Cold weather sleeping bag advice sought

I don’t have a direct reply to your question, but here are a few comments.

I have a 20 deg. WM bag, and I’m very happy with it. WM seemed like it had the features and quality as good or better than others, but at a better cost for those. FF has more options for customizing.

Have you thought about getting a slightly roomier 20 deg. bag and doubling it up with another bag? Not sure how often you would need a 0 deg. bag or how big you are, but double bagging would give you more flexibility at a much cheaper cost.

I have a western mountaineering versalite which I have used to 0F wearing just my base layer, and in colder conditions with a vest. I have been super happy with this bag. Feather Friends also seem nice. I am generally pleased by my Nunatak USA Ghost quilt, though I would characterize it’s “rating” as be on the money, where western mountaineering is conservatively rated for me.

I have the Versalite Super and have been very happy with it’s fit and finish. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to test it’s rating, however. I originally bought my Versalite as a “do it all” bag before I realized there is no such thing. I spent a week roasting in 40 F nights, driving home the point that this is a shoulder season to winter bag. I have used it below freezing and was toasty warm and not uncomfortable.

Mark, I was curious, have you used your quilt over your bag to extend it’s range? I bought a No Sniveller quilt for three season use and to compliment my bag in the winter. I plan to expand into winter backpacking this coming winter.

Since I got the versalite, the only winter conditions I have faced were the sierras. It never got cold enough for me to need anything but the versalite (coldest night was -10F I believe. I did bring my ghost a a couple of trips to layer over my daughter’s bag… but she was warm enough not to need the extra insulation.

I currently own a WM Highlite (45F)and with insulating layers have been able to take it down to freezing without too much trouble. Craftsmanship and design is stellar.

My thought was to combine it with a Nunatak Arc Alpinist (20F) for a four-season sleeping bag setup. The two bags could be used for their respective temp ranges alone and then combined for zero or below temps.

The Alpinist is still being made so I haven’t been able to test my theory.