Sleeping Bag Choices? suggestions

Unless the kifaru bag is EN rated I would take the rating with a grain of salt. While the Montbell isn't EN rated either (that I know of) there are several reports on this site and others saying it is good to at least 20F. So it's rare to find a synthetic (kifaru) that weighs the same as down (MB) at the same temp ratings. There's normally a noticeable difference.

The other issue is longevity. A down bag, properly stored uncompressed and taken care of, can last decades. A synthetic bag loses loft and warmth surprisingly quick after a few stuff/unstuff cycles.

The montbell also has the "stretch" feature which basically means it will conform to your body no matter how you sleep. So it's definitely a favorite amongst people that toss and turn and like to stretch out.

For the money, I would not hesitate to pick up the Montbell. It's comparably priced, has better features for your sleep style, and will last considerably longer than any synthetic version. Just be careful to keep it dry when in your pack (use a liner or drysack).

Thanks. I am having a tough time choosing between the two. It appears both have ample room. It becomes more of a temperature rating thing than anything else. I would like to go synthetic but I am concerned about the temperature rating accuracy. Does anyone have any real world experience with the Kifaru Slick Bags.

I'm often in the Sierras in mid Sept around 8-10K and find a 20F bag is plenty warm. Have you considered Western Mountaineering Megalite with 2oz overfill or the Alpinlite? The girth on these are great and they are super light.

I have not looked at the WM bag. I will check it out. I like the montbell ul super spiral #1 and the Kiarfu Slick bag long wide. It comes down to accurate temperature rating. I would like to go synthetic if I could but I have the Cats meow and I don't want to buy an expensive Kifaru if it will duplicate the Cats Meow. I was hoping some one could give me a review of the Kiarfu. I have read the reviews of the Montbell and they seem to be accurate in temperature. Thanks

Have you looked at quilts? If you are already planning on going with a synthetic bag, then a Tim Marshall (Enlightened Equipment) quilt may fit your budget. He also makes amazing down quilts. Two other manufacturers are Nunatak and Katabatic who both make amazing down quilts.

I love my quilt, and I hope to get a new one eventually.

I have not tried a quilt I am sure they are great. I would feel going with better a bag. The problem is most bags are too tight in the shoulders on me and hard to get zipped up comfortable. Out the above mentioned bags what would you chose and why. I have also considered a WM Badger which is the largest cut bag they make. I like the Kifaru that it is synthetic and so light and packs so small but I don't see how they can get a 20 degree bag that is lighter than Cats Meow to be any warmer. Please help with suggestions. This will be a big purchase and I find buying the best first time saves money in the long run.
Thanks for the help.

my cats meow is more or less accurately rated IMO

its also en-rated

"most bags are too tight in the shoulders on me"

THe Cat's Meow won't fit you then.

Look at the Montbell Super Stretch models. These are the only bags I fit in.

For those that have used the Montbell Ul ss down 1 and the WM badger. How would you compare the two bags warmth, room and durability.
Thanks

Maybe you have made your decision already. I own the -20 Kifaru Regulator Slick bag and it is far and away the best bag I have ever owned. It is the wide and it is wider than any mummy I have ever used yet the draping characteristics of the bag are insane. I think this is due to the climashield combat and the fact that the interior fabric is loose (only sewn at the edges) and just falls around you. I have a Wiggy's super light (0* rating) and the Slick is wider and lighter (about 4.2 or 4.3 lbs)and rated much colder. I have not tested the bag in extreme cold yet but I can tell you it is warmer than the Wiggy when temps are in the 30's. I could just barely stay zipped in the Slick at 35* without being too warm, while I can get slight chills in the Wiggy at these temps. When I sleep in the Slick, it feels like an electric blanket is on, I have only ever had that sensation from down bags before. So, I think the 0* Slick is a great choice. Only weakness I found with the Slick is that the zipper takes some practice, it gets caught in the fabric too easily. Trick is you have to push the zipper away from you as you zip up inside. Pull toward you a little if closing from outside. Let us know what you pick.

If your concern is the synthetic Kifaru may have an optimistic temperature rating because it weighs the same as the down Montbell, you might check the fill weigh of the Kifaru. Montbell lists the fill weight of the SS #1 as 21 oz of 800 fp down (and EN rated 15*). By contrast, the WM Versalite (10*, not EN rated but considered conservative) has 20 oz of 850+ fp down, and the 20* Ultralite (my bag) has 16 oz of 850+. The Ultralite is cut pretty narrow, so has a lower total weight (fill + shell) than the wider 20* Alpinlite (19 oz, 1# 15 oz total). These figure are from WM's website, but known to be accurate.

So, assume the Kifaru uses the same high-quailty construction and light fabrics as the WM bags (it should, at those prices), and so has about the same weight shell. That means about 5 oz more fill weight than the Alpinlite, assuming other dimensions are virtually the same.

Is that a reasonable enough weight penalty for synth vs. 850+ down to believe Kifaru's temp rating? I'll let people more familiar with synth than I am answer.

My understanding is that Montbell's Super Spiral Hugger style adds some weight to the shell. That plus a slightly lower fp and 5* differences in temp rating seems to account for most discrepancies.

I'd consider 0* overkill for mountains in my part of the west in September. But I'd be at somewhat lower elevation (~6-8K), and I sleep pretty warm.

Edit: Just noticed OP date. Maybe this post is irrelevant now.

I remember reading on the Kifaru site (I think the Kifaru owner wrote) that the 20* bag is 5.4 oz climashield over the torso, 2.7 oz over the legs, and 5.4 oz over the feet. That seemed a little weak to me for 20* After having been in my Slick, I discovered the draping characteristic is like no other bag I have experienced and the draft collar is ridiculously good – but I am still not so sure about the 20* bag.

Having handled various weights of continuous filament synthetics, my best guess is that the -20* bag I have is 10.8 oz (2 layers of 5.4 or maybe it is 4 layers of 2.7?) throughout the whole bag, in other words, layered evenly. Not sure how Kifaru insulated the 0* bag, but my best guess is 8.1 oz sq yard.

Final thought on this. The Kifaru uses 1.1 oz per sq yard ripstop fabric throughout the bag (inner and outer). I bet the shell weighs less on the Kifaru then the Montbell because there are no baffles, it is one big sheet of insulation sewn at the edges. The numbers I gave above for the insulation were just weight per square yard. I suppose if you could figure out how much the fabric + zipper + cords weigh on the Kifaru slick, the remaining weight would be the insulation. Lets say they equal 1 pound, then the 3 pound bag has 32 oz of insulation. Then perhaps Kifaru layered it somewhat, like a bit more on top of the bag then the bottom, who knows… Ahh, the mysteries of sleeping bags…