Overstuffed Megalite, or Ultralight?

Megalite will work better for you. At 215 you are probably pushing the inside diameters especially for layering. I am 6'1" and 185 and the Ultralite is just fine for me and I have a highlite that also works for me with additional layers if needed. The Ultralite is a really warm bag too so if the idea is really a summer bag with some shoulder season then again the megalite with overfill should do the job. I have had the Ultralite down to 6 degrees with just long underwear and the Highlite down to 20 but that took some work with multiple layers and a down vest. This is out in the open, no tent.

Thanks Alex, I do notice that while I dont mind the tightness of the summerlight, when I push against the side with my arm, leg, etc I notice a bit of a cold spot…Obviously I am compressing the down a bit, so although there is a bit more space to heat in the megalite, I am thinking it could be better…Plus, layering is less compressed… Any ideas if you were to take a guess, what the overfill would bring the megalites rating down to?

It would be better to compare the Megalite to the Alpinelite.

I thought about it, but as a summer bag, the weight is really creeping up there. I like the weight of the summerlight!! Of course…I wish I was smaller…the summerlite is a great weight, and with layering would be perfect. I simply thought the megalite was a good comprimise I figured, even at one 1lb 11oz.

I tried out a Summerlite and Ultralite years ago and was always cold in them, I then figured out they were too tight.

We don't know where you backpack, so it's difficult to come up with a tailored reply. But for me, the Alpinlite was worth the extra oz (6 vs Megalite with overfill) to get a bag that was wide enough for me and could keep in the warmth thanks to the draft collar, which WM omitted from the Megalite. My wife has the Ultralite. No way I can fit in that bag, and I usually wear Large size clothing.

I am in northern Ontario…while I am going to do lots of backpacking in a year or so, my adventures now are limited to a four day weekend, and also, once freezup starts, work slows for me. I hunt a lot and like to take off for overnighters, and three day adventures wherever I end up. I anticipate minus seven will be the lowest I ever take this bag…I know ideally, a dedicated summer bag, and dedicated fall bag would be great…but…money.. Even with my bombproof hunting pack, I have a super comfortable ten to twelve pound base weight, and I will be bringing an arcteryx puffy layer with me also…i wonder if with a down layer, base layer and a hat if I could get the megalight down to minus seven or eight?

I also will have whatever I am hunting in, or wearing too…the summer light is soooo nice and light…because I am not doing weeks at a time with this bag in low temps, I am leaning towards the megalight…just wearing a lot more clothing…and in summer, with no extra clothing…well, it might be fine also…why can't the versalite be six ounces lighter???? Lol

Can you go to a MEC and try the various bags out?

So, I am heading there with my bag tomorrow, and will see what they have. I was told they have none in stock…bit of a bummer, but we will see tomorrow night. I'd love to try a few side by side, but I doubt I will get to.

A slimmer bag will be more thermally efficient, no question. If you can fit comfortably in the Ultralite with the most clothes you're likely to wear, it's a no brainer. I wouldn't mind if WM made the Ultralite a little slimmer, as even with a big parka on there is a little more room than I need.

If the Summerlite is a bit tight for you then it will be the same with the Ultralite.

So, went down to mec, and bought a large, long ultralight. When I looked at it, info most of my forays when temperatures are just a bit lower than what the megalight would be good for. With the ultralight, and a puffy, I can go down to where my Altair -18 can pick up. The ultralight, like the summerlite, was tight, but once I put on a thick puffy and climbed in, it was like I was surrounded by a coccoon of down haha. Also, I figure that I sleep with my head out of the bag down to almost freezing, so for summer, I may as well get a simple one pound quilt, and go even lighter in summer. I will test it tonight, but I figure I may as well be warm. Blasphemy, but I'd rather carry an extra few ounces in a sleeping bag, and lose it somewhere else than be cold.

I have a WM Megalite. After a cool night (23 F.) on the PCT with the regular Megalite all zipped up and with all my clothes on I vowed to get it overstuffed. Total cost including shipping one way to WM was almost $50. After that I used it for hunting on October in northern Nevada at altitudes from 7,000 to 8,000 ft. at nighttime temps down to 15 F. With polyester polar weight long johns I was comfortable all night. That overfill was the best $50. I ever spent for backpacking. I feel that I could easily sleep at 0 F. with my lightweight puffy down jacket (see my avatar photo) and synthetic insulated pants. My next purchase is a pair of very light down pants with half zips on the legs. Also I'm getting a mummy-shaped down "topper" custom made to replace my old one. It Velcros to the top of my bag for winter camping. That will take me below 0 F. Although there is no neck collar on the Megalite a down vest over the head, zipped up, rolled up from the waist and resting on the shoulders (not using the arm holes) makes a nice draft collar. That Eddie Bauer vest also can be added under my jacket for much more warmth than you would think. And then my oversized REI eVent parka completes the outfit if necessary in wind or snow. I also carry REI eVent rain pants if the weather forecast looks very nasty. This combination is the lightest winter outfit I can put together due to the "multiple use" of the down garments in and out of the bag. BTW, I zip up my eVent parka, cinch down the hood and pull it over the foot of my sleeping bag to keep the bag from melting frost on the tent floor's bathtub wall and getting wet. This also adds a bit of warmth.

I have a WM megalight that has never let me down, to about 25 degrees even though its rated at 32. But I have been using a Sea to Summit quilt rated at 40, and have had it down to 32. I could go lower by use of my down coat as a cover. The quilt is super compact, and weighs 1 lb 4 oz. Its my favorite "bag" now, and I was a real skeptic of quilts. Its also perfect for hut to hut trips, and as a blanket around the house. If the goal is light weight and compactness think about the STS quilt, but the WM megalight is also a wonderful bag.