I just finished a weeks trip in California's Emigrant Wilderness using my new North Face Beeline. Night time temperatures started out fairly warm but dropped quite a bit before dawn. I was sleeping on a NeoAir Short and had to use my LuxuryLight pack cylinders under my lower legs and feet in the early morning hours. I am bald and always wear a Mountain Hardware windproof fleece beanie. On two nights I had to add my Montbell Thermawrap jacket and at least partially close the Beeline's hood.
This is my second Beeline, the first being the original, zipless, version. I found the zipper on the new model to be more of a bother than not and I could well do without the footbox zipper too. You are correct about the Velcro patches being a nuisance. In order to keep them from scratching my cheek I had to make sure to align them perfectly; a difficult task without a light and my bifocals.
The bag would be greatly improved with even a moderately fitted hood. Though, in the five years I've been carrying Beelines, it has suited me well enough.
To give the new bag a fair trial I'll be using it a while longer, but, based on this latest experience, I may go back to my older Beeline. It does the job and isn't so fussy.
