Summerlite Question

You are going to need a warmer bag to get to 25 degrees in comfort with that bag (based on EN testing). As mentioned, the bag is very narrow so layering in to hit those temperatures may be difficult.

Have you thought of a quilt?

Tried a quilt for about 3 trips and it just was not for me. I have a WM Alder MF which I really like, but am looking to get a lighter bag for 3 season use. I have no problem supplementing with clothing, so if the Summerlite is too restrictive for this, would the MB bags be a better choice?

85% of my trips have lows at or above 30/35. I am just trying to keep the number of expensive bags to a minimum.

I hear you. I have a MB SS UL #2 and I can layer easily. In fact, I could probably add another bag in there! The stretch baffles are nice but the MB's tend to be down a bit on fill weight. Having said that, they can make up for it in efficiency with the stretch baffles. Regardless, they are likely the best for layering in. You could go for a 35 degree bag and layer in to hit 25 without issue. It would keep the cost down as well….

So based on my post would you recommend one of these bags?

http://montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=796&p_id=2321206

http://montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=795&p_id=1121797

IMHO, a WM Megalite or a MB bag would be a better choice. The Megalite is probably more room than you need as is, but would give you some room for layering if you needed.

A Montbell bag would also allow for that extra room, and in my own experience a UL #3 is warm to 30F as claimed with nothing but a base layer. A lot of folks seem to agree with me in that, but there aren’t any EN numbers to back up this claim. I’m smitten with mine, and value the extra room for layering and moving around immensely.

EN Ratings for the Megalite and Summerlite:
Megalite – 28.4F M / 35.6F W
Summerlite – 35.6F M / 42.8F W

Personally, I’d go for the UL Super Spiral over the UL Spiral just in case I wanted the extra room for layers. I’m a really heavy guy, and I can fit a 40F Lafuma bag inside my ULSS #3. If you don’t think you’ll need to layer that severely, the UL Spiral would certainly be large enough for someone your size- I’m significantly heavier than you and feel comfortable in the UL Spiral. Doesn’t have stretchy baffles- the stretch is achieved by the cut of the bag.

From what I have heard, MB will be testing to EN standards for 2011 because they are selling their bags in Europe. Crossing fingers.

Rob – definitely go for the UL SS version (the first one you posted). It offers more stretch.

I'm 5'11 and 175 lbs. I have a 40" chest and 33" waist. The Summerlite fits me just fine. I usually sleep on my back and my sides. It's a close cut bag so there isn't a lot of wasted space, but I don't feel constricted inside. I was worried when I bought it, because everybody says it's a tight bag, but was pleasantly surprised at how well it fit me when I got into it for the first time.

I have enough room inside that I often wear a Mountain Hardwear Phantom jacket (about 3" of loft) which gets me down to the low 20's. I still have plenty of room even with the jacket on – certainly not compromising any of the loft of the bag or the jacket.

Andrew

I was in the same boat and may still be, going to give a quilt one more try.

My two options were the Summerlite or the Feathered Friends Osprey. I want full zipper so I can use it as a quilt in warmer weather.

Never rolled around in a Osprey, but did in a Summerlite a few times fully clothed with an EB Downlight. I'm a side-sleeper and like to have my top leg bent (think figure 4), and Summerlite "just" fit. My legs together in a semi-fetal side sleep, it was a bit better. Definitely thermally efficient. Top leg out fully and I was worried about cold spots on my ass from compression.

However, when I was lying on my back, the shoulders felt pretty tight. Though, I only did this once and sort of noted it the one time, because I'm a side sleeper I didn't care much about this position. As a stomach sleeper, more of a concern for you. Tossing and turning from back to stomach would not be easy for you with down garments, vapor barrier etc.

I've also read on threads, that 5'11 is kinda pushing it for use with the hood.

19oz though, compact and it's a lovely bag.

I'm 5'7-8", 155 lbs, 38" chest.

If my quilt doesn't work out, I'm going down to Seattle and roll around in the Feather Friends. Their sizing seems a lot nicer. Heavier than the Summerlite, but it has more down. I think it's 1.5-2 oz heavier once the down is factored in.

Also, though the summerlite is only 1" smaller in the shoulder than the osprey, I think the Summerlite has a differential cut, so it may "feel" in practicable terms smaller.

With the osprey, one can shift/shake the down from bottom to top, don't think you can do that with the MB SS bags. Of course, I'm not sure how effective this technique is.

For me I thought the Megalite would just be too roomy, especially around the shoulders. An overstuffed one may work for you if you want WM.

$300+ is a decent chunk of change. Campsaver has the MB Super Spiral for $239 I think (that is tempting). But Andrew above has real-life experience with the summerlite. And it's pretty popular.

Bags are tough, spent a lot of money already buying and selling to get the "perfect" one.

Good luck, I may be joining the search with you soon.

You are right in between WM sizes (IMHO) so it depends if you prefer it snug or a bit loose.
At 150 lbs and a few inches less chest size the 59/51/38" of the Summerlite fits me just fine.
(I actually have the Ultralite and the Highlite, same size)
However I prefer it a bit loose so that I can layer if needed and also because I do tend to move (twist and turn) inside it.
so if I were you I would go with the Megalite.

"With the osprey, one can shift/shake the down from bottom to top"
You can do that with most WMs too, but only works if you aleep on your back all night long.
Franco

I had the same question eariler this year, I went for the Summerlite. I am 170 lb, 5'11". The Summerlite is kind of a tight fit. It is a great bag and I have used it down to 35 degrees with no problem. If I had to do it again, I think I would go for the MB bag. I am a side/stomach sleeper and it would be nice to have the extra room. However, both bags are excellent.

The Summerlite is my three season bag of choice. I works perfectly for me. I've had it down to 29 degrees on Mt LeConte in the Smokies with cap 1 top and bottom and was toasty. Of course everyone sleeps a little different. I do sleep on the warm side.

Summerlite is my bag for 50% of the year, no experience with Montbell…I'm a big fan of WM.
I'm 6'2", 195 lbs., big legs, arms, shoulders. I use the long version. Everyone complains this bag is tight. I'd agree it's slim, but it's never bothered me. I guess it's a subjective thing because I hear people that sound a lot smaller than me complain they're too small. Layering clothing has worked fine- I guess I don't mind a tight fit.
I've comfortably had this bag into the mid 20s with a TiGoat bivy, thermawrap jacket, ID Hotsocks, and Cap 1 tights.
I think it's rating is accurate.

I use my WM Flash parka and pants inside my Summerlite and feel I have plenty of room. I'm a stomach sleeper…and a side sleeper, back sleeper…basically a thrasher. However, I'm currently very lean at 150# and 6' tall. I have the 6'6" Summerlite.

I'm 6'0", 205# (OK, about 210# during the holidays). I have no problem with feeling overly constricted in my Summerlite. I've taken it down to 25F without problems while wearing a Patagonia down hoodie sweater and thick socks. It's a bit tight when wearing the hoodie, but no big deal and definitely warmer than with just the bag alone.

I'm a side sleeper, and I've been sleeping in mummy bags all my life and am very comfortable in them. YMMV.

HJ

I am 6'1" and 215 but wide. I couldn't do up the zipper on that bag!

I am loving how people claim the bag is true to rating yet everyone seems to layer into the bag. EN testing claims otherwise. Science or snake oil?

I use a Marmot Arroyo which is 27oz on the nut. I use it year around in coastal WA but it is roomy enough to layer up in for <30deg. use.

It replaced a FF mummy that was just too tight for me (I've gained 30lbs over the years). I like the extra volume but sizing it just right will buy you a couple degrees of warmth (and constriction) so I'd recommend climbing in the bags you propose to buy. That was the only way I determined which ones where roomy enough for my taste. Sleeping in them would even be better but I didn't go that far. Either way…. if it were me I wouldn't consider anything that wasn't EN rated outside of WM & FF.

I forget what the Summerlite is rated by WM…30F?
Again, I find this rating OK. EN ratings are a start, but don't mean too much to me…Sleep warmth seems to be a pretty subjective thing, even for individuals.

When I layer, it's because I know it'll be below 30. I don't see this as a reflection of a the bag's "misrating" or EN discrepancies as some people claim. I see no sense in sleeping naked just to prove a point and see if a bag is rated properly…I sleep in my clothes most of the time regardless.

The bag says 30…I've found this to be a fine claim over the course of 100+ nights.

there's a MOE of 1-2C … the other issue is manufacturer variability … i dont think any manuf of backpacking gear can guarantee the needed consistency …

that being said 1-2C is way better than a cr@pshoot years ago where marketing departments were making up numbers with their ouiji board …

The EN ratings are just so we get fair comparisons between companies. How you are going to sleep in a given bag has too many variables to catch in a simple lab test. The value is in having standards so that we have SOME kind of independent method to compare products from different vendors.

MB UL Spiral Hugger 3 in long (regular only fits to 5'10") at Camp Saver is $215 at the moment… near 100 bucks cheaper than the Summerlite, and They have an excellent return policy. So you could give it the 'ol living room floor test and see how it fits… or if it doesn't.

The Summerlite so did not work for my skinny bones at 32F. We all sleep different.

Order both bags… one at $215 and the other at $315 (is your credit card wincing yet), and lay them down in the living room and get to know them… return the bag that doesn't work for ya, or that doesn't seem 100 bucks 'better'.

Lots of folks on the forum dig their MB products. They gooood stuff.

As to David's post below… I looove the Sierra Designs Nitro bags. Very well made, excellent hood, and warm. (and on sale too)

"Again, I find this rating OK. EN ratings are a start, but don't mean too much to me…Sleep warmth seems to be a pretty subjective thing, even for individuals."

No one is disagreeing with this and the testing isn't perfect. However, as mentioned it provides a valid comparison between sleeping bags and a bag like, say the Sierra Designs Nitro that is rated similarily by the manufacturer but is clearly warmer in EN testing. It is heavier but that is for a reason – It is warmer.