Possible Problem with MontBell 800 #5

del

Alright thanks, It just seemed rather lite on the loft, because my other bag is also a 3" loft as well.

del

hmm the warmth is a well vented tent may be a problem then… There was a spot on the fabric that was a little messed up so i can going to return it for that defect I think, but to get another one or just fully return it is the question.

I like the bag because it was rather comfy for side sleeping. Any other recommended bags? In the hugger 800#5 price range that are light?

Well, there are a lot of things that could account for the cold spots.
1) Near EN limit for comfort. Comfort means a lot of different things to different people. That is a tough call. I sleep a bit cold so I always figure on a good set of mid-weight long johns, high, wool socks and possibly a warm jacket at when it is colder. My bag is only rated for 40F, so at 32F I need every bit of warmth I can get. It works enough to let me sleep down to about 30F, but 32F is what I call it.
2) Not a real lot of warm features on that bag.It lacks a draft collar and shoulder baffle. You will be cold at much below 45F.
3) As others have said, the box stitching is not great for warmth. Usually, in a summer bag, you don't mind it, though.
4) Under a tarp or in a lean-to, you could have a problem with wind. This will easily suck 10F of warmth out of many bags. Even some single walled tents with a lot of ventilation will do this.
5) Loft is a LOT of the warmth of a bag. You need two things to stay warm: a) a good 2 or 2.5" pad (an inflatable NeoAir for example) b) little tension on the bag, itself. Also, try washing it with 1/4 the amount of down wash and drying it thuroughly with a couple tennis balls or dryer balls. Usually, a new bag is packed and shipped compressed, this means you need to restore whhat loft it is capible of. I usually get about 40-50% more loft after washing. I wash mine every two weeks(14 nights) of use. I have been doing that for over 30 years.
6) Location, location, location…pick a camp-site out of the extream wheather caused by lakes and rivers. About 10-15' up a hill is the minimum. This will cut down on the damp, dew filled morning weather.
7) Dri-down is not the cure-all for choosing a dry spot. Humidity (a gas) and moisture (a liquid) will eventually penetrate most bags. Keep yours dry!

del

Possibly, could anyone here turn me on to quilts or where I could look into those?

The #3 has been a great fit for me. I've never been cold in it down to freezing. My long version weighs 1.5 lbs on my scale. I think Montbell has ruined me. I tried out a Feathered Friends bag in their Seattle store and I felt like I was in a coffin.

One of the things you quickly learn using underquilts with hammocks is how to block side breezes. At 29F or below, I hang a poncho loosely under the underquilt to block the cold fingers of the breeze before it can make it through the breathable shell of the quilt.

I have box baffled quilts, not sewn through, and if it's very windy the cold air will go through the fabric and steal warmth. A well ventilated but well made tent works great – the Lightheart Solo has excellent ventilation as well as excellent wind protection, for example. Or a larger tarp for the hammock works as well – one with doors on the end, and staked down to within inches of the ground, kept us out of the wind and our stoves from going out (friend's JetBoil was being blown out the instant she lighted it).

>> "could anyone here turn me on to quilts or where I could look into those?"

Here's a start: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=93938

I had the Montbell 3 & 5 and while I like the design of the bags, I am a big guy and when the threads are stretched, which is often for me due to being a big guy and due to regular tossing while I sleep, you can hold both bags up to the light and see significant areas where the down isn't. This was especially true for the #5 but I had a similar issue with the #3. I sold both of them, got a WM Badger as my cold weather bag and a Katabatic Palisade as my warmer weather quilt and have been very happy with both. The loft on both is amazing.

I have had two Montbell sleeping bags – both UL Down Hugger models. One a 5 and one a 3. They were horribly under filled. You could hold them up to a light and see baffles that had no down in them. Loved the stretch, however.

My situation was not an anomaly but yet was not experienced by everyone who bought the bags. I think you can get a good one but the experience completely turned me off the product.

How big are you if I may ask? I am 6'3" 255 with a 48" chest.

How do you like that summer quilt you said, I have not heard of that brand before.

Any condensation or humidity?

650 fill is known to be more resiliant than 800+ fill in real world humidity environments

;)

For the temperature ranges you are looking at, I would strongly recommend you look at a quilt. Some don't like them in cold temperatures, but I see very little downside in summer. You will save some weight and, importantly, be able to vent more easily in warm temperatures. Enlightened Equipment is a great source for quilts. For summer, I would get one with an open footbox (the Revelation).

I should just say screw it and pick up a Revelation Pro! I am also looking for the HammokGear

I'm 6', 245 lbs. Take a look at Katabatic Gear. Expensive, at least compared to Enlightend Equipment, but their quality and loft are off the charts. I really like their system for holding the quilt to the pad as well. I also recently got the Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed and the design is very unique. The loft isn't as great as my Katabatic quilt so I would look at this one for 30 degrees and warmer.

Your clothing and dryness of clothing could be a factor. It's easy to notice cold spots against bare skin, and the EN-ratings assume a light base layer and hat.

Well I was just wearing a clean cotten undershirt and basketball shorts, when I was using it, on top of a BigAgnes Insulated Air Core Pad.

Hold the bag up to a light source and see if there is down missing from any of the baffles.

im going to do that when I get home

del

Michael, to follow up on your Rev Pro comment – I have a MBULSS #3, an Enigma and a Rev from EE. The MBULSS hasn't gone with me since I got my first EE quilt . . .