Ben T,
The 2 vs. 3 and temp difference, I can only summarize based on a sample size of one bag each, lol. From the specs, the 2 has 15.4 ounces of fill vs 11 on the three. That 4.4 ounces of 800 fill is a lot of down. There is 4.2 ounces of that down in their Alpine Light Parka by itself. The 2 also has a draft collar which is very nice and adjustable. IMO, it is a way more than 5 degree difference, and I am happy with the trade. And Montbell was very fair to deal with on swapping them out.
Quality: My #3 had somewhat serious differences in fill in the chambers, especially in the chest area on the top, which could have made it "defective" or at least deficient in keeping me warm. I don't know. But there were really noticeable differences in some of the cubes on the #3. With my #2, under the same light, less differences, and the ones that are least filled, are on the bottom, under where I would be laying on them, not bothering me at all, because I am crushing that area anyway, when I am sleeping. This more even filling could be because there simply is more down in the #2, I don't know. What I do know is the #2 is seriously warm, fits me beautifully, and from my perpsective Montbell was a good company to work with.
