New Sleeping Bag – MB vs WM vs Others

That's it. So it's a cotton sheet to keep your pads clean, and the bag zips to it. You'll have a zipper on each side for venting, etc. Sometimes there's a cold spot where the two pads don't quite meet. On a warm night, it's fine.

Thanks

BCG seems to put the Coupler on sale every few weeks, not today though.
http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/bagdetail.cfm/WE5000

Go to Moosejaw.com the coupler is $42.00

Are you sleeping directly on your pad? or on top of the coupler?

For the most versatility in your situation I'd combine the Mega and SummerLite bags. One of the first things you mentioned was that you easily get too hot in a bag. With the two bags I mention, you can shift the down as someone already said. In practical terms, what that means is that if you're overheating you can put more down underneath you where it'll just compress to nothing; in other words, you can make your 30 degree bag a 60 degree bag with a few shakes. No such versatility with the Caribou if you have that overheating tendency… and WM bags are known for being conservatively rated, so it'll probably be warmer than other bags you've experienced that have similar ratings. My half cent.

RH,

The coupler is made of polyester or microfiber(comfortable). The bag zips on top and your pads fit into sleeves on the bottom. You are sleeping on the polyester coupler with the pads below that.

Dan

Dan's right–it's not cotton, it just feels like it. Sorry for misstating that.

I think I am going to go with 2 Sycamore MF bags.

This is on the WM website:
"Turn our semi-rectangular bags into a comfortable Two-Sleep by zipping up to our Summer Coupler! This cotton tri-blend fabric has the same feel as the sheets on your bed. Sleeves on the underside hold your insulated pads in place. By nature of its design the Summer Coupler works only with our semi-rectangular bags which do not feature hoods. This is not a waterproof sheet, so a ground cloth is still needed. The Summer Coupler weighs just 1lb. 4oz."

My coupler weighs only 12 oz, it does have some cotton in the "blend"

RH, one more comment, and then I'll leave this thread alone. The Sycamores have hoods. I assume that they will completely unzip so that you can lay one atop the other and zip them together. One of the hoods will cover someone's face (not cool). With the Alder, which has no hood, this won't happen.

Another aspect to the hooded version is that it forces you to always have the zipper on the same side. With the Alder, you can flip the bag over and have the zipper on the opposite side. If two right-zip bags are used in a 2-vestibule side entry tent, one person has easy access to his/her side door, and the other doesn't (the zippered side will face the tent mate, away from the door). This can be solved by alligning the sleepers in a "69" fashion, where one's head is next to the other's feet.

Happy hunting. Whichever WM bags you end up with, you'll be happy, I'm sure. They're the finest on the planet, and worth the steep price.

Gary, thanks for the comments. I chose the sycamore based somewhat on this post

"This gives you tremendous venting options as well as the option to open them both completely and use the bag like a quilt. My wife and I have a pair of Sycamores, but we've often used just one to cover both of us. We wanted the hoods so we can use them as separate bags, as I do with mine every summer on the PCT."

I wanted the ability to use them as separate bags. How easy is it to use the Alder as a separate bag if it doesnt have a hood? Seems like it would get rather drafty and not live up to its 25 deg temp rating.

I thinks you will like these bags.You are buying a right and a left,correct?

RH, I have bags with hoods, and some without. Some people swear by the efficiency of hoods, but I could give a hoot. If it's cold, I just wear a fleece hat and slip deeper into the bag. My Ponderosas aren't at all drafty when I pull the collar together. Of course, the tight confines of a mummy type is more heat efficient than a semi-rec bag, since there's less dead air space to heat. I just like the freedom of a larger bag so I can spread out. I'm 6' 0", and I went with the 6' 6" bag so I could slip down into the bag and completely be surrounded by goose down when the temps drop to ~10 F. You didn't mention how tall you were, so I don't know if this would work in your case. Anyway, sounds like you won't be dealing with frigid temps. And don't worry much about WM's bags not living up to their stated temp ratings. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how efficient they are. Anyway, if I were to get bags for purposes like yours, I'd still go with the thoughts I've already posed–2 Alders, or Alder/Mitylite.

That's it–I'm done. Happy camping!

Well I may have to get 2 Alders, I was about to order the two Sycamores but it looks like they wont zip to the Summer Coupler. At least it doesnt explicitly say that they will like it does on the other rectangular bags.

EDIT: I called WM it does, but as stated previously in this thread, one of you would have a hood in your face. And the zippers dont match up perfectly at the bottom.

I think I might go with the Alders as suggested. Whew, lot of work just to pick a couple of bags these days. Sorry about all the questions, just hated to spend close to 750 bucks before I had all my ducks in a row.