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Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bag Quiver- Help me pick my 3rd Bag

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
PostedFeb 4, 2014 at 9:41 pm

My current bag is a WM Alpinlite 20Deg which is overfilled-so likely closer to 10Deg, and I am looking at purchasing a lightweight summer bag. I have lightweight down Flash pants and Flash XR jacket that I can layer up in this yet to be purchased bag to bring it down to colder temps if needed, so I am considering anything from a 40 to a 30Deg bag. (I have never used a quilt and am a little hesitant to start)

A little info about me-I am 6'2" 215 and like the shoulder girth of the Alpinlite and Puma. I am a climber and will be dragging my bags up mountains in a pack. I'm debating between a Summerlite, Megalite and Caribou. I would love to hear from those with experience.

Also, a second question, On impulse I recently picked up a WM Puma -25Deg GWS for a great deal on eBay for a winter mountaineering/ camping bag. Now, with a bit of buyers remorse I'm accepting the fact that I live in California and it may be overkill, and am now wondering if I should have got a Lynx or 0 Degree bag. I don't want to get bags that are too close to each other in rating. Thanks for reading. I look forward to feedback from the gear gurus!

K C BPL Member
PostedFeb 4, 2014 at 10:10 pm

I have used a WM highlite, caribou, summerlite, megalite and Alpinlite. I currently use an Alpinlite and a golite Z30 quilt, I also recently made my own bag that I plan on using soon. At your size I would get a Caribou if I were you, it's like a wide cut Highlite, summerlite is cut too small and a megalite is like a deflated Alpinlite.

PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 12:38 am

I'd get a WM Megalite. I've used mine with Thermilite Micro insulated jacket and pants to 10 and was a bit too warm but had the necessary room inside. I'm sure it would be fine to 0 F.

I also use a mummy shaped down "topper" that I Velcro to the top/sides of my Megalite and it gives me and added 20 F. warmth. But the insulated suit is much more dual puropse, if heavier.

EDIT:
I had my Megalite overfilled last year and it looks like The Michielen Man. No more shaking down from the top to the bottom for temp adjustment as before. I think overfilling added another 10 F. to the warmth ans was the best $40. I've spent on a bag. With my down sweater and long johns I bet it's good to at least +10 F.

Edward Z BPL Member
PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 8:22 am

I have the Kodiak, the Alpinlite with overfill, and the Megalite. You'll love the megalite and the room to layer. I also scored a zero degree vintage 1985 bag on here called the "Narrowlite" which is a zero degree bag but fits me like a glove. Ironic since I'm fat and it's called a narrowlite. This bag was well used but it may be my favorite one of them all. Get the Megalite… no going back! And I've owned all the Katabatic Quilts as well. The WM bags rock it.

Stephen M BPL Member
PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 9:15 am

I have a Puma and Alpinelite, but also have 1 down and 2 synethic quilts.

PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 9:23 am

The megalite is awesome. I actually had one and sold it to buy my overfilled Alpinlite because I was cold on my last trip, but now I'm realizing that I can't do it all with just one bag. The Terralite looks interesting also. Anyone have one?

Stuart . BPL Member
PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 10:08 am

I saw a Terralite at Neptune Mountaineering last weekend. There was no temperature rating on it, so I went out to WM's site and was surprised to see they didn't have a rating or loft in inches listed on the product page. However, extrapolating from the Alpinlite's specs, with 1oz less down over a larger area I'd say it's probably rated to 25F or so. The lack of a down collar seems a little strange – even the Megalite has a passive collar.

I had a Megalite and a Versalite, and consolidated to the Alpinlite. There were times the Megalite wasn't quite warm enough, but the Versalite would be too warm. The space in the Alpinlite lets me wear insulation layers underneath to take it to significantly colder temps. Stephen M mentioned he took his to -17F temps last winter.

Anyway, back to your question – I think the Terralite is going to be so close in rating to your Alpinlite (even with overfill) that you'll be second-guessing which bag to take on any given trip. You've owned the Megalite, and I consider that to be the gold standard for 30F bags. Once you get above 30F, I don't see any benefit of paying the premium for WM. That is perfect quilt territory. I understand you're unsure about quilts, but I took the plunge last fall and haven't looked back. A regular length, wide Enlightened Equipment 30F Revelation offers about the same space as the Megalite, and weighs a good 6-8oz less, depending on down type used. Layer it on top of the overfilled Alpinlite and you'll have a combination that splits the difference with the Puma, good to -10F, maybe -15F.

USA Duane Hall BPL Member
PostedFeb 5, 2014 at 10:56 am

I've only used a EE 30F, Enigma quilt a few nights recently, but nights were only to 49F. It drapes very well, I can't see I'll need to use the supplied straps.
WM "lite" series bags if you are not aware of already have a smaller cut. I have a WM Caribou 35F, Apache 15F and Antelope DL 5F. The Antelope seems to be the closest to temp rating. I've used the other two to much lower temps than I thought possible by only draping my coat over my chest. The Caribou 35F down to 28F and lower a few times and the Apache 15F to -4F a few weeks ago with coat draped over me was all.
Duane

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