What say you OB?

Should I go with something that is rated 40 degrees or so?

I've got a nice Eureka mummy bag that is rated to -10 and it is WAY TOO hot for most Texas nights.

Also, I want a cotton or fleece liner, not polyester.

Looking at Cabela's/Bass Pro and Academy and not really liking what I see.

I had a question about sleeping bags a while back. Here's that thread that had a lot of good responses.
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2999494/replies/53117461

I ended up staying with my military surplus combo. I usually use the green bag (32 deg) and just take the black bag (0 deg I think) out for really cold. My wife went with a Big Agnes 20 degree bag, can't remember the model, and she loves it. We both have Thermolite Reactor liners also. I've used just it in the summer or add it to my regular green bag for a normal winter night. That liner has been one of my best investments. Compact and light but really makes a difference when it is cold.

My boys both have Kelty Tuck 20's that they use year round. They just have basic liners from Alps Mountaineering for winter. They're not as cold natured as me and my wife so they don't use the liners often and they just sleep on their bags in summer or take only the liner.

We camp all over Texas and took these to Philmont last summer as well (I took my green bag and Thermolite liner). We were all happy and not overloaded on the trail.

Now if we can just get the state parks to open back up so we can go camping again!

I don't care as much about temp rating as I do size. I'm 6'3" and found the NF Cats Meow is one of the few that fits taller guys. Works great in winter / early spring camping. Wouldn't use a sleeping bag in the summer...just my old poncho liner

Get a 20 degree from REI and call it good.

I've got one of those and a 0 degree North Face, and use the REI almost exclusively. 0 degree is too hot, and I even quit using it on mountain archery elk hunts.

So in your opinion and everyone else's, what's the temperature rating actually mean?

When and where are you planning camping?

Unless you plan on using it in north Texas in the middle of the winter I would probably err on the side of a lighter weight bag.

REI has a bunch of quality bags and camping goods in general.

Blow up mattress and make a pallet. I've never found a sleeping bag to breath well as only one side of it unzips. Sleeping bags do save a lot of space though.

40 degree bag will work for most nights in Texas - in the summer, just use an old sheet and an open air mesh tent and you will still sweat

20 degree bag. Roll up fleece liner if you go where it is colder. You'll be using the bag as a mattress pad a lot in Texas, with a light blanket or sheet.

https://www.fortbraggsurplus.us/ACU-Digital-5-Piece-Modular-Sleeping-Bag-System-p/5pc-sleep-system.htm

Get a 20 degree bag. Zip it up on cold nights. Use it as a blanket on warmer nights. Always use a pad. Should work for 95% of situations you run into.