Western Mountaineering Megalite

The WM Summerlite is a full 5 ounces lighter and has the same loft. With your build, it might be a little tight for you, but may be ok. If you can get to an outfitter and try it out, that might let you see if that is a viable option. I used the Summerlite this past summer and really liked its combination of features.

Another option is the Marmot Atom, also lighter than the Megalite. But also more narrow.

I’ve had a Megalite for a couple of seasons, and love it. I’m 6-2, 205, and got the long bag. It has plenty of room for my shoulders, unlike most UL bags. It also has enough room to wear clothing and drape a down jacket over my torso — I’ve been comfortable down into the mid-teens (F) that way. You should try both the regular and long lengths if possible — you might find the long better suited.

My better half has an Ultralite, which is the slimmer cut WM — it doesn’t fit me across the shoulders very well at all. But, YMMV.

John, as you know, WM along with Feathered Friends are the gold standards of bags.
I think you should also consider the Montbell down hugger #3 long. I own one and love it. It has a stretch baffle system which will give you more internal room when you need it, and which maximizes loft for warmth when the baffles are compressed(lightly) around your body. You can sit cross-legged, walk around in the bag with the two-way zip opened, even fit another small person in an emergency. The shoulder girth for example expands to 75″! It uses 725 fill down.

It is a true 32’F bag with a capilene-1 or wool-1 sleeping layer, IMO (just used it at 32′ last weekend in fact). It weighs 27 oz and costs $280 here:http://www.prolitegear.com/cgi-bin/prolitegear/montbell-ul-ss-down-hugger-3_long

I have a Versalite and love it. Western Mountaineering makes great stuff. The Versalite is my cold weather bag, but for 3 season use I prefer a down quilt. The versatility of a quilt is hard to beat. I even use it around the house. I have the JacksRBetter No Sniveller long. I’m 6’4″ and 210 lbs. If a quilt is not for you, then the advise of the previous posters is excellent, in my opinion.

I currently own a WM Megalite sized regular. The construction, weight and size of the bag is superb. I purchased it w/o trying it out and unfortunately as I’m 6′ 2″ it is slightly too small. I fit inside but my toes poke the ends and cause a cold spot. On a related side note I will be selling this bag this winter.

Sam,

Might I suggest not only upgrading the size but also consider ordering the Western Mountaineering Megalite Overstuff. The 2 extra ounces of down makes a unbelievable difference in extending the comfort range of this bag.

Regards

I have a Megalite, long. I’m 6′ 0″ and 195lbs. I love this bag. Plenty of room, warm, sturdy.

Being at the upper limit of the regular bags makes me wonder which one I need. I don’t think there’s and extra 6″ of length in mine, so I’m glad I got the long.

Roger – Thanks for the heads-up. If I was to go with another WM bag I would certainly go with the extra-insulation option as I’m a cold sleeper.

However I’ve decided to go with a quilt as my next purchase. For significantly less weight than my bag I can get a quilt. I can then use my insulated jacket and a pair of insulated pants which are multi-use to make up for any lack of insulation in the quilt.

I own a Ultralight and have for two years now. I am 6-1 210 lbs. It is a tad tight but does a great job. 26 ounces and rated down to 20 degrees. I have taken it down to the low 30’s and have had no problems. I actually own 3 WM bags and love all three. You cannot go wrong with a WM bag!

Thanks for all the comments: I already have a Marmot Pinnacle Long +15 degree bag @ 44 oz., The WM Megalite +32 degree bag would be 25 oz.

Or should I buy a +40 degree bag? The Marmot is great for 20’s and 30’s F. but over 1/2 the time I sleep in it unzipped or on top. I’m just wondering what to do. It seems like several of you fellow hikers have more than one bag.

I always do seem to end up back at Western Mountaineering though.

“It seems like several of you fellow hikers have more than one bag.”

Bwa ha ha ha ha.

More. Than. One. Bag. I am laughing so hard I think I’m going to have to leave the room.

Save yourself! Get out now, before you are infected with the dread Gearheaditis (which is not prevented by Aqua Mira or any lightweight filter).

Yes. You might want more than one bag, depending on your hiking conditions. I have a 32-F and a 5-F bag. These cover any hiking condition I might encounter in the southeastern US mountains. The only other bag that might interest me is a very light quilt for summer use, when the Megalite is too warm. (I also have seven other bags floating around the gear closet. Okay, so there are two other hikers in the house; that’s still no excuse. But they go with the ten+ packs, 12 pads, 8 stoves, 7 pots, etc. Save yourself!)

–Ken

John, your recent post brought up the question of what temperature rated bag to get; and the fact that some of us already have two bags.

These two points are in fact related. Forgive me if this is already obvious to you, but having two bags, one summer and one three-season, will give you several sleeping combinations and a huge temperature range. Remember the bags can be combined one inside the other when necessary.

For example, I have a 50F down bag(Montbell #7) and a 32F down bag(#3). Looking at the graph you can see why I chose that combo, the ‘comfortable’ range of the #3 starts where the ‘usable’ range of the #7 ends. The range of each can be extended down to the “usable” low with the insulation layer I carry anyway (Thermawrap). Thus I have continuous coverage from 50F to 14F

With one bag inside the other I suppose I could get down to 5F?(calculated by summing the fill weights and using the comparable single bag with that same fill weight)

So with two light bags I am ready for 99% of any conditions I would be out in, while not carrying more bag than I need the rest of the year.

By the way, two hikers carrying one each, stretch baffled Montbell bags can combine the bags one inside the other in an emergency to share one doubled bag should conditions get unpredictedly colder. (tested at 120kg total weight, YMMV)

Western Mountaineering does have a liner bag you can get to provide a similar combo.

Brett,
I have the Montbell #3 and agree that the true rating is 32 degrees, though I’ve pushed it to about 25 degrees when wearing pants and a jacket. Great bag and I love the stretch, It really gets rid of the air gaps and keeps me warmer than my higher loft Moonstone bag. Also with the full zip I use it like a quilt in the summertime.

How do you like the #7 bag? I’ve been contemplating getting it so I can double bag for winter conditions. Have you ever actually used the #3 and #7 together like that?

Mark, another Montbell bag user!

I do recommend the #7 as a second bag; specifically the Long version. I brought it on a summer camping trip, but just lay on top of it at 70’F in my capilene-1 top and shorts. I carry it for forcast weather down to 40F.

The #7 is so light I also carry it for optional use, or unexpected weather. For example I climbed Fuji last September.. The mountain lodge we stayed at half way up provided an old synthetic bag, but I prefered my #7. The next morning while waiting for the sunrise at 3776m, conditions were 0’C with a stiff wind; my hiking companion was shivering and very cold. She climbed into the bag in a sitting position and was toasty warm- probably would have hiked down in it if I let her. I was glad I carried it.

By the way, one feature of the super-stretch system, the smaller the occupant, the more the bag lofts, because the inner dimension squeezes in to form-fit the occupant while the outer layer tends to stay poofed [forgive the technical term] out.

I have never combined the two bags for actual use, only to try it indoors. I overheated immediately.

Certainly one big bag is lighter than the combination, but there are benefits to carrying two bags. They stretch so much (hence my recommendation for ‘Long’), that each hiker can carry one, but then share the combo if necessary (or just for fun). And if one bag gets soaked, you can survive a in the other one.

For pads I use the Montbell 120cm pad+ 30cm sitpad+ inflatable pillow which all lock together with toggles. At 490g its lighter, warmer, and more versitile than a Prolite3.
When I dont carry a tent I carry a goretex bivy for emergency shelter.

A very versitile system, and I can’t imagine going back to a non baffled bag. I could go on about the foot adjustment system etc.. but I think I’m hijacking this thread..

Brett,

i hate to break the bad news to you and bring you down to my level, i have more than one Montbell bag. They have become my favorite – even preferring them over my WM bag.

As far as using two bags, i haven’t tried it yet, but my thought on the matter has been, when i do try it, since it can be so wet out here in the NE, that i might try a #7 SS DH (which i don’t own yet) inside of a lower rated SSBB.

The thought is that this arrangement will be lighter & more compressible than two synth bags. Marmot tried this and discontinued the two bags which used both low loft/FP down *AND* synth insulation in the same bag – IIRC, they were called “Fusions” (in two diff. temp ratings). IIRC, they weighed about the same a comparable full synth bag fr/MB, but they compressed better than the SSBBs.

Anyways, what is your thought on using two MB bags with the outer one being a SSBB and the “inner” bag being a SSDH? The idea is that wet clothes will dry out over night and so will the inner SSDH bag. If any moisture is left in the sleep system, it will (hopefully) be just in the outer SSBB.

> what is your thought on using two MB bags with the outer one being a SSBB and the “inner” bag being a SSDH?
We (my wife and I) do this.
Our 3-season bags each have 300 grams of 800 loft down, and are fine down to about 0 C or even -4 C with a jacket on inside. That’s 550 grams each.
For snow conditions we take the same bags and throw a quilt over the top of the two of us: 600 grams of 800 loft down, total about 900 grams. The LIGHT weight of the quilt avoids compressing the inner bag. We are snug and warm.

I reckon it’s better than a big heavy winter bag.

pj, ..we are of a like mind on this subject; and I was truly shocked to hear you prefer it to a WM. Says something about the MB design and features. It seems there are more MB users here than I thought.. I’ll ease off touting them so much (well, for a day at least).

Your idea about a double bag with a down inner and a synthetic outer such as the MB Super Stretch BurrowBag (SSBB) is an option I keep available for a multi day “wet” trip (although I have not done one of those since my military service ended.)

Before I knew of MB, I ordered Snugpaks, and due to a fortuitous shipping error, I now own three types of Snugpak synthetic bags (low of 2’c, 0’c, and -10’C). The latter two are stretch-baffled, so those 2 could accomodate an inner bag with plenty of room to spare. Along with my 2 MBSS’s this gives me several combinations (or is it ‘permutations’ pj?) to choose from. Idealy the combo should be ‘dialed in’ so water vapor cools to the dew point in the outer bag, as you described. So, interestingly, you would not want TOO much down inner (early condensation), nor too little (heat loss).
And continuing the thought of improved safety from my previous post, two people, one carrying a down bag, one carrying a synthetic, have more options for handling certain climactic changes.

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Roger, that is a great idea I’m going to steal from you with your permission; in warmer weather especially, I could open up both bags (of any fill permutation), and put one on the bottom, one on the top. If Im going to be overheating Id rather have a synthetic bag under me.

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Hmm.. I see since I’ve been posting a lot these last two days, my BPLRank has gone up about half a ‘pj’! Outstanding.

WM Highlite vs. MB SSDH

WM is a bit lighter and maybe(???) a tad warmer.
MB has a much better hood and the SS makes it much more comfortable. For a sub-5lb exercise, i use the WM – this is about the only time i use it, though i might also consider it for a long day hike with a small pack as an emergency bag together with small volume custom made with mods MLD Epic fabric bivy.

For comfort and usability (full-zip allows better ventilation), i pick the MB bags. I’ve measured loft of both bags side-by-side and the loft on my comparable MB bag is the same as the WM Highlite-short length bag that i have. As i’ve stated the MB is a few ounces heavier (full-length zip vs. partial zip & the SS system adds ~2.0oz to a MB bag based upon a comparison of SS vs. Alpine (single/”inner” stretch only).

>>”combinations” and “permutations”

Basically, in one sense, permutations are arrangements of elements/items of your set, whereas combinations are selections elements/items or your set.

So, it’s probably “combinations” that you mean, unless you don’t care whether a particular bag (e.g., the down bag) is used as the inner bag or the outer bag (arrangment, hence “permutation”). If the down bag is only considered for use as the inner bag, then “combinations” (a selected bag can only be used in one inner or outer position – position isn’t considered a counting criteria in combinations).

So, if you have four bags and are selecting any two of them, you have six possible combinations. If you are selecting two of the four bags and also considering how they are arranged (inner & outer, -OR- outer and inner positioning being considered), then you have 12 arrangments or permutations of your 4 bags. To quote Mike Barney, it’s really a “simple” problem (and this one really is. i’ll leave the non-simple problems to Mike).

>>”half a pj”

very funny. exactly what i was trying to avoid. Wait, “half-a-pj”, hmmm…you know, that could work, it would be sorta’ like a penny and a “DrJ” or a “Ryan” unit of measure could be like a $100 bill. Maybe, we could accumulate “Ryans” and use them to obtain “bennies” in the BPL.com store. A SpinPoncho costs 100R[yans]. Also, maybe, a “pj” might be a wee negative unit of measure that detracts from me pot-o-“Ryans” that i be accumulatin’? Just a [bad] thought and even worse attempt a humor!!

John, For your size I would suggest the no-sniveller from Jacks-R-Better. I recently bought one and have had it down in the 30’s, of course wearing my other gear under it. I feel it would work down into the 20’s easily. I use the bungie cord and attachment points to keep it wrapped around me. The bungies are supplied with it in case you use a hammock. Also the quilt is great on those cold mornings when you need som extra insulation before heading out for the day.

I have been toying with the idea of
an insulated bivysack again. Maybe
3/4 insulated with the strip underneath
left for a foam pad.

What materials would be best for this?
In the past I just used either
goretex or dwr ripstop on top and both
worked well, though the gore was a bit
heavier.
What synth insulation do folks like?

>John, For your size I would suggest the no-sniveller from Jacks-R-Better.

I have the Jacks-R-Better Nest (same specs as the No Sniveler but slit for the Hennessy Hammock). I am a bit taller and heavier than John, and this works great in the hammock. For ground sleeping, however, I find it just a bit narrow, so the warm air gets out when I roll over in the night. (Jace: thanks for the hint about the cords; I’ll try that next time.) JRB makes a wide range of down quilts at a good price, and I have found a quilt to be a viable alternative to a sleeping bag at all temps (and much easier to use in a hammock).

> Roger, that is a great idea I’m going to steal from you with your permission;
Permission will be granted on payment of 1 Ryan and 3 pjs…

> in warmer weather especially, I could open up both bags (of any fill permutation), and put one on the bottom, one on the top. If Im going to be overheating Id rather have a synthetic bag under me.
In warmer weather I just throw my summer bag over me as a quilt. It has a 3/4 zip. But I have my silk liner or silk pygamas on to stop me from sweating up the bag or the airmat.

Roger,
“Permission will be granted on payment of 1 Ryan and 3 pjs…”
No problem on the pjs, I’ve got stacks of ’em since the BPL gear shop includes a few in each shipment.. no Ryans, but how about an early Vlad, before his conversion to SUL.(no offense intended Vlad, I had great respect for my DI..)

Seriously though, good point (and tip for newbies) about wearing a sleep layer or bag liner so as not to dirty the bag. Even in hot weather I wear at least a capilene-1.
Question, why did you choose silk? Is that a hiking base layer? Certainly you would want to dual-use the layer for normal wear and sleeping, right? Is it because silk is a partial vapor barrier, or some other reason?

> No problem on the pjs, I’ve got stacks of ’em since the BPL gear shop includes a few in each shipment..
Yeah, they will do: mint condition…

> no Ryans, but how about an early Vlad, before his conversion to SUL.(no offense intended Vlad, I had great respect for my DI..)
Hum … not sure about the equivalence between a Vlad and a Ryan …
:-)
(sorry Vlad, and Ryan)

> Question, why did you choose silk? Is that a hiking base layer? Certainly you would want to dual-use the layer for normal wear and sleeping, right? Is it because silk is a partial vapor barrier, or some other reason?
No, it’s definitely NOT a dual use item – unless you count the theoretical possibility of waving a bright pink SB liner at an SAR chopper as dual use …

The primary purpose of my liner is to keep my expensive SB clean. The secondary purpose is to stop drafts a bit. But this means the liner must be kept clean and dry as well. No second use. Mind you, it packs very small and light!

Now, why silk? Well, you may have seen those Youth Hostel cotton liners – they weigh a ton. No good. The two lightest fabrics I could consider for a liner would have to be synthetic (nylon or polyester) or silk.
* The synthetics can be strong and light, but they tend to be very smooth and stick to my sweaty skin very easily, that’s not real comfortable. Try a Microlight windshirt on bare skin on a hot day to see what I mean.
* The silk has a slightly rough surface which makes the fabric stand of from my skin by a very small distance, which keeps it from sticking to me. I use an 8 momme Habotai silk for this: ‘momme’ is a silk weight akin to denier. 8 momme is similar, very roughly, to about 30 gsm or 1 oz. I buy it from Thai Silks.

No, silk is not a partial vapour barrier. It is just a comfortable and quite light fabric. I think Bill F has used some as well. It is fairly strong, but does age much faster than the synthetics.