just put the bag on top of the pad. That gives me total free of movement and I can pull the bag in close to my body. However, this creates its own problems. BA pads are incredibly slippery. Not only does the bag slip off the pad, the pad slides all around the tent. If there is a slight pitch to the terrain, I wake up in a lower corner of the tent, no idea where the pad has gone to.

Another real problem: If you don't use the pad to hold the bag in place, you have to be careful that the uninsulated part of the bag remains under you. If you turn over in the middle of the night the uninsulated part can end up at your back rather than under you and you will lose A LOT of warmth. The selling point that "down that's compressed under you doesn't insulate" is true, but at least a bag that's insulated on all sides will travel with you during the night and keep you warm. So if you don't attach the pad, turn over inside the bag, don't turn with the bag.

Note that if you use the hood, you will NOT be able to turn inside the bag. This system is designed for you to lie flat on your back and not move around. Yuck.

So I really feel that this whole "sleep system" idea is off the mark. I bought the Lost Ranger because it's big and light for its warmth. I don't regret my purchase and I'm giving it 3 stars for those qualities. (I would give 4 stars to a large rectangular bag that is insulated all around and light, especially if it didn't have a hood. I find hoods inconvenient and uncomfortable---a hat is more comfortable.)

Regarding the 15-degree rating, I have used the Lost Ranger at around 25 degrees wearing just shorts and a t-shirt, sleeping in a mesh tent without the fly. I was only slightly chilly. At 25 degrees with long johns and the tent fly I was too hot. So I suspect that the 15-degree rating is about right if you're wearing one layer of thermal clothing.

Bought this at REI, the one I unpacked at home had a thin spot (loft a good deal less than an inch) across the chest. I did not notice that store demo had this, so the Big Agnes' quality control is maybe not so great. The lining is very slippery, and feels cold until it warms to your touch---not long, really. I prefer a soft or brushed lining that feels more like cotton or flannel. I used it with an EXPED downmat 9, a 20x70 inch pad, which is a warm but bouncy pad, and somewhat hard when inflated enough to keep your buns off the ground. I'm a side sleeper, if you sleep in your back it may not be so bouncy. I have slept well for years on a Therm-a-rest Expedition foam pad, sleeping on an air mattress is much different experience. I am not a stranger to an air mattress, our bed at home is a Select Comfort "Sleep Number" air-bed, which is incredibly comfortable----and non-bouncy. There must be a reason that Big Agnes is the only maker that provides no insulation fill under the camper, using a pad to provide underneath warmth. I think that reason is that you are limited to a 20-inch wide pad, and that's not really much. Upside is that you don't slide off the pad, downside is that it's pretty narrow underneath, and in the roomy Lost Ranger, there's some cold air on the underside edges.
Temp got down to 41 in my Sierra designs Stretch Dome 3, and I was somewhat cool with just a T-short and shorts----not cold, mind you, but cool on the topside,probably due to the thin spot. The roominess of the bag allowed quite a bit of airflow around my backside, that;s the trade-off for not feeling like a sardine. Feet were OK, not really overwarm but on the cool side.
The toggle and cords for the hood-snugger are too close to one's face, when I had the hood snugged down the squeeze-toggle or the cords had a tendency to get in my face--quite annoying. The hood is very warm. I used a medium size synfill pillow, it was OK for height, but would not be tall enough for reading. The pillow flap is a nice touch, keeps the pillow in the bag, and warm.
The zipper is a real snagger, if you're inside the bag and zipping up or down. There is some material next to the zipper that's a little heavier than the liner material, but not heavy enough to prevent snagging. This was a hassle. You must run your non-zipping hand's finger ahead of the zipper to keep the material separate. On the plus side, the zipper-pull can zip from outside or inside.
I'd call this a 30 or 35degree bag---no way is it a 15 degree bag---at least for this 5'10, 175# camper.
Not recommended.

This bag is rated at 15 degrees...I was recently on a 7 day backpack trip and the temps went down to 25 degrees...I wore everything I had and barely made it...get the 0 degree bag.

This bag is very comfortable and has plenty of room for you to lie comfortably. The pocket for the sleeping pad is nice for when you can't find flat land, but has its downsides. No padding on the bottom of the bag is really annoying if you are using this bag outside the strictly sleeping while camping scenario. Also, since the pad is basically part of the bag, it makes it kinda uncomfortable to sleep in any position but on your back. If you can handle this, then its a great bag.