Overfill in WM bag

hermitshut.com sells WM bags with overfill. Not sure about you other questions though.

.

Tim,
I was considering these same things about a year ago and decided to go with the Alpinlite. I have never regretted having that extra warmth along.
When I got my new TT contrail a few months ago I ran up to Juniper Basin in Saguaro Nat Park for a test run and spent a very comfortable night at 30F. I was initially a little worried about the "breeziness" of the contrail compared to my former hermetically-sealed double wall (and heavy) tent, but the Alpinlite made that a moot point.

I'm also roughly your size (well, a little shorter and lighter, but not much) and the Alpinlite is a good fit. I crawled into a Ultralite at the Summit Hut and it was way too constricting across the shoulders.

I see you're from Iowa. I grew up there. Hope you survived the floods.

Best, Dan

Hi Tim,
You can special order the bag at travelcountry.com. I ordered a WM Ultralite with overfill from them several years back, and a friend of mine did so last week, so they're still doing it. Free shipping, too! Since WM does not offer this option on all their bags, I think you can assume they feel it is an appropriate option for those bags for which they do offer it. I know I've been happy with it, and I've used an Ultralite both ways.

Tim-

I'm lucky enough to have both of the bags you speak of. I'm not sure if I should say that I'm somewhat dissapointed in the loft of my Alpinlite or somewhat pleasantly surprised at the loft of my Megalite with overfill. I've laid them both out and the difference in loft is negligible. WM website indicates that the Megalite should have 4" loft versus 5" for the Alpinlite. I'm no expert in measuring bag loft, but I'd say that both of my bags are in the 4.5" range with the Alpinlite having a slight overall loft edge throughout.

As you indicated, the down-filled collar on the Alpinlite is the major difference. While the Megalite has a passive top collar, it is very minimal in my opinion. The full collar on the Alpinlite on the other hand is a huge down-stuffed heat catcher and likely accounts for a lot of the difference in temperature rating.

Both are great bags. Unfortunately I've never had them out on the same trip so I can't give you any real field comparison results. If I could do it again though, I'd go with the Megalite with overfill and the WM Versalite to cover a greater temperature range. With the proper sleep clothing, I'd feel pretty comfortable taking the overfilled Megalite into the low 20s. YMMV.

I bought my overfilled bag on another forum so can't help you there. Good luck.

For what it's worth, travelcountry.com is a great retailer. The store is in Orlando, FL. I live in south Florida and drive the 2.5 hours up there because no other retailer in Florida compares.

Thanks for all the responses, some good info.

Jonathan:
That is a great site for WM bags! What a steal! I just ordered the Megalite with the FREE overfill for just under $320 shipped. Thank you very much.

Dan:
Since, as you know, we have NO elevation in Iowa, or most of the Midwest for that matter, I think the MegaLite was the right choice. I think I can get 3 1/2 seasons out of it with my Cocoon parka and Micropuff pants. I don't hike during the "Cold as a witch's teet" time of the year anyway. Hopefully I can get this bag down to 20 degrees. I appreciate the comments about the UltraLite, it appears to have about the same dimensions as my MH Phantom 15 that is like a coffin when I get in it. Incidently, know anyone that wants to buy a never-used Phantom 15?
The flooding was devastating but we stayed pretty dry around here because we're halfway between Des Moines on one side, and Iowa City/Cedar Rapids on the other, and have no major rivers near us. By the way, did you backpack while living in Iowa? I'm always looking for good spots that are less than a full day's drive! The life of an Iowa backpacker is a tough one, filled with long drives!

Tom:
That is a great point about them only doing the overfill on select bags. They probably wouldn't offer it if it was pointless. Thanks.

Brad:
Great comparison. I was looking for comfort down to 20 deg when I wear my cold weather gear, and I think, like you, I can get this bag that low. Better than having the extra weight of the AlpinLite when it is not needed (or wanted!).

Thanks again for all the responses.

Tim

I think you made the right choice getting the overfill. I have a megalight, and while I really like it, I found myself thinking it's a little flat sometimes. The thought has crossed my mind that maybe WM tried to do too much with the large 64" girth, 30* rating and still come in at 1lb 8oz. I'm a smaller bodied (5' 9" 160lb) cold sleeper and on a few occasions have wished maybe I went with the Ultralite instead. It's tighter 59" fit would be easier for my smaller body to heat up. But for the most part, I'm just doing weekend warrior stuff in the 3 seasons and it a great bag for that.

Interesting though, after one trip I did in the early spring where I was not comfortably warm with it, I started playing around with it when I got home and found that if I was really cold, I could transfer all the down out of the bottom thru the continous baffles and then with the 64" girth, I could put my pad on the inside of the bag without it being too snug and really push the low temp rating.

Randall,

That's a good idea, but I'm probably a little too big to put my pad in the bag, especially since I use my Prolite 3 short over a GG Nightlight 3/4 when it gets cold. For me, the right pad makes as big of a difference as the right bag at low temps.
I am curious as to how much lower your comfort range is with the down shifted to the top.

Tim

My Megalite w/OVF was purchased at Hermit's Hut (it's a FREE option) some time ago before the Alpinlite was introduced. As mentioned by Brad, the passive collar in the Megalite is the main difference. Mine has about 5" of loft, and I've used it with a Thermolite liner down to single digits several times – I'm a warm sleeper though.

If I were purchasing again today, I'd probably go with the Alpinlite as the full-featured collar would work better in keeping out drafts, as I most often use a tarp.

* Just checked, and Hermit's Hut has the Megalite on sale for @ $285.00 – so I'd probably go that direction again.

Have a megalight w/2 oz. overfill. I was warm at 22 degrees in a TT. Have used it unziped as a aquilt in 65 degree nights with a leg or two hanging out. Great bag…no zipper snags, light weight. Never had to zip it up snug!!

Tim,
Iowa is a charming place but, alas, there is no wilderness. Even if you blazed some kind of new route across the state, connecting up all the state parks and the little half-acres of remaining native prairie, you’d still be walking a lot of pavement.

When I lived there I used to tramp up frozen creek beds in the winter, which at least gave the illusion of long corridors of wilderness. But canoeing and bicycling were my main activities when I was there.

This is an old link, but thought you’d enjoy it if you haven’t seen it:
http://www.bettingers.org/air/index.htm

This crew mounted an expedition to climb Mt. Sunflower (highest point in Kansas) in 1998, and then conquered Panarama Point in Nebraska in 2001 (you have to click the titles to get to the stories). Represents the kind of humor an adventurer needs to live in the Midwest.

Best, Dan