New Western Mountaineering bag

It is considerably better for me because i use it over my hammock. I don't even really need the zipper, 90 percent of the time i would like it to be a simple sewn up tube with drawstring closures on either end. Just as it states in the description on their website, i thread the bag over the outside of my hammock and myself. So in that case, i need the insulation to wrap all the way around, as the stuff on the bottom stays fluffy and useful, making a sleeping pad unnecessary. Thats how i have always done it, but before i just had an old Kelty Lightyear 25 with a zip foot box. Another reason it is better for me is because i despise down shift. For anything warmer, or for all of you lowly ground sleepers (hehe), i would think the EE is better. I'm sure i will learn to love the zipper…It means the bag can be used as a blanket, maybe even for two. I must be getting old because i am starting to value versatility, and making compromises for convenience.

Stephan,
Glad you found exactly what you were looking for…I love when that happens. Your use case was one I never considered when evaluating the new WM bag. Nobody makes a better bag than WM.

So now I am curious. It seems like your use case would have been well covered by several (many?) of the hammock-focused cottage gear manufacturers. Is this not the case, or is there something about the WM bag that "one-ups" the other offerings?

I have never been a fan of continuous baffles. And aside from that, the only thing i found that would suit my needs without a really long wait time is the Feathered Friends Flicker or FF Vireo. The Vireo might actually be perfect because i could put the warm side up, but again, it has continuous baffles which i would prefer to avoid. EE comes really close, but without a zipped or sewn up option, though he did say he had plans for something with a full zip…..and i cant simply cant wait 8 weeks for anything.
I think the hammock insulation and shelter options offered are far too complicated. Underquilt, overquilt, hood, tarp, bug net….so many pieces and so much weight and so much fidgeting. On the other hand, i dont lay diagonally at all, i lay straight from end to end of a custom short skinny hammock. Its really hard to beat it as far as ease of use. No wiggling the sleeping bag over you, its literally easier than putting pants on. This sleeping bag in size long is huge for a one pound bag. Plenty of room to sleep on my side with my knees bent (a slim bag wants to stay straight because the hammock stays straight). Plus it is long enough that i can cinch the bottom around the Amsteel suspension rope instead of around the foot of the hammock, and still have plenty to get well over my shoulders. I may be a somewhat odd case, even for a hanger, but i seem to get cozier as the kit gets smaller and simpler.

That sounds like one dialed in piece of kit! I'm impressed by what you've done and never would have considered anything like that. That said, TOTALLY not my cup of tea :). I'd die of claustrophobia.

Hi Stefan, why do you prefer the sewn through vs. continuos baffles? Seems like it would be less warm.

I like the sewn through grid better because i don't like down shift. I think an overstuffed bag with continuous baffles would be far better for a warmer bag. But for a summer bag it doesnt make much sense to me. I dont wan't the down to move. There is still a chance i will change my mind but for a while i have been dead set on this idea.

OK, so first, 14 oz.

Second, WM quality.

Third, opens up for a blanket for two. That’s seven ounces per person.

Fourth, can function as an overbag to add 10 degrees warmth. So, I take my 15 F bag (31 oz), add the Everlite (14 oz), and I’ve got a 5 F bag that weighs 45 oz/2.8 lbs, which while not the absolute lightest, isn’t bad. Add a hooded puffy, and I’ve got a zero degree bag.

What’s not to like. Serious gear lust here. Not in the current budget, but in the next year or two…

HJ
Adventures In Stoving
Hikin’ Jim’s Blog

This bag looks similar to the S2S Traveller. Obviously, the WM bag will be better quality, but still, same concept.

Of course the Everlite regular has 60" shoulder girth, whereas the Traveler regular measures around 57". The S2S is also 750 duck fill as opposed to 850 goose in the WM. I like the draw closure on the S2S though.

If the Everlite was made with a 62" shoulder girth, I'd be all over it.

I almost got the Traveller, i was a few minutes away and then realized the Everlite was for sale for immediate delivery on Backcountry. Quality materials, a decent color, and a 5 degree gain (probably more like 10 degree). Traveller looks great though, and i must say, i don't like feeling the need to baby such a nice piece of kit. I might care more about the bags well-being than my own. :) I'm sure that will pass.

I actually went the opposite direction and went for the traveller at the recent Rei sale. For $160 it was hard to pass, although if I like the design I might jump on the Everlite.

I take care of my gear, but I'm afraid of items that are to valuable to easily replace. At any rate I'm glad to hear you're feedback :)

I did get the long one, and after using it a bit have decided it is too long. I didnt see anywhere listing an accurate actual length, so i stupidly assumed that the long would go around the neck of a 6'6" person. The bag is actually 6'5 or 6'6 in length, and massive in girth. I'm only 6'1 but wanted some length. Anyways, i sent it back and ordered the regular length one. Hopefully its a little more snug and less than a mile long. But if you are a giant, i would think the long works to something like 6'10".

I will get there, the wait will give me time to make my new hammock bivy. Nothing but positive things to say about the long one, but it really could be an overbag for a huge winter bag. I am not claustrophobic, i enjoy being wrapped up….always been a boxer-brief guy haha.

I got the Regular length on exchange for the long from Backcountry today. It might as well be custom made for my needs. So cozy around my hammock, and still room to move. I am 6'1" 175lbs, and this hammock is the 86inch long ProNest from ENO. The hammock i normally use is a bit shorter and slimmer.

That is GORGEOUS! You look like you might hatch into a butterfly! :-)
Thanks for the info on the length, I would have gotten a long also but can see the regular would be fine.
Here's to many snug nights in your hammock.

I've got to say that I am quite impressed. Looks like a real sweet spot as far as gear is concerned. I'll probably get one of these bags before the year is out. I'll use it as part of a modular sleep system.

Old thread but just picked one up. It is very nice. Own an EE revelation 10* (which I love) and now that I've experienced the delight of quilts wanted one for warmer temps but didn't want to wait the 5-6 weeks for a new ee. Price is similar, I paid $250 for a regular at OMC in Portland. 850 fill and I like the full length zipper which basically turns it into a regular sleeping bag if desired. Very high quality workmanship.

Just wanted to say that I got one and while I love the concept and workmanship I don't think I'd want this bag for temperatures under about 55 degrees without supplementary insulation. As a blanket for two smaller people in the southern Appalachian summer I think it will work quite well. In my case it will be my son but for two adults it may be a stretch. I will do further testing in the fall.

For what it’s worth, an update to this thread based on an experience I had about 2 months ago:
I went out in April for a quick overnighter and used my WM Everlite.  The overnight low was about 40 F, and I was cold.  I was just wearing a pair of silk long johns (top and bottom), a light fleece cap, and a pair of socks.  I could feel cold on my legs which I believe was coming through the sewn-through baffles.  I was sleeping in a fairly large double wall tent (Tarptent Stratospire I), and I was in a breezy area.

I had not previously been cold in this bag although this is the coldest weather I’ve tried the bag in.  In the past though, I’ve used the bag inside a MLD super light bivy.   I think the bivy “neutralized” (if that’s the right word) the cold spots that the sewn-through baffles can cause.

Based on my experience, I probably would not try to go below the stated rating of the Everlite (45 F) without either thicker long johns or a bivy.  An airy tent with silk long johns on a breezy 40F night was unpleasantly cold.

HJ