I’m in the market for a 0°F goose-down sleeping bag that balances both weight and compactness. Does anyone have a budget-friendly recommendation? I also have some concerns about the fit, as many bags I've tried seem quite narrow. I'm 5'11" and 205 pounds, and when I tested a few at REI recently, I felt almost claustrophobic, something I hadn’t experienced before. Any suggestions for a roomier option would be greatly appreciated!

I plan to do some walking and sleeping on some hard water this winter.

Nomad

As a follow-up, what height do you feel is best to go from a regular to a long bag?

Nomad

Western Mountaineering Kodiak

https://www.westernmountaineering.com/product-category/sleeping-bags/?_season=winter

Look on Steep and Cheap. Not Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends, but certainly budget conscious and decent. SAC down bags

I get very claustrophobic in the average sleeping bag so a couple years ago I switched to sleeping quilts. My go-to brand is Enlightened Equipment. Their quilts come in different configurations so take their quilt quiz to figure out what might work best for you. I use the Revelation model. They are the first sleeping system I've used where the temp rating actually holds true. Made in MN.

Enlightened Equipment quilts

Hi, if you can wait until after the holidays, Marmot will almost always be having a great sale. I’m 6-2 220 use the “long” and have plenty of room in their zero degree bag and 40 degree bag Never Summer /Always Winter models. The sale varies year to year and it feels like a well kept secret.

I dont have any recommendations because I'm currently searching for a cold weather bag as well. But, unless you plan on always stuffing clothes down in the bottom of your bag, most seasoned climbers and mountaineering experts will say you should not get the longer bag, it's just more space that you have to heat. If you are 5'11", you should get the regular bag. Also, most cold weather bags are going to be a mummy style bag by default, as it's the most efficient shape to reduce dead space. There are a few rectangle bags in that temp range out there but not many.

A quilt.

I like this idea, although I'm planning on doing a winter Ultra and need a bag that is 0-degree rated for that.

I actually have a Zen Bivy which I love for standard camping. I use a bag for the Minnesota Border Challenge because its quicker, but for things like a standard week or weekend I use my Zen Bivy, which is a matched mat and quilt.

Nomad

+1
I own one and I am 5'11" / 235lbs. The bag I bought was the long and I have tons of room

for the Western Mountaineering Kodiak

Nomadmusky: "A quilt.

I like this idea, although I'm planning on doing a winter Ultra and need a bag that is 0-degree rated for that.


I actually have a Zen Bivy which I love for standard camping. I use a bag for the Minnesota Border Challenge because its quicker, but for things like a standard week or weekend I use my Zen Bivy, which is a matched mat and quilt.


Nomad"

I don't have a recommendation for down bag different than what others have said. Personally I moved to using two quilts (10 degree and 30 degree) for winter camping and have used that in -30 degrees inside my hammock.

What ultra are you doing? I am planning on doing the St. Croix 40. It would be my first winter ultra. I have a 0 degree synthetic that I used when I first started winter camping that I think I am going to use for that. Bulky and heavy but didn't think it was worth it to buy a 0 degree down bag that I don't really need. I am just kind of scratching the surface on planning for this thing, so was excited to see your post.

How about a used BA Pomer Hoyt 0 degree 850 down fill.
I used it with an Exped 9 down mat and the combination kept me warm into -teens temperatures.
At 73 years my winter camping is over.

butthead

PS; I interested email me. bh

A few years back I had two trips coming up with a polar vortex approaching and decided to invest in a -40° bag. I went to Midwest Mountaineering and was inclined to go with the Western Mountaineering bag, but after crawling inside both bags on 3 separate days I was convinced the Marmot Cwm provided more space around my shoulders and arms. I was surprised because the stated shoulder widths showed the WM bag as slightly wider, but after many times in each bag I was convinced the Marmot was wider on top.

I went with the Marmot and have been very happy. My point is how the actual shape of the bag fits your body matters, and stated dimensions may be either inconsistently measured or inaccurate. I recommend you crawl in any bags you are considering before buying if possible.

If you can try them on for size before buying, do so.
We got lightweight down bags for a backpacking trip. We used them on an ice out BW trip year before last. They are so doggone tight -- claustrophobia for sure, and just not being able to roll over without the bag twisting up, etc. I know it's a trade off in terms of weight, but if I was buying all over again, I'd get bags that were more spacious, if possible. Good luck!