Big Agnes King Solomon +15 Sleeping Bag - Double

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

FINALLY, REI is carrying this sleeping bag. We researched and bought ours last year from a different outfitter when it wasn't available through REI. We opted for a two person bag because it is always warmer with the body heat factor in cold conditions. That said, this bag is the lightest weight two person bag on the market, and was featured in Backpacker magazine for that purpose. For the most part, the zipper does not easily snag, but will, like all bags, catch fabric if not careful. The bag has no insulation on the backside, as it is designed with two pockets to slip in two 20" wide sleeping pads. (We use two Exped downmat 7s). The pockets also keeps the bag from sliding off of the pads, unlike those designed without the pockets. Despite tent condensation, this bag will keep a couple warm and dry. It was comfortable and warm down to 30 degrees in Yosemite valley in November.

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

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 Wide:

After looking at the other options for a two person bag with a decent comfort rating (15-30F) and considering weight and interior space... this was the best one, though pricey. Totally worth it!The hood adjust with two separate toggles; one for the top of the hood and one for the bottom. The footbox is slightly smaller than the shoulders, thus reducing the likelihood of chilly toes. The footbox is extra lofty.The mats slide in on the underside and close with a flap that secures with velcro. The zipper is reinforced to make it snag resistant. So the zipper will snag on a more durable fabric than ripstop. No holes with fluff flying out!The bag itself is lofty! It has especially great loft around the head. It's roomier than I expected. It's about the size of a full size bed.The bottom is slightly bigger than two sleep mats. The top has a lot of extra room making it easy to roll around and get comfy. Think "D" shaped.It has two extra handy features, built in pillow pockets and a kind of u-shaped flap at the neck to block out cold spots for each sleeper. It comes with a cotton storage stack and a smaller ripstop stuff sack. It packs down to about the size of two loaves of bread with some minor compression. [...]All in all-Great bag! Super comfy and nice and light for a two person bag. More comfortable than zipping two bags together! Totally impressed! My only complaint is that it's slightly smaller than the dream island model (though that bag weighs twice as much!). This is one of those pricey items for which I have no regrets!

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

What a terrific idea! A double sleeping bag that relies on insulated pads to provide ground insulation saves weight and bulk (and cost) while still enabling a very warm design. The "King Solomon" actually packs up very tightly and, at only 5lb 3oz, is significantly lighter than any other double bag we've seen. We chose Thermarest Luxury Camp pads for their R7 insulation value and 2.5" loft, but there is a wide range of 20" x 72" pads that will fit nicely in the sleeves of the "King Solomon", including those offered by Big Agnes. We will use ours backpacking, boat camping and four-season car camping in California.

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

We use this bag with the insulated air core pads also made by Big Agnes and are nothing but impressed. Temps cold enough to leave frost on the tent vestibule and we were still very warm. After getting up in the middle of the night to go pee, I came back and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I warmed up. The pillow holders and adjustable hood are definite pluses (although we would recommend using a larger pillow as our small pillows seemed to swim around). Great loft and the zippers don't snag! Stores easily. This is a great bag and worth every penny!!!

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

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 Wide:

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 Wide:

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.

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

First, a warning. This is half a bag. You get a down filled upper side and a bare nylon sleeved underside. You must buy two 72x20" sleeping pad to complete the gear.

The two sleeping pads slip into two separate sleeved pockets (his and her) that complete the underside of sleeping bag. The sleeves are great. If you move around a lot, good news, you won't slip off the pads.

There is a one or two inch gap between the two his and her pads. I was worried about this before buying but hardly noticed the gap during a four day test trip to Sequoia. There's plenty of room to maneuver.

The one-sided outter zippers are an extreme pain in the butt to close all the way. The hoods worked fine.

I'm not completely sold on the BA sleeved bag systems. I think a little bit of down on the underside would have made a more comfortable bag. Shop for sleeping pads carefully! I think the "packs small" claims are a little disingenuous without stating that the sleeping bag is useless without carrying two insulated sleeping pads.

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

This bag is awesome - it feels much roomier than you'd think from looking at the dimensions, and the full-length side zips are great for when it's anywhere above freezing. Although I've only had it in temps down to 40, I'm confident this bag could be used when it's colder than the 15 degree rating. Regular old 20" pads fit perfectly in the sleeves without leaving an annoying gap in between. My wife and I even used this for a week when staying with a friend since it was more comfortable than the air mattress!