3-season bag suggestions

Steve,

I'll be using either a tent or a tarptent. I spend most of my time in the Canadian Rockies so should probably get a bag rated for about freezing. I've tried the montbell stretch bags but felt them to be a little confining up by the shoulders.

Aaron

Aaron, Will Rietveld (BPL section editor) has some bag suggestions on his website.

The section titled Three-Layer Sleep System has some sleep system options at the bottom.

Mark Verber also discusses sleeping bags/quilts on his website.

Aaron, The widest bag I know of is the Long series of bags by Montbell(MB). They stretch to a circumfrence of 75" at the shoulders: that's about a 30" diameter. I know you tried MB, but did you try one of these long bags? My #7 long or #3 long easily fit my GF and I BOTH and should be wide enough for any human (any personal comfort issues aside..)
Weight on the #7 long is only 580 grams.

Another not so light choice, but a great value, are the long down bags at Campmor. Wide with no stretch feature; 68" circumfrence at the shoulders. Not as wide as the Montbell, but no stretch if that bothers you.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=86909&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1

As for the wide pad problam; me too. Get on the mailing list for Gossamer Gear Wide/Long evasote pads. Light and wide; but not always in stock. I got one of the 1/4 inch W/L ones to match my long bags.

Aaron:

Given your height, you should also look at the regular size MontBell Super Stretch bags.

Another option: Big Agnes Zirkel 20F.