WM Caribou – What’s the practical temperature range?

I've had mine down to 26F and 28F-30F a few times too. At the unexpected 26F (dang weather forecast), I just pulled my jacket over my chest and was fine. Depending on temps, I may sleep with socks on and/or a shirt, using a silk sb liner. However, in the Fall, when it has rained and humidity is high, temps low 30F, that seems to affect the comfort zone, more than temps alone. Have not been that uncomfortable, just went back to sleep as best I could as I don't sleep well anyway. Never used it in quilt mode, maybe should have, but I just lay on my bag or hang a leg out, using a tent usually.
Duane

Stuart,
I also own an overfilled Alpinelite and a Caribou. I was on the verge of being cold at about 32F with only silkweight polyester longjohns but have been warm at about 30F in actual silk longjohns. I suspect humidity played a role. I use the Caribou as my summer bag and deal with the temperature by unzipping, but not using it as a quilt. I think it is an ideal set of bags for someone who needs the width.

Cliff

When I had a Caribou, I felt it's comfort limit was about 35F. When I had it paired with an uninsulated BA air pad I'd get cold when ambient hit the upper 30's, and with a POE Max Thermo insulated air pad I could eke out a decent nights sleep down to the lower 30's. Worn clothing helped too, as noted above.

I've had mine about 11 or 12 years now. Sometimes I'm cooler when temps are still in the 30's, so either did not stay hydrated enough during the day, or had a poor evening meal. I've been cold in my WM Apache, 15F bag when only around freezing, I only had a Subway sandwich a few hours before finding a spot to sleep in the back of my truck in Yosemite, the night before a snowshoe trip. So I believe what you ate affects your ability to stay warm. I've used my Apache into the single digits F before in the Fall, had to pull my coat over my chest, but it is fine at its rating.
Duane

Thanks folks, sounds like it is rated appropriately at 35F. I'd most likely be using it when overnight lows are in the 40s and perhaps dipping into the high 30s. I tried a 30F quilt last year and was uncomfortable below 40F, mostly due to drafts.

The only thing that gives me pause is the sewn through construction. Sure, it keeps the down in place, but doesn't it result in a pattern of cold spots? Or is that only a concern for bags rated below freezing?

this is a 40+ bag. Used it this weekend when we were expecting 45F, actual was in the high 20s. I was cold enough not to sleep even with thick socks, hiking pants and an R3. After burying myself in the bag and still not being able to warm up I felt for drafts, a significant amount of cold air was entering along the sewn through area, so much that there was no way to warm the bag. It is also the only WM bag I've used that had a jammed zipper.

It is a warm weather bag and fairly unforgiving below its intended use range. If only WM made a Summerlite in microfiber…..

Yeah, below 40F I remember being able to feel cold spots in my Caribou bag. Especially if there was a breeze (my tent is a TT Contrail). Above 40F the Caribou was quite pleasant, but 35F was about as low as I wanted to go with it. I now use a SD Nitro 30 sleeping bag, which to me is quite a bit warmer.

I would agree with the rating at 35. I've had mine 7 seasons now and has been go-to summer bag. I really only pushed it's range the first year I had it. There were 2 nights in Glacier where the temps dropped just below freezing and I was definitely chilled and a bit restless with Cap 1 top and bottoms. I think the range falls off quicker than standard baffles due to the excess of sewn-through stitching. I was using a TAR Prolite at that time but consider myself in the warmer range of sleepers. Using a higher R-Value pad would help a little also possibly using a bivy or tossing a wind shell over your toso may reduce some of the hea loss.

I often finding myself using it unzipped as a quilt in the dead of summer and may finally make the switch to a full on standard quilt. It was one of my first lightweight purchases but find it's use less appealing to other options–just haven't retired it because it is still in good condition.

Thanks for the additional feedback. It sounds as though the Caribou may have too short a season for high altitude use to be viable, but closer to sea level it would be a good solid 2-3 season bag. Perhaps it's time to revisit the Megalite, but ouch! that puppy has increased in price since I last looked…

"It is a warm weather bag and fairly unforgiving below its intended use range. If only WM made a Summerlite in microfiber….."

Hi Rick. Why do you prefer the microfiber over the material WM uses in the UL series? I've always been curious to learn about the practical differences.

I have a caribou and an Apache – I too have found that the caribou has a pretty short season around here (north cascades.) For me, it's good into the mid 40's, but I tend to be a bit of a cold sleeper, and don't like wearing anything beyond a base layer while sleeping.

It's great for desert trips! Hope that helps.

I consider mf smart weight. I often use small single wall tents and am a restless sleeper. In contact with walls too often. Also my current sleep system involves a cut down neo inside of bag. Eliminates a bivy for cowboy camping…in theory.

The first night I broke my Caribou in, it rained lightly, so had water dripping off the overhead tree most of the night. I was clammy that night, water puddled up on it in the AM, but other wise dry, weighted the same when I got home. However, a year ago, water over ran my shelter and the foot end was laying in water all night. It soaked thru. It has been washed a few times, so not a good candidate for wet conditions after years of use or at least continuous contact with water. Never treated with repellant.
Duane

When I purchased a mid-range sleeping bag a while back, I looked at the Megalite and the Caribou. The sewn-thru constuction did not bother me, but the Caribou did not have a draft tube so I got the Megalite and have been very happy with it right down to 30F.

Dunno if the current Caribou has a draft tube.