Mark F wrote: > QJS, that seems like it may be an option, but I have reservations about anything strapped to the outside of the pack

Obviously some common sense has to be used. I'm not advocating keeping the only item that will keep you alive on cold nights, in a paper bag, with a bank counter rubber band attaching it to your sac.
Use a strong waterproof stuff sac, with straps you can run the bunjees inside of, so they aren't relying on only friction. Though in reality bunjees grip like an alligator. Anything strong enough to pull the bag off my sac would pull me over first. Straps don't hold as tightly.
Tip for staying on the mat; have it inside the bag.

qjs

No amount of the highest quality insulation will keep you warm when you are laying on the cold ground.

While on active duty I used the issue water proof bag to wrap my sleeping bag in and attach it on the outside of my rucksack. While a bit heavier, they are fairly durable and can resist a good amount of abrasion. In the field I repaired holes with 100 mph tape (green duck tape), and then DX'd them when I got back, though DX is not an option in civilian life.

There are many good straps out there for attaching things to the outside of the backpack. My externally carried sleeping bag never came off, even when exiting an aircraft while in flight from 25,000 feet. If it can stand up to a military free fall it can handle hiking, though there was another harness for the rucksack that went around the bag as well. I did not use bungee cords, but a nylon cinch strap. Bungees are more convenient on the ground, easier to attach and detach and are plenty strong enough for hiking.

thanks hikermor, i'll keep that in mind about the down bags, but they may be out of range for my meager budget, aren't down bags kinda expensive? I'm sure it's worth it in the long run so maybe someday, just not today.

thanks for that link AFLM. When it comes to bag ratings I look more at the upper end of the rating anyway. Learned that lesson with our current mummy bags with the low end of the scale at 0F and ended up with a cold night's sleep at just 15F. That said tho, we've made some improvements to our cold weather sleep system so I'd almost bet we would sleep warm and cozy if we had to do that temp again.

thanks for the tip phaedrus, no sleeping directly on the ground for me if i can help it. Usually, I'm in a hammock or cot, for the campout coming up next weekend I don't think either will be an option, so I'll probably be in a tent with two layers of foam padding under me. Sure would like to get one of the thermarest self inflating pads, maybe someday ...

ah, I understand what you mean now QJS, and thanks to you and montanero for the tips on the waterproof stuff sack. I'll be thoroughly checking out all the options for attaching bigger bulkier equipment to the outside of my pack this weekend, will try to let you all know what I come up ith

Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions

Indeed they are but they are worth it many times over, if you get out a significant amount.

Anyone tried waterproof down? How good is it?

qjs

That's a good question. I perused the REI website and of 94 down bags, 92 are supposedly water-resistant. Then I filtered the sleeping bags for really cold by selecting -50-0 (F) for temperature and then looked at the results. We have 14 bags out of the filter, nine of which are down; of those nine, six are "water-resistant" down (looking at the filter count on in LH column).
*Note: when looking at the bags closely, the Nemo and all three Marmot bags specify down and do not mention "water-resistant", so there's a small discrepancy in the count, but water-resistant down is definitely in the majority (if that means anything).

I would probably go with water-resistant simply because the prospect of a critical item failing because it got wet is unacceptable. Even with great care, stuff happens. That said, the Marmot bags use a waterproof breathable shell, and Nemo uses a coated nylon shell.

... and with all that said, this thread is making me look much more critically in my choice of bags, mine are all synthetic, three season bags.