Gear Deal

I've been researching lower priced down sleeping bags for going on two seasons now, for the two main reasons that people upgrade to down bags: less weight, and smaller compressed size.  My EMS synthetic bag, while warm, just took up far too much room in my 40 liter pack, and there was no way in hell I was ditching my pack.  Long story short, I found a Sierra Designs Solar Down 20* (EN-rated) sleeping bag at a local retailer last night.  It had all of the same pertinent specs of all of the other down bags I had been researching that retailed for between $150 and $200 (550-fill duck down, 21oz. of fill, 2lb. 9oz. weight, 15"x7" compressed), and Sierra Designs is known for being a premier manufacturer of sleeping bags and other outdoor equipment.  The bag had no price tag, and it was apparent it had been sitting on the shelf for quite some time, so I brought it to the register to inquire.  The kind sir at the register scanned the bar code and the clearance price popped up at $69.97.  Sold! I brought it home, bragged to Brooke about my deal, threw it in the dryer on air fluff with a tennis ball to fluff the down, and spent the remainder of the night drunk with elation about my newest gear purchase.  

---