I've owned a 45º Ultralamina for about a year's worth of trips now, and I'm really familiar with the capabilities and design. I pushed it to it's absolute EN limit several times.
I ran into a "Beggars can't be choosers" scenario with a $200 gift card to L.L. Bean and ultimately decided to get a Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 15º instead of spending half a month's pay on my first choice, a Western Mountaineering Megalite.
And, I have to say, I am delightfully surprised. Being familiar with the design, I had expectations and they were surpassed.
1. The draw-cords around the hood are both higher quality than last year's design.
2. The zipper, which used to catch on two free-hanging strips of grosgrain and was the worst thing about all the ultralamina bags, is now one of the best zippers I've ever used. The grosgrain is sewn flat onto the bag, too. Nevermind, it IS the best zipper I've ever used.
3. The overall cut is much cleaner and is, I think, a bit wider in the shoulders. Every piece of the design looks and feels higher quality than last year's bags.
4. The draft collar is excellent. Really seals it up. It's almost five inches wide.
5. The double zipper design is gone. Good riddance; I've never touched the zipper on the right hand side of my 45º. I'd rather save ounces than have a backwoods snuggie.
At 2lb 13oz for a :long" bag I'm comfortable going to zero in with a jacket, and no seams or baffles to lose heat with, I think MH's claim of the "lightest and warmest synthetic bag available" has some good merit to it and I'm very happy with it.
I'll do a review when the season gets colder. I'll be outside every night!
Cheers,
Max
