Slumberjack Big Cot and Wheeler Lake 0 Degree Sleeping Bag

Slumberjack Big Cot and Wheeler Lake 0 degree Sleeping Bag

Editor: Cory McLaughlin

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Just the Facts:

This durable cot is a great value for guests and camping alike. The reinforced steel is guaranteed not to squeak and the setup is simple and quick.

SPECS

Weight Capacity: 500 lbs
Dimensions: 40 x 86 x 20 in
Product Weight: 35 lbs
Fabric: 600D Polyester

DETAILS

NEW larger & sturdier frame – rated up to 500 lbs
Steel frame with easy tension grip end bar
Quick & easy to assemble
Carry bag included for convenient transport & storage

WHEELER LAKE 0 SLEEPING BAG

Ensure you have a warm and comfy night spent in the outdoors with the Wheeler Lake Sleeping Bag. Our functional details, like the pillow platform allow you to use your favorite bedroom pillow making your night all the more cozy and helps keep your pillow in place. The unique zippered hood lets you bundle up on colder nights or lay it flat to spread out and take in the star lite night. Utilizing our Perception DST camo make this bag the envy of camp. Every detail was thought out making this bag perfect for your next wheeling trip, National Park tour, or hunting escapade.

SPECS

Fill Weight: 4 lbs 8 oz
Carry Weight: 5 lbs 9 oz
Fits to: 6 ft 4 in
Dimensions: 84 x 34 in

MATERIALS

Insulation: Slumberloft™ Synthetic Insulation
Shell Fabric: 190T Polyester Taffeta
Liner Fabric: 190T Polyester Taffeta

DETAILS

Innovative 2-in1 hood provides a platform for your favorite pillow from home and converts into a hooded option for colder weather
Large “Toes-Up” footbox provides additional room for your feet & enhanced comfort
Layered, offset, quilt construction prevents cold spots
Durable #8 zipper with anti-snag construction
Draft tube along zipper keeps cold air out and prevents heat loss
Slumberloft-PRO synthetic insulation provides superior warmth and comfort while reducing carry size & weight
Main zipper extends around the footbox for increased ventilation and versatility
Color coded zippers and screen prints indicate temperature ratings
Liner printed with Slumberjack’s proprietary DST camouflage
Stuff sack included

My Story:

I was in the planning phase of my 2018 Idaho hunting trip and one thing was for certain, I needed a new cot and sleeping bag. Last year’s trip was less than peaceful as the old army issued cot that I have been using for years was finally unserviceable and the sleeping bag I used was a bit too stuffy. When sleeping in a wall tent with a stove you should be able to enjoy the finer things in life like a large cot and warm sleeping bag.

At the Summer OR show I had a chance to look at the Slumberjack Big Cot and the Wheeler Lake 0 Degree Sleeping Bag and I knew I had the perfect testing grounds for this system. I was really excited about the extra room on the large cot and the extra room the sleeping bag would provide as well. I made arrangements for a test sample and when the wall tent went up I was ready to make my bed.

The Big Cot is very strait forward as far as assembly goes and I had no issues with that. It took me a matter of about 2 minutes to have it fully assembled and ready for use. The sleeping bag was the same as I simply pulled it out of the stuff sack and laid it out. I even put down an 850 fill down blanket as an under pad as I know cots can let the cold air come under you and create an unpleasant night. The stove in the tent was rolling nicely and after we had the rest of camp set up I was ready to settle in for the night.

When I first laid on the cot I found it to be comfortable. It was firm but forgiving enough that it was comfortable for me. I know that comfort is a personal preference and what I like others may not so I cannot speak to anything other than how I felt and I personally thought the cot was fine.

The sleeping bag was great initially. The interior fabric can be a little cold but that fades quickly after it is zipped up. I did have some issues with the zipper snagging even though it is meant to have a snag free zipper I still managed to get it caught up and had to get my headlamp out to fix it. I made it about 15 minutes in the bag before I was way to hot and I had to open it up. I loved the dual zipper and it’s ability to let me vent. The night was going great until the fire went out.

I awoke about 3 A.M. absolutely freezing my butt off. The night was not extremely cold with the temp only going as low as 30 degrees but that was enough to make me shiver and shake. I was really disappointed as the bag is advertised as a 0 degree bag and it was well above that mark. I am not a cold sleeper and so it was not a common occurrence for me to wake up freezing.

I tried to tough it out but finally had to get up and make a fire in the stove. This took me some time and I was not able to get back to sleep before the alarm went off at 0430. I lost an hour and a half of sleep and that was a major disappointment. Luckily this was the only night that it got that cold and I was able to make some adjustments to remedy the issue.

I spent 5 nights on the cot and with the Wheeler Lake Sleeping Bag. The first night was by far the worst and it really left me a bit unhappy with the rating of the bag. At 30 degrees I just do not feel like a 0 degree bag should ever leave me freezing my butt off. The bag is spacious, comfortable, and looks pretty dang cool but it is not appropriately rated at all. I was in a wall tent with no wind and there is no reason that I should have been that cold.

Overall my experience with the two Slumberjack items I tested was positive. I think that the cot is a real nice upgrade from my previous system and I see myself getting much use out of it in trips to come. I also really like the sleeping bag though I would not use it as my first choice in cold weather. I think this is a good bag for summer and or indoor use. I do not see any way to make this particular bag a 0 degree rated sleeping bag.

Find It Here:

https://slumberjack.com/big-cot/

https://slumberjack.com/wheeler-lake-0-sleeping-bag/

What can be done better?

For the cot I cannot find anything that I would change at this moment. If something was to come to my attention I will updated this review but for now it is a solid product in my eyes. The sleeping bag is also a solid product aside from it being grossly overrated in regards to its temperature rating. I cannot in good faith give this bag anything more than a mediocre review as it did not, nor do I believe will it ever, perform as advertised. It is however comfortable and well thought-out as far as the cut and zipper designs.

I give this review of these Slumberjack products a cumulative 3.75 stars as the cot was a 5 and the sleeping bag a 2.5.