Backpacking sleeping bag recs?

A 40 degree bag will be good for 3-season camping in the South - basically the zipper becomes your regulator. 40 degree bags will be a little lighter.

Go down alternative for weight/price/drying properties - down is the absolute best for weight/warmth, but are usually more expensive and do nothing for you if wet. Down alternative you can get to dry at camp.

For winter camping, particularly if you're going to camp outside the south, you might consider a 20 degree or even a 0 degree, but down comes back into the picture at that point.

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REI 20 degree dow

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What’s max temps have you comfortably used it in?

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In the South, I would certainly stick to synthetic insulation with the amount of rain in the region

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How many people really go backpacking or sleeping in a tent during the rainy/humid months? Most of those months are hot as hell.

Eta....im in a region with more rain overall and using down bags have never been a problem and I do use mine during the rainy months.

More of preference on how much you want to spend or how heavy a bag you're willing to carry for the money.

Western Mountaineering for me. I own a megalite with 2oz of overfill. Most other bag ratings is a rating where it might keep you alive but you will freeze your arse off. With a WM bag you will be comfortable at the rated temps. My Megalite is rated to 30 degrees. With the overfill that might bump down to 20. I'm a cold sleeper and I've slept comfortably down to 10 in my bag while wearing fleece pants and a fleece top and socks with a silk liner. I do reccomend a silk liner for whatever bag you get. Keeps your bag clean and gives you an extra layer for regulating your temperature. I use a light weight micro fleece sleeping bag in the summer.

When are you backpacking and where? Are you a cold or warm sleeper? One sleeping bag is not going to cut it for all situations. If you are only going to have one sleep system for all of your backpacking, then I would get a 20 degree quilt (Enlightened Equipment, Katabatic, or Feathered Friends) and a good pad (thermarest neo air xtherm).

If you just need one for warmer weather, then as others have said get a solid 30 degree bag. I would choose Western Mountaineering Megalite or Feathered Friends Kestrel Nano 30.