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mastertangler
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08/10/2018 10:56AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Several years ago I had myself set up with the Big Agnes sleep system where the bag is "mated" to the sleeping bag. It was revolutionary! No more waking up in a knot, struggling to become unwound while fumbling with a zipper which wouldn't operate.

But I disliked their blow up style mat. Other than pumping water (which I no longer do) my second least favorite camping chore was blowing up an air mattress. So I got a different mat.......unfortunately the new mat failed to fit inside the "sleeve" of the bag. Rats!

So then I got a new sleeping bag since the 30 degree Agnes did not keep me warm. I used it on one trip and although it performed admirably I was back to waking up in a knot. This violated my "no hassle" credo in a rather major way.

What I ended up doing was creating 3 sets of loops underneath the bag sewed into place. Through the loops I purchased tough elastic strap material and sewed Velcro at the ends. The elastic goes through the straps and then under the mat and velcroed in place. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give the set up an 8. It worked very nicely actually.

A few pointers.........do not get regular elastic strapping as it will likely be to flexible. Fabric shops should carry a more heavy duty version. When attaching (sewing) the straps to the bottom of your bag make certain not to place them to close to the edges but give yourself about 6". Otherwise your bag will not be allowed to curl inward and upward around your body.

Anyway, this simple process might help someone who moves around while sleeping like I do. It's nice not having to search for the zipper.
 
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Othello
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08/10/2018 11:14AM  
Sounds like you're mighty close to what some vendors are doing with their topquilts. If I didn't have a fine working BA system bag, I'd follow suit. Nothing worse than waking up off the pad in a twisted bag.

And back to your second paragraph, two words...Exped Schnozzel. In its own way, every bit as [camp-] life changing as the BA bag/pad system.
 
GraniteCliffs
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08/10/2018 08:49PM  
Well, MT, that did not take you long. After your last report re your ill fated trip I thought you might just disappear for a time. Glad to see that you are already up and at it!
 
mastertangler
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08/11/2018 06:19PM  
GraniteCliffs: "Well, MT, that did not take you long. After your last report re your ill fated trip I thought you might just disappear for a time. Glad to see that you are already up and at it!
"


This worked so well I thought I would pass it along. I might run a bit under the radar for a time.
 
08/12/2018 11:58AM  
Good mod. I have seen others do something similar.
So what pad are you using with this?
 
mastertangler
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08/14/2018 06:47AM  
jcavenagh: "Good mod. I have seen others do something similar.
So what pad are you using with this?"


I cant remember the name.........it has the pump integrated into the pad, baffles are sideways instead of lengthwise, orange in color. I like it.

Tried the BA system and didn't like blowing it up.........then I went to the X-ped and the schnozzle which was better but it sprung a leak on day 20 of a 21 day backpacking trip despite my tendency to baby my pads (i do not force air out aggressively). The whole schnozzle thing was OK but I like the integrated pump.

 
08/14/2018 09:44AM  
Got it.
Thanks.
 
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