Mont Bell vs. Western Mountaineering

I have a Montbell SS #2 and love it. I tend to move around a lot and sprawl in my sleep and the stretch feature helps a lot. I have read reports of underfilled baffles on Montbell bags so something to be aware of. Montbell has great customer service and to my knowledge has replaced every bag that people have found to be deficient. My own bag seems to be properly filled, I haven't noticed any cold spots and find the temp rating to be accurate.

I don't own a WM bag, but I've yet to see someone say anything but excellent things about them. I think most people agree that they make some of the best bags around. I've seen numerous claims that they actually over-state their temp ratings.

If you're looking at high-end bags you may want to consider Feathered Friends as well, they're another top bag maker and will do custom work as well.

cool, and what about temp rating? I was looking at options like two 50's or a 25 or 15 with a liner which adds 15. Of course I don't want to be cold, but I also really don't want to be too hot.

Nm

what did you get to replace it?

Same experience here with an SS#5–mine doesn't meet either of its two rating numbers (they seem to have dropped that system).

It's a nice enough mild weather bag, but only that. I have two WM bags and if anything, they understate their temp ratings. YMMV

When I was shopping for a three season bag, I did a lot of research, and it came down to a choice between a Montbell bag and the WM Megalite. I ordered both to compare. The comparison was a joke. WM is far and away the superior bag. Just check out the photos in this old thread:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/12505/index.html?skip_to_post=92241#92241

I've used the Megalite a lot since I got. Never been disappointed. Never been cold.

Hope this helps.

Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends both make a very nice bag. If you don't mind the weight, Feathered Friends will often tweak their bags to your tastes.

I hear a lot of people rave about the Montbell bags. I have never seen one in person, but they seem heavy for the warmth, probably due to the SS material. If you don't need the stretch, I would look elsewhere to save weight.

Oh, and most liners give a few degrees of warmth at most. A fleece liner might give more, but it will be very heavy for the warmth.

When are you starting? I think a quality 15 degree bag would be good for the normal start dates (Late March, early April). You can increase the warmth by sleeping in your clothes on the rare nights when it dips below the comfort of the bag.

The liner i would get is a Sea to Summit "Reactor" which says to add 15 degrees to a bag.

I would start a little earlier than the regular start date because of things going on at the end of summer.

Thanks for all your help everyone, I think I may go with the WM or Feather lite… I have heard too many inconsistencies with the Mont Bell.

Thanks again,

Ian

They are lying :)
You will not see 15 degrees of warmth from it.

I tried one and I was extremely disappointed. It's also pretty heavy and bulky for a liner. It went back for a silk liner which gives some warmth, but it mainly keeps my down bag clean.

I have a reactor liner that I bought when I first started hiking and I wish I hadn't; it does not add 15 degrees of warmth. The only liner you'll find that will add warmth will be a vapor barrier like the one from WM. I'd much rather had 4 oz of extra down than that reactor liner.

If you need a lot of room in your bag or are a very active sleeper, then I would recommend the montbell bag. The downside is that they are a bit light of the fill, so if you are a normal sleeping, subtract something like 5-10F from the rate (e.g. 30F is more like a 40F bag).

Otherwise, I would recommend western mountaineering. I have yet to meet anyone who has regretted purchasing a WM bag. WM tends to be very conservative, e.g. add 10F to whatever their rating claims.

I would suggest not bothering with the sea to summit reactor liner. It will not add 15F. You would be much better off putting the extra weight into more down.

–mark

WM Sycamore MF
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=Microfiber%20Series&viewpost=2&ContentId=21

5 1/4" Spacing/Continuous Baffles
5" Loft, 25° F
62"/ 4 6" Shoulder /Foot Girth
17 oz. Down Fill
2 lbs. Total Weight
Microfiber (MicroliteXP) shell to stop wind and repell water

Semi-rectangular (wider and less constrictive than a mummy)
2-way full length side zipper AND 2 way full width foot zipper.
Unzip foot for extra ventilation
unzip both to make a flat quilt when too warm

I've used one for the last 12 years on the PCT in all kinds of weather and temperatures. Only rarely have I had to add a light base layer, and I'm a cold sleeper.

The wife and I use one to cover both of us during late Spring to early Fall. Recently bought her one of her own so we can zip them together for the shoulder seasons.

This bag is also available without the hood (saves 1 ounce) as the ALDER MF.

Nm

Great information. Now the question is will a 10 degree bag get too hot towards the end? I guess if I get a liner I can just sleep in that on top of the sleeping bag on hot nights…

easy choice…..Western Mountaineering

Skip the liner.

Use a 20-30 degree bag + snythetic insulated clothing instead – which you'll want for sitting around in camp cooking, writing in your journal (etc) in the evenings anyway. Fleece layers are cheaper (and a little more durable), but take up much more pack space.

Another alternative is a 30-40 degree bag + a 40-45 degree quilt big enough to go over it without compressing the bag. The quilt is nice in the summer (VA, Georgia), and the 30-40 degree bag is not too hot when it warms up enough to ship your insulated clothing back home (usually around southern PA or MD).

Adding a light bivy bag of wind-stopping nylon (without the condensation prone waterproof coatings) will also add a noticeable amount of warmth. Especially when sleeping in one of the AT lean-to's or using a tarp tent in the early part of the hike.

Good luck on your hike !

great, that sounds like a good idea. I like the 30-40 degree bag idea.

nm

Western Mountaineering Hands-Down the best!!!
Quaility down with great craftmenship.

Superlite 20 degrees at 31 oz.
Highlite 35 degrees at 19 oz.
Mitylie 45 degrees at 15 oz.
All 6'6" long

I respectfully disagree that one is a handsdown winner over the other.

I own two MB bags and have just recently fondled a brand new WM Summerlite. My MB's material is noticeably softer and feels more comfy next to skin. Not knocking on the WM at all — but the MB's are simply more comfy!

Warmth is subjective of course, but my two MB bags (a No. 3 and a hoodless No. 7) are both true to their temp ratings. I wear silkweight long underwear — without using a liner.

While the overwhelming feedback from actual MB owners are positive — I have also read more than a few NEGATIVES about MB's — all of them involving "empty or near empty" baffles. This points to a quality control issue.

So, in conclusion, the MB's are great bags and their material is softer and more comfy than WM's. However, when buying MB's, do some quality checks when they arrive. WM's are great too — flawless quality control — but the material is not as soft and comfy to the touch as MB's.

Now since your helpful tips have led me to pick WM the question is a highlite or summerlite? The highlite is 4 ounces less (15 compared to 19) than the summerlite, but something about it seems fragile to me. Either way I will be getting some sort of quilt or a warm rated bag to put over still keeping my weight of sleeping unit below (or as close to) 2lbs as possible. They are both rated 35F so they are basically the same except the weight. Also I've heard that the construction of the highlite allows for some cold spots. Is it worth saving the 4 ounces?

.

VERY IMPORTANT POINT – TRY THE BAG AT THE DEALER'S BEFORE YOU BUY IT.

You did not give any personal physical dimensions or sleeping style, but the following should be considered carefully before buying:

Girth – especially at the shoulder – is critical to both warmth and comfort. Both the Highlite and Summerlite are 59" at the shoulder. You may want/need their wider 62" versions, especially if you tend to roll around a lot at night. Megalite = wider SummerLite; MityLite = wider Highlite. At 5'9" and 180 lbs and a rolling side sleeper, I find the 59-60" girth just too restrictive. I can use them, but I wind up compressing the insulation with my upper arms, and that means I get too cool.

As a general rule, a box stitched bag like the HighLite & MityLite will be cooler than one that is not, because where the stitching joins the outer and inner layers together, there is no insulation.

Also important – zipper length – to allow for better ventilation. The SummerLite/MegaLite/MityLite all have full-length zippers while the HighLite has a half-length zipper to save some weight.

Your hike; your body; your choice.

I'm 5'10" 160 and tend to roll around while sleeping. I see your point with the highlite. The alpinlite has an extra 5" at the shoulders which may be better. It's also rated 12 degrees warmer so maybe thats a better choice?