Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

We used this bag the weekend after Christmas 2012 in the Ouachita National Forest. It was reportedly 16 degrees F overnight in Langley, AR. We hiked 9 miles and I really wished the bag were smaller and lighter, but it is what it is and is probably better suited for car camping (BA now has a superlight bag that would be better for backpacking). We utilized the bag with BA's Dual Core insulated pads. Before our trip we tested the bag on a 30F degree night in Dallas with the Insulated Air Core pads and found that they did not provide enough insulation, so I would HIGHLY recommend utilizing the Dual Core pads with this bag at temperatures below 30F. The drawback is that at 5lbs for the bag and just under 2lbs. each for the pads you've got 9 lbs. of just bedding on your back. Again, back to my conclusion, this is phenominally comfortable and warm sleep system probably best suited for car camping.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

My girlfriend and I have used this bag down to about 40 degrees. Its been very comfortable. We both really like it. It packs small when used with an event compression sack. It has been worth the extra money.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

My girlfriend was bugging me for months to get a double-sleeping bag. After a lot of research, we decided on the King Solomon.

I am VERY pleased with this product. Quality of construction is excellent and it actually packs up fairly small (for a double sleeping bag that is). We love the sleeping pad and pillow sleeves (all sleeping bags should have these).

Even though it says that the bag is for those up to 6'2, I'm 6'3 and I fit just fine. I'm also a wide guy (230lbs) and there is plenty of room for both of us in this thing.

Our 20by72 sleeping pads fit nicely into the sleeves, but they would NOT fit anything bigger than this.

I do NOT think that this sleeping bag should be used under 25 or 30 degrees. There is no way it will be comfortable at 15 degrees.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

We use this as our primary 3 season bag. Thoughtfully engineered and by far the best design on the market. If you do your research before purchase this bag it will meet your expectations 100%. In cold weather, 25-40 degrees, I did sleep with only a beanie and wool socks and was too warm. Wife slept in poly pros and slept like a log every time. We have enjoyed this bag on numerous occasions and it really does work perfect. I can compress it down to about a soccer ball size. I would not trade this for anything other double bag on the market.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

I bought the bag with the Insulated Air Core pads based solely on reviews. The bag is great! The pads, not so much. I initially thought the combo was fine but my honey was uncomfortable and also complained about noise. The pads were the source of most of the noise, once we switched to REI Trekker 1.75 pads. MUCH quieter and did not lose any warmth. The bag is great for us. I use a Sea to Summit eVent dry sack to compress the bag down to about the size of a basketball.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

I was finally warm for the first time ever while camping! We've only used this once, but slept through a freezing downpour. I had no idea how cold it was outside until I got out of this sleeping bag. I am a small female who tends to get cold easily and my husband is always hot, and he surprisingly was not too hot in this bag. I'm so happy being cold does not have to be a part of camping anymore. The bag is obviously bigger than a regular one person bag, but if you were taking it backpacking you are only taking one bag for 2 people, which is actually lighter than lugging 2 separate bags. We did have to buy one more sleeping pad in order to have matching sleeping pads, but we needed one anyway. 1 bag, 2 people...less is more! I love it! ***and I am finally warm!*** If your wife or girlfriend is always cold, get this bag! (Oh and we got the non-down one first as a gift, but exchanged it and paid the extra for the down...VERY WORTH the extra money.) I figure we will have it for a very very long time, and just after one camping trip I am so glad we spent the extra money and got the down bag...down lays so nice over your body and the temp control is unbeatable. :)

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

My wife and I recently used our Big Agnes King Solomon for what was to be a four-day backpacking trip up the West Fork of the Dosewalleps R. in Olympic NP. However, after this experience, I now have to say that my earlier enthusiasm for this bag may have been a bit premature and overly optimistic.

In a nutshell: The King Solomon is rated to 15 degrees F, but at 35 degrees F outside temp (confirmed), the bag simply didn't hold warmth. My wife and I were inside a tent with adequate ground pads and the air was still. But, even bundled up in wool leggings, socks and three tops, we both felt cold penetrating the top baffles of the bag to the point of shiver.

So, realizing that the bag wouldn't be adequate at 25-degree temps we anticipated near Anderson Pass, we decided to terminate the trip early - a major disappointment.

For the high price of this bag it seems to me that BA could use 750-or-higher rated goose down, and more of it, and perhaps thereby meet the +15 warmth claims while keeping the weight low. But they chose not to.

The King Solomon is wonderfully roomy and it does have some great design features. And as long as adequate (R5 or better) ground pads are used, it is really comfortable down to about 40 degrees F. But at 15 degrees you'd simply freeze.

I feel the manufacture is exaggerating low-end temperature ratings for this bag and, on this basis alone, I now have to rate the King Solomon unacceptable.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

Oh Big Agnes, how I love thee!

My wife and I had been eying this bag for quite a while before it was given to us as a wedding gift. After taking it out I have to say it was the best night of sleep I have had with my wife in the back country yet! We had always zipped our mummy bags together in the past but whenever you moved in the middle of the night you would always get tangled up in them. Not in the KS! You can toss and turn and it feels just like your bed at home with a down comforter over you. We also notice that our Big Agnes pads didnt make as much noise in the KS when you moved around on them. Here is the key points of this sleeping bag:

Pros:
-Roomy, I am 6'4 and while my long pad sticks out of the top of the sleeping bag I still have enough room because I can lay diagnoley.
-Packs simple, One takes the tent, one takes the sleeping bag.
-Big Agnes pad in bag design, creates for no more sliding off the pad nights
-Cozy, if you like to cozy up next to your partner to stay warm in the outside this is the perfect bag for you.
-Light weight, the bag weighs around 5 lbs which if we were both bringing in a sleeping bag together they would be about the same.
Price- If you think about it, you are getting TWO down bags for the price, a steal of a deal if you think of it that way.

Things you should know:
- Cold spots, there is a lot of room on the inside of the bag so cold spots form easily.
-Big opening, Because the opening at the top is designed for 2 people it is significantly bigger and while it does synch down there is still a lot of room for warmth to escape. Dress accordingly and this should not be an issue.
-Pack size, this bag is 2 bags in one and it packs that way. Even in a compression sack it still only gets to be about as small as the small bear canisters and takes up every inch of the bottom of a bag. Only becomes an issue with overnight packs.
-Storage sack. BA did not make an extra large storage sack for this while it is not being used so it barely fits into their normal single bad storage sacks.
-Really cold nights, this bag is probably not the most ideal bag if you are going to be getting into weather below freezing because of the lack of the ability to capture all your body heat.

All in all I LOVE this bag and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys backpack or camping with their significant other.

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

Used this bag for 5 weeks straight on our camping, road trip honeymoon. It held up well. We love the zippers on each side for individual temperature control. We used it in hot, humid weather in July as well as in below freezing temperatures and were comfortable in all conditions. We have taken it car camping, multi-day backpacking, and alpine mountaineering. It is an amazing bag! The hood is so adjustable to keep out the unwanted air. I can't think of anything I'd change about this bag!!

Comments about Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double:

My wife and I use this bag for backpacking. I was amazed at how small this bag packed, and we found it extremely warm and comfortable. The sleeping pad pockets on the back are superb. We used down insulated air mattresses and never missed not having insulation in the bottom part of the bag. The pads don't slip or spread and it isn't even very noticeable that you are on two pads instead of one!

This bag is extremely expensive, especially when you have to add expensive pads to complete it; but if you are serious about getting good sleep in the backcountry I don't think you will be dissapointed with the purchase.