Argali Alpine 20° vs SG Chilkoot 15°

[Gooden123]

@Gooden123 I have seen that video. It was very enlightening.

I would roast if I wore the Grumman jacket in the Chilkoot. That sucker is warm!

Haha yeah but it's good to know. I'll be packrafting in Alaska using an Alpacka Mule. Knock on wood, but you'd have to try to fall out of it. Anyway, in another thread talking about whether or not my current bag would be adequate for the Brooks Range in late August, a member pretty much said no, but I could sleep in the Grummans if I decide not to upgrade. I think it would be horrible in any decent sleeping bag and I wouldn't want to wake up already in them. Not over $500 when it's less than my flight to get there.

 

[LongWayAround]

FWIW, I will be in the Brooks the first week of September and have no concerns about my bag or puffy gear. I have the OR synthetic pants, in addition to the SG bag and puffy jacket.

 

[Gooden123]

FWIW, I will be in the Brooks the first week of September and have no concerns about my bag or puffy gear. I have the OR synthetic pants, in addition to the SG bag and puffy jacket.

Awesome best of luck! I'll just derail thus thread and ask you when you buy your locking tags? How far in advance? I figured I'll wait till at least after June 30 when I assume the other free tag (forget what it's called) will be available. Last I checked that one was still 2024-2025.

 

[LongWayAround]

Awesome best of luck! I'll just derail thus thread and ask you when you buy your locking tags? How far in advance? I figured I'll wait till at least after June 30 when I assume the other free tag (forget what it's called) will be available. Last I checked that one was still 2024-2025.

Not sure, haven't done it yet but probably sometime in July also. I believe you're thinking of the harvest ticket.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I have had a chillkoot 15 & zero
They are great bags.
I’m beefy in the shoulders and plenty of room.
I liked the 3/4 zipper especially since it zips from the bottom as well so you can vent a little in the middle.
Also really liked the foot box.

But for me at 6ft I felt like it was just too long for me.
I was heating up dead space or trying to keep it bunch.
And the same amount of fill as a more appropriate sized bag is spread out further if that makes sense.

I like to have some room but there is definitely something to be said for not having to much.

 

[Gooden123]

I have had a chillkoot 15 & zero
They are great bags.
I’m beefy in the shoulders and plenty of room.
I liked the 3/4 zipper especially since it zips from the bottom as well so you can vent a little in the middle.
Also really liked the foot box.

But for me at 6ft I felt like it was just too long for me.
I was heating up dead space or trying to keep it bunch.
And the same amount of fill as a more appropriate sized bag is spread out further if that makes sense.

I like to have some room but there is definitely something to be said for not having to much.

That's interesting and something I didn't consider. I'm 6'1 and only 150 lbs. I did notice pretty much everyone that really loves it is very tall. I think I'm going with the Argali. It also zippers from the bottom and is wide cut for side sleeping. It's a couple ounces lighter and if you didn't catch in one of my other comments, I'll never purposely sleep in sub-20° conditions. But I'm a cold sleeper so I still want a warm bag. 15° is probably overkill for my use especially with the slightest weight penalty

 

[Joseph2186]

Took the Chilkoot 15 on my sheep hunt was plenty warm and it stayed dry.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I know you don’t want to much dead space in the bag.
You body has to heat that dead space.
I prefer a 64 plus ish is shoulder girth but I’m 6 ft 245
A 62 shoulder bag drove me nuts.

It’s a balance of comfort space wise and temp wise
It takes some trail by error.

Packing an over size bag is typically heavier and takes up more space as well

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I have used and owned them all. WM, FF, SG chilkoot 15, and now Argali Alpine 20. Chilkoot 15 was one of my favorite bags. However, I am only 5-9" and the chilkoot only comes in long size. No point in heating up wasted space.
I would say the Argali Alpine bag is on par with WM and FF. It's the only hunting brand that meets or maybe even exceeds WM and FF. Brad is using only the best material in this bag. I would rather support a small cottage hunting brand than a non-hunting brand that is sewn with foreign materials in the US. Also, the chilkoot uses treated down which I have personally done real world testing and find regular non-treated down to be superior. Treated down flat out does not loft as well as non-treated down and you cannot argue it. Loft is how you achieve warmth.

 

[Gooden123]

I have used and owned them all. WM, FF, SG chilkoot 15, and now Argali Alpine 20. Chilkoot 15 was one of my favorite bags. However, I am only 5-9" and the chilkoot only comes in long size. No point in heating up wasted space.
I would say the Argali Alpine bag is on par with WM and FF. It's the only hunting brand that meets or maybe even exceeds WM and FF. Brad is using only the best material in this bag. I would rather support a small cottage hunting brand than a non-hunting brand that is sewn with foreign materials in the US. Also, the chilkoot uses treated down which I have personally done real world testing and find regular non-treated down to be superior. Treated down flat out does not loft as well as non-treated down and you cannot argue it. Loft is how you achieve warmth.

Nice finally a vote for Argali. I was a little surprised that nobody had feedback on it, let alone support. I'm with you on supporting a hunting company over non-hunting as long as they're equal and going to fulfill my needs. I like how responsive and helpful Brad is and never tried pushing their products on me. That's what I'm getting.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Nice finally a vote for Argali. I was a little surprised that nobody had feedback on it, let alone support. I'm with you on supporting a hunting company over non-hunting as long as they're equal and going to fulfill my needs. I like how responsive and helpful Brad is and never tried pushing their products on me. That's what I'm getting.

Yup, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. A couple of things to note: the zipper is the same one as the feathered friends it’s phenomenal. It has more room in the shoulders. It reminds me almost identical to the feathered friends swift 20 or the western mountaineering Alpine lite 20. I honestly have not found anything yet I would change on the Argali. There are a couple of things I would change on the Chilkoot 15. What I tell my friends if you’re looking to buy a western mountaineering or feathered friends and wanna support a hunting company, then look no further than Argali

 

[Norcal18]

No experience with the Argali but I do have the 15° Chilkoot. Lowest I’ve had it was probably high 30°s was plenty warm, anything warmer and I’m sweating it in. Bought it used from a meter on here. I’m 6’5” 230lbs and I’m maxing that bag out. It works and isn’t uncomfortable but I definitely won’t mind a bit more room. If I were to buy either again today I think I would go Argali just to get a little more room. I don’t like that Stone Glacier measures there bags differently than everyone else, makes it harder to compare.

 

[Matt5266]

Love my chilkoot. Best bag I've personally ever owned. I like to stomach sleep and stretch a little. Plenty of room. I'm 6 foot 210 lbs.

 

[Gooden123]

No experience with the Argali but I do have the 15° Chilkoot. Lowest I’ve had it was probably high 30°s was plenty warm, anything warmer and I’m sweating it in. Bought it used from a meter on here. I’m 6’5” 230lbs and I’m maxing that bag out. It works and isn’t uncomfortable but I definitely won’t mind a bit more room. If I were to buy either again today I think I would go Argali just to get a little more room. I don’t like that Stone Glacier measures there bags differently than everyone else, makes it harder to compare.

Thanks I did order the Argali and their dream pillow which you can stuff with puffy pants/hoodie and attaches to the bag.

I think the Chilkoot will be too warm for most of my uses, as you pretty much said. Otherwise I just appreciate the help I've gotten from Brad and it seems they're very similar bags anyway. I also would rather save the couple ounces with Argali than have an overly warm Chilkoot.