Ultralight Three-Season Down Mummy-Style Sleeping Bags: State of the Market Report 2010

Another vote for the WM Summerlite. I bought mine about three years ago and have never used another bag (except on a few -20 degree winter camps.) I'm 5'10" 165 pounds, and to increase wiggle room I added a pad sleeve, so use it mainly as almost a quilt (only no air gaps) in three season temps and have had it way down past freezing. With a down sweater and sans pad sleeve, I think it would be fine in single digit temps. Haven't got it wet yet though.

Chuck

Will, as usual a great article! Good individual bag reviews and… a better overall vision that highlights key points, sometimes forgotten:

+ Integration: what we need is a sleeping system, not just a sleeping bag.

+ Down: the insulation with the best warmth:weight ratio. Maybe due to the “syndrome of Cocoons” synthetics have gained (perhaps) excessive prominence. Let’s face it, most of our trips are weekend adventures, no week or month-long Arctic trips. With some care, down is still the best insulation in most situations.

+ Mummy bags: the most thermally efficient bag design… if you choose it correctly. However, quilts are more versatile.

And finally, what such an article about quilts?

Will, terrific article as usual, and thanks for mentioning the advantages and desirability of a sleeping bag with no zipper. I have the older version of the Montbell UL SS Down Hugger #5 (18 oz), which is rated down to 35 F but use it in mid-twenties weather (wearing layers, of course). This is possible only because it has no zipper! Most people look askance at it, but they are simply too close-minded and judgemental. Getting in and out of it is easily done and I never have to worry about a stuck zipper or drafts. And of course there's the weight savings, which is what we're all about.

It's a shame that Montbell dropped this feature, because someday I'm going to have to replace this fine bag, and there's nothing comparable.

Thanks Will for the article………

I have one question besides the one answered about the Nitro. Since I am also 6 feet tall I was wondering are there any other bags (besides) the Nitro that are pushing the length envelope? I am really interested in the Valandre bags for 4-season use.

In the past, I liked, Moonstone because they had more options for sizing. If I remember correctly they were 5'4", 5'10" and 6'4" sized so I did not have to visit the dealers to see if a 6'0" sized bag really could comfortably be for a 6'0" person.

Thanks again for the test, Randy

I can't make up my mind between the MB #3 long and the WM Megalite. The MB is $70 cheaper, and the WM is purple(not my favorite). I have a hooded WM alder MF and love it. But at 39 ounces for a 25 degree bag is too much for usual 3 season for me. I'm 6'3" 220 lbs. and a warm sleeper. Though I would go with the overfill on the WM. Help me decide!

"I bought a WM Caribou because it’s lightweight – weighing only 1.4 ounces, with 10 ounces of downfill…"

Western Mountaineering is really working miracles these days. Tough to compete with that.

The Adrenaline 40 did not make the cut because they only looked at bags rated to at least 32F. The Adrenaline 20 at 35oz was way over their 26oz limit. Even if GoLite made a 30F verions it likely would have been too heavy since the 40F version is 25oz.

This is a great roundup.

One comment however – down clothing isn't the most efficient way to keep warm at night, because of the poor lining to down-fill ratio: and it's the down that keeps you warm, not the lining.

If you spend time outside your bag around camp down clothes are great. But if you spend the mornings and evenings on the move you can just get immediately into your bag, in which case the lightest/most efficient setup is nothing but the sleeping bag. Though even in a bag, wearing a down jacket or vest is probably more comfortable while cooking dinner in cold weather, and it's also a handy way to add a hood to a hoodless bag.

Mine also has a full length.
Also, on their website they list it as having a

# Full-length #5 YKK Zipper

Thanks for an excellent report, only the WM bags are available here in Australia, I just checked on the local price of the Summelite at A$700 US$645 I think I will be looking elsewhere.

Tony

Had to trade in the Montbell Spiral DH#3. I m just too cold a sleeper. But I found another AWESOME bag!

The Mont-Bell UL Super Stretch Down Hugger #2. 14 oz of Down (4 more than the #3) a draft collar and ALL the room I could ever want. I have to live with 28 oz weight (misses the articles criteria by 2 oz).

I'm trying to go Ultralight, but I'm rather put off by the cost. It seems like it would generally be better to spend, say,$100 more for a warmer bag than $300 extra on an UL down jacket and pants and a slightly less warm bag. Then there's the $70 I need to spend for a UL sleeping pad, unless I want to go closed-cell (and I don't).

Am I missing something? Any thoughts on the best way to do this if you are starting from scratch? Are these things (good sleeping bag and/or down clothes) that I stand a reasonable chance of finding on the used gear list? Do I ask too many questions?