North Face Beeline

For three years now the NF Beeline has been my favorite bag. It took some getting used to but I think this is the only bag I've used since I got it. The coldest conditions I've experienced with this bag were about 25° with some wind in an Integral Designs Unishelter Exp Bivy. That was the only time I've ever had the hood closed up and I was wearing a tee shirt, briefs, wool socks, a fleece beenie, and had my Montbell Thermawrap wrapped around my shoulders. I was very comfortable.

Several times when I expected rain I had packed one of my synthetic bags but switched to the Beeline after weighing my pack.

If you've got a good deal on one I'd snatch it up.

North Face Beeline bag in Integral Designs Unishelter Bivy, on the PCT, Desolation Wilderness – November 2006.

I got one of the old ones without a foot zipper and love it. Now I look at other bags and don't understand why they have all of that junk on them. :D

One of the only annoying things is that the cords for the hood are directed through a single cord lock that is fastened to the edge of the hood. I haven't mustered the courage to cut it off yet, but it's quite annoying to fasten where it is now.

It fits just right in an XS Sea to Summit Event Compression Dry Sack. And non-ultralighters are just shocked at how small and light it is. :)

I'd also highly recomend this bag. i have both the older version (in gray outside blue inside) and the newer version with the footvent and the orange and redish. i highly recomend both, the newer version with the footvent is really a nice feature and extends the usability of the bag even more. i've used the newer version down to 15 degrees, with a thick hat, light gloves, longsleeve+short sleeve techwick, light tights, puffball vest and good socks. and a silk liner with a light bivy sack. (under a tarp) granted i sleep kind of warm, (got youth on my side) but slept pretty okay, not great, but good enough. if you can get a deal, i would jump on it! you wont be disapointed.
mike!

I also got one of the old ones (without the foot-zipper) und used it for almost all of my trips the last two and a half years.

This year on the Tour du Mont Blanc and further on to Zermatt in Switzerland.

The coldest temperature I experienced was around 23°F (tarp with a lot of frost), I had a silk inlet, and wore a merinowool LS shirt, a PHD Minimus Downjacket, a light cap,
polypropylene long trousers, hiking trousers and a second pair of Smartwool socks. No bivy bag. I slept nice and warm, but I am also a kind of warm sleeper (although not that young anymore)

If I would find another one for a good price I would definiteley buy one for replacement.

Gruß hikingharry

Let me add to the raves for this bag. High quality down (900 fill), Pertex Quantum shell, weighs in exactly on spec at 19 ounces.

I've used mine for travelling (it packs down tiny), three season backpacking and as a liner bag inside another sleeping bag to make a toasty winter bag.

If you can get one at a discount, go for it.

I was fondling one of the new ones this weekend (with the HelioLite™ HD ripstop fabric), and I was very impressed! It has higher and denser loft than my WM POD 30, so I suspect it is very conservatively rated. It felt more like my WM POD 15 in terms of loft.

Here's a review, and subsequent discussion, on the Beeline I posted a few years ago:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews.html?forum_thread_id=944&skip_to_post=5922#5922

Yeah, I read those reviews, but the current bag uses a different fabric (very nice) and has a short side zip which addds about 3oz to the total weight.

Personally could not get used to not having a zipper. Switched to a WM Highlite ad haven't looked back, for me the versatility of having the side zipper is indispensable. Take this with a grain of salt though, I am a VERY hot sleeper and a squirmer to boot.

I used one for my AT through-hike, and despite the lack of a zipper, it was a great bag (and still is, after a few more summers of use). I can't say too much about the temperature rating, except that I do remember quite vividly two nights that got down to 9 degrees F, and my only sleep system was midweight long underwear tops and bottoms, and a silk S2S liner. It wasn't comfortable, but considering the temp was 20 degrees below the bag's rating, I think it did pretty well.

The lack of a zipper was not a problem except during really hot nights, so I'm not entirely sure what bag I would get to replace it when I finally do. Has anybody tried the new one with the 1/2 zip?

I had the synthetic version of the same bag first and found it too cold. Upgraded to the Beeline and I've been very happy with it!

I haven't tried the Beeline with the new zip and fabric, but I use and love a WM POD30 which has a half zip, so I'm sure I woul be equally happy with the Beeline. If I get too hot I just lie on top of the bag, or stick one or two legs out the side, or fold back the top half to leave my torso uncovered, or turn upside down and have just the bottom fabric on top of me (can't do that with the Beeline though). Lots of versatility really.