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Looking for summer bag

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Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
Tim F BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 10:35 am

I am looking for a bag for summer trips. I have a very particular set of criteria and can't seem to find anything that meets all of them. Before I decide to compromise, I thought maybe someone here would know of one that I have not considered yet.

Here are the criteria:

– sleeping bag preferred (hoodless OK) / might consider quilt
– fits 6'4"
– 40-45*F rating
– full zip
– >61" chest girth
– <22oz
– <$250

That last one has knocked out the few I have found that meet the rest of the criteria. I am almost ready to accept that this does not exist. If anyone could help, I would greatly appreciate it.

PostedApr 13, 2010 at 10:48 am

How about the Montbell UL Super Spiral #5? $249, 40F rating, 7 oz. of down in a long, 18 oz total weight. Or the UL Spiral Thermal Sheet might be a good choice too, although it might not quite meet your desired temps without layers.

PostedApr 13, 2010 at 10:51 am

You can get WM bags for 20% off with a sale going on at Bentgate. Check the Gear deals forum for more info.

John Vance BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 11:09 am

A Long Caribou from Western Mountaineering at 20% off would fit all your criteria and is a sweet bag.

Tim F BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 11:38 am

I looked at the #5 but dismissed it because the fill weight was so low. I think I was looking at last year's model, but I see that this year's still only has 7oz of down. Does that seem low to anyone else? The Phantom 45 has 1oz more for 5 degrees less warmth and the WM Caribou has 4oz (57% !) more down for 5 degrees more warmth. I really like the concept of the Montbell bags, but I am wary that this is more of a 50*F bag. Do you think I am off base on this?

As for the Caribou, I have no doubt it is an excellent bag but the temp rating is getting too close to my over-filled Megalite.

I will think about the Montbell a little more. I notice that the Spiral version also dropped 3oz off the total weight. Anyone else have another suggestion?

Ted E BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm

I'm 6'1" and i fit with plenty of room in my golite adrenaline 40* long bag. it weights 22.5 oz (2009 model) with 800 fill down. i don't know what the chest girth is, but I've got broad shoulders and i fit into it easily.

Its not a full zipper, but i find the center-style half-zipper much better than a side half zipper like my kelty lightyear. The center style allows me to get into and out of it easier, and it also lets me sit up without getting my legs cold.

Tim F BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 7:55 pm

Ted- I looked at the Adrenaline a lot when there was was one for sale not long ago in the gear swap. The weight isn't too bad, although I see Golite lists the 2010 model as being 27oz! I am just over 6'3" and have been hovering between 205 and 215. If I remember right, this bag has a shoulder girth of 60 or 61 inches, which is just too tight for me. I do like the center style of the zipper but really need the full zip so I can open it up completely on those 60* nights.

By the way, is that your review on Altrec? It contains more useful information than the rest of the page about the bag!

PostedApr 13, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Look quickly: Moontrail has 1 of the Montbell UL SS #4 left– a little over budget, but you get 45 bonus points for free gear with the $284 (free shipping) purchase price.

It weighs 23 ounces. I have the #3– it's nice and roomy.

PostedApr 13, 2010 at 8:37 pm

I give a strong +1 to a long WM Caribou.

I got mine used on Gear Swap, and it's a GREAT bag. Compresses to very small, I've used it to freezing with some layers, and just overall great WM quality. A bit spendy, but definitely worth it.

PostedApr 13, 2010 at 8:58 pm

Tim you brought up a interesting point regarding fill weight and temp ratings of montbell bags. I own multiple Western Mountaineering and Montbell bags. I find that bags from both companies each boasting the same temp rating don't provide the same level of comfort for me. Western Mountaineering is the clear cut winner in my eyes. I have done no type of scientific testing, but have just used all the bags a bunch. I find that the Western Mountaineering bags keep me warmer and contain slightly more fill when compared directly to a Montbell bag of a given temp rating. The biggest difference to me though is the continous baffling found in many styles of WM bags that allows you shift down so more of the down is either above you or underneath you allowing one to fine tune the warmth of the bag to suit the conditions. Buy a WM. Peep the Bentgate sale. Montbell is close behind in terms of quality in my mind. All that said, the Montbell bags are definitely comfy with the superstretch and spiral stretch but I prefer the warmth of the WM bags any day over the Montbell stretchiness. You would think I get a check from WM for plugging them so hard but unfortunately the checks travel in the opposite direction. Oh well quality has it's cost.

Steven Paris BPL Member
PostedApr 13, 2010 at 10:47 pm

I have a Marmot Atom as my summer bag. The only issue is that it has a half-zip. This hasn't been a problem for me yet in the northwest, but could be an issue in hotter parts of the country. My regular size Atom weighs a little more than advertised at 18.5 oz.

Here's a size long at Campmor for $209.00. Looks like they added a full length zipper, too!

http://www.campmor.com/marmot-atom-40-degree-down-sleeping-bag-long.shtml?source=GAN&cm_mmc=GAN-_-Google%20Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Primary-_-

Ted E BPL Member
PostedApr 14, 2010 at 9:13 am

i get cold feet and i will always have my cocoon silk liner, so i like keeping the top unzipped but my legs and feet still in the bag. If it gets too hot for me with the bag zipped down, i'll just get out of it and use the liner as my bag.

I'm anywhere between 175-200 lbs (i drop alot of weight each summer) and i haven't found it to be constrictive at all in the shoulders, but to each his own.

Yes, i wrote that review. i try to write positive reviews about good gear since it seems like people only write a review when something bad happens. i got my bag from Altrec when they had it on sale for ~$150 shipped.

FYI, they didn't change the design or the material of the '10 bag, so that means that any extra weight is probably extra down.

. . BPL Member
PostedApr 14, 2010 at 9:52 am

I assume you mean 1lb, 8.5 oz. for the Atom

I thought the Adrenaline changed fabrics to one with higher recycled content and went up in weight. I don't think they increased the down content, as it is already fairly generously stuffed for a 40 degree rated bag (10.9 oz. in the Womens – which is a much lighter bag!). 40 denier ripstop nylon is listed as the shell fabric.

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