Got caught in a downpour at Lake Tahoe and my cheap sleeping bag was a total fail

Honestly, I was using this old 40-degree synthetic bag from a big box store to save cash. A sudden storm rolled in last August and the temp dropped into the 30s, I was soaked and shivering by 2 AM. Ngl, I switched to a proper down bag rated for 20 degrees and I won't even look at budget gear for cold trips anymore. Anyone have a good waterproof compression sack they trust for wet climates?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_emma2h ago

That sounds like a rough night, I've been there. My buddy once tried to save weight with a summer quilt on a shoulder season trip and spent the whole night wearing every piece of clothing he brought. It really changes how you pack. A good dry bag is key, but I've also had luck just using a heavy duty trash bag as a liner inside my pack, it's cheap and it works.

mila_brown102h ago

Trash bags can work but they tear easy, @the_emma. A proper pack liner is worth the few extra bucks.