Sleeping Bag – What others should I consider?

Hi Robert – I appreciate the advise. Nevertheless, I've been sleeping with my head in my bag off/on for decades. I've never really had a problem with it and I only do it if I am cold.

I will take a look at your Warbonnet recommendation.

I like the idea of the Terralite but felt like I had to draw the line somewhere so it is at about a pound-and-a-half. I do like that it has so much room in it but the total weight is a bit more than I'd like it to be. If I could just lay still, I could save a bunch more weight too! Looking for the happy medium I guess.

I see no one's mentioned Nunatak or jacks r better. I too like a wide bag. Picked up a Nunatak backcountry blanket here on the swap. Washed it once, couldn't be happier. Even though I bought it second hand, Tom at Nunatak has been responsive and helpful with a few questions I had. Jacks r better makes a bag/quilt called the no snivler that looks similar and I believe is significantly less expensive. Worth a quick look at both websites if you're still exploring options. As someone else said, check eBay too. I watched a brand new Nunatak quilt go for about 60% of the new price a few months ago. Cheers

Well, I've been looking a lot and think I've narrowed it down to several WM bags. Stephen, I originally thought the Terralite was a bit heavy (29 oz). But I've been thinking the Megalite with a 2 oz overstuff (24+2=26). For just three more ounces I get much more room to move and a 25* rating vs. the 30* rating of the Megalite. So it becomes a bit hard to decide. I do wonder if the Terralite with all that extra dead space to heat can really be warmer than the Megalite even though it has 4-6 ounces more down?

So I'm just thinking out loud. Wondering if I'm missing anything.

Also, and more important. Who is a good retailer of Western Mountaineering? One suggestion was for Hermit's Hut. They have pretty mixed reviews here on BPL. I do like that you get a free overstuff, that's nice. What other retailers should I consider?

Take your time with this, a quality down bag is probably the single most important decision yout will make for your gear.

I think the best deal and one of the best weights if not the very lightest is the ee.com enigma! It has a sewn footbox and is only about $250 for a long wide 30 degree and custom colors.

You can supplement with a 8 ounce down hoodie such as the $107 backcounty.com down anorak. This setup is going to be a great deal cost wise and lowest weight, zpacks is lighter but much more money.

The only deal I've found on WM bags (besides the one you mentioned from Hermit's hut), is to go through the active junky website (no fee to join), then click on backcountry.com. Choice is sometimes limited by what's in stock at backcountry, but by shopping through active junky, you save an extra 11%.

BYW, that works for the anorak mentioned above (Thanks for the tip, Michael!), which makes for a screaming deal (>50% off) on a down pullover.

I should probably add that I'm currently using a Terralite, but have found it to be a little chilly some nights. I love the bag because it's great construction/materials and wonderfully roomy. Since WM have a reputation for running pretty true for temp rating, I've decided it must be me, because I was wearing my puffy, #2 capilene, sleeping on an Xlite 77" pad and was cold from waist down with actual temps around 35.

I just ordered the EE Enigma, also suggested by Michael, but fear compelled me to buy a 10 degree quilt. If that doesn't work out, I'll end up with either the WM Versalite, or FF Lark UL10. Will likely (reluctantly) sell the Terralite soon on gear swap.

Mike,
I appreciate your comments. You are right, a sleeping bag is a major consideration. If you don't sleep well, the trip is much less than it could be.

I've been using the same sleeping bag for around four years. It is a BA Horse Thief 35* bag. I was cold in this bag at 40* (first year using it) and all my other trips have been in the mid to upper 40s or higher and I have been plenty fine. I've also learned a few tricks to stay warmer. But I think the BA bag is not sufficient except for high summer and I could still get let down in a cold snap. That's the reason for the search for a new bag. I do carry at least a Montbell EX light with me so I have a little supplemental insulation.

I like the WM Megalite because many say they've been warm below it's rating of 30* and is roomy for me as a side/stomach sleeper. With overstuff I've read it performs much better.

I've also considered the EE bag you mention (and ZPacks too). My concern with any quilt is it being long enough to cover my head with just a small opening for breathing but that doesn't appear to be much of an option for a quilt that is so wide at the top. I think the EE looks like a great bargain but just have too many personal concerns. I did not mean to type on so long about this but just wanted you and others to understand where I'm at. Thanks for your recommendation.

Dan,

Awesome, thanks for the shopping tips.

And glad to read of you having the Terralite and details of your experience; those sound like significant layers and to have been could 10* above it rating doesn't speak well to this newer bag from WM. Based on that, maybe my question has some merit that the Terralite may be a bit over rated temp wise. The significantly greater dead air space in that bag may be the culprit. I know that I'd absolutely love the extra space but if it isn't good down to the 25* rating there's no sense in it for me to purchase one. I'm buying because I don't want the chance to be cold anymore. Warmth first, more room to move is secondary. I have both a Montbell EX light and a 12 oz Costco down jacket (nice and warm) so I can supplement if I know the temps will drop.

Are there any Retailers I should consider over Hermits hut? I only ask again because I see that their ratings are a bit less than stellar. Full price is fine I just want a good purchase experience.

I know it sounds like you've narrowed it down and made your choice, but I wanted to point out that the zpacks "quilt" is such an amazing bag. I'm a side and stomach sleeper as well, and I have used my zpacks 30 bag many nights,(some into the low 20s) in quilt mode with no problem whatsoever. In fact I've never slept inside the bag zipped up, not once. Also, their customer service is absolutely second to none. I have even used one of their bags on a trip, and afterwards was able to exchange it for a different sized bag no questions asked. I don't know of any other manufacturer that will let you do that.

I hasten to clarify that I am clearly an outlier regarding cold sleeping. Most folks on BPL consider WM to be very accurate with temp ratings. Prior to the Terralite, I had a 20* Zpacks bag and was cold in that too a couple nights; although they also are highly regarded.

since you sleep cold, and in a way that blows moisture into your insulation, it might be worth asking if high fill power down is the best choice for you. A nice 650fp bag might be heavier than 900, but more tolerant of dampness, and still compress well compared to synthetics.

If you have chosen a bag and want the best deal your choices are limited with WM…and for obvious reasons being their quality allows them to control their price and until something changes in the market it will probably stay that way. As long as you are able to return an unused bag if not satisfied then you should be able to buy it from anyone, why pay more?

If you have changed your mind about finding a deal and just want to order a bag with an almost guaranteed satisfaction experience I would look at Campsaver. Those guys and gals are awesome to deal with. Clothing policy is free shipping returns if the item doesn't fit. They will even send you a couple sizes of an item and take back the one you don't want. You may get a free return commitment on a bag if you approach it from the aspect of fit. We got our versalites from Campsaver and exchanged several different Montbell puffies with the guaranteed fit policy. Very happy.

Careful with absolutes on temp performance from other than your own experience. Too many variables in metabolism and sleep system variables outside the bag/quilt itself. The most important factor in staying warm is knowing your own sleep temp. within varying equipment choices. Like it or not that is something that comes with experience with a myriad of sleep systems. Don't get me wrong, at the prices of these quality bags its a wallet smasher to experiment. Luckily we found out quickly what worked for us throughout the seasons. So good luck when you pull the trigger. I hope you nail it first time.

jimmyb

I have owned many sleeping bags over the past 50 years. Currently I own 4 quilts (I consider the zPacks a quilt). I also have a EE quilt (one of the earliest models) and a Nanatuk. All are good quality.

My sleeping bag is a WM Ultralight, which I have owned for a long time, longer than any of the quilts. This is not the wide bag you are looking for, but I can speak to the quality. Quality is top notch, the standard all should strive for. Temperature ratings are the ones other manufacturers see as the industry standard. In cold weather, a sleeping bag has many advantages over a quilt, the quilt's only advantage, IMO, being weight.

Almost everyone sells these at retail. This is what happens with top of the line products, and many manufacturers of these products don't allow their authorized dealers to advertise under list price (Honda generators is one) and I suspect this is how WM may operate.

Your best bet is probably to watch the large retailers (campsaver, backcountry, etc.) who sell WM products and purchase when they have a sale with "coupon codes." Some will exclude WM products and some will honor them. I suspect that most of these retailers only carry the standard bags and not anything with over-stuffing. So patience is a virtue.

I bought my WM bag from a brick and mortar A16 store years ago, so I got to test it out (they insisted I do this), plus I bought a lot of other stuff, which ended up being over $1,000. So I negotiated an 18% discount, which took a lot of back and forth with the store manager. In the end, he figured out he was going to get $0 or a lower margin sale. It was the end of the month, so I surmise he needed to hit a monthly sales goal, so any sale was better than no sale.

Jimmie/Nick,

Your comments are helpful and appreciated. So I'm gonna just look a little and settle on a retailer. My next trip is in six weeks so I need the bag before then.

I also spoke with my friend John (bought his Megalite at A16 of all places ) who has this bag and really likes it allot. He uses it for all but the coldest camping he does and it sounds like with another layer the bag is good well below it's temp rating. And I always carry insulation so I think this bag should be all I need.

I decided on the WM Megalite. I purchased it through Hermits Hut and did it via phone with the owner. All their bags come with the overstuff at no extra charge. It was a painless transaction; Bob is great. The 6.0' bag weighs 25.33 ounces overstuffed. Of interest to some of you that with the overstuff WM rates the bag at 20* as shown on the retail tag. So, for me this should suit all my three-season use. I'll be using it next month and can't wait to get out. As Eric mentioned somewhere, being overstuffed the bag looks like the Michelin Man. I agree.

I'll be pairing it with the Exped UL7 MW. Should be a great combo. Now I can retire my underperforming Big Agnes setup.

I don't get it. How can a Megalite with 2oz of overstuff (=14oz of down total) be rated the same as an Ultralite with 16oz of down and a much snugger cut. Does not compute.