Sleeping bags

[2ski]

So its become abundantly clear its time to get a new sleeping bag. It wasn't on the agenda this year since I just bought a DT2, but it has to be done. Two bags I have come across I haven't heard anyone talk about hear are Valandre and Feathered Friends. Anyone have any experience with either? I have been looking at Montbell and WM, but some of the things I saw on a video about FF impressed me.

 

[fillthefreezer]

i run a feathered friends bag and am plenty happy with it. i run the swallow. its light, its warm. it packs small.
not sure why they dont get the attention some of the other bags do?

 

[ams]

Just got a FF rock wren. Looks nice so far.

 

[Rick Leathley]

All the brands listed are quality brands. Pick the Bag that has the best features for you. I Love my WM Alpinelite.

 

[wannahuntmo]

Just picked up a montbell ul #3. Verry light. 1st trip out this weekend. Seems comfy. Love the stretchy fabric. I hate mummy bagsbut the 2# weightsavings was impressive.

 

[Eagle]

I don't think you could go wrong with WM, FF or Valandre. I own a WM caribou, it's a 35 degree bag, but I've taken it down to 20 degrees without any issue at all with only a light layer on while sleeping. I will say I'm a warm sleeper, but I can vouch for the conservative ratings on WM bags.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I've run Valandre and WM, but haven't tried a FF yet, but I've been told that FF are the best down bag on the market.

 

[Daniel_M]

Just some SA on the FF bags, when they say mummy style they mean mummy style. As a rodeo sleeper I tend to knot up inside and I almost freak out in the middle of my sleep given the amount of restriction the bag offers versus the amount of free space I'm used to at the house.

Great bag, though.

 

[three5x5s]

I have the Valandra Bloody Mary, Its a 15 degree bag. Used it in Wy. at 18-20 degrees and I was very warm. Had a down mat 7 under it. I'm could by nature so I was very Pleased. Pack down to a big softball size. If you are tall I would check the sizing. I like the WM down to. Got the vest & hodded shirt. The vest is great, its warm, packs down small and make a nice pillow.

 

[2ski]

As far as WM goes, which is the preferred style? The Microfiber series, the gore windstopper series, or the lite series? I could see the benefits of having the more breathable MF or gore, but they carry a weight penalty. I think I'm going to see if I can go into prolite since they are here in Bozeman and check out the three manufacturers. I can find a few places that carry WM, but none on the other two. I'm pretty intrigued by the video that Prolite put out on FF on youtube.

 

[Nick Muche]

I own the WM Alpenlite and the WM Versalite, both are awesome but I am looking for something with some water resistent properties with a lower temp rating at the moment and the one that caught my attention is the WM Kodiak and possibly the Lynx. I do not feel you can go wrong with any WM bag, their temp ratings are true and most times you can go a bit lower than the rating without any issues.

 

[SHTF]

Another Vote for Western Mountaineering. 35 degree bag and weights 1 lbs. Compresses down to the size of a softball if you want it too. Very quality bag and warm for the weight that it is.

 

[2ski]

So on the Volandre, the one I looked at today has a zipper about 2 feet long in the middle of the bag. No side zipper. I'm kind of intrigued by the design. Kind of cool that they raise the geese that they use to make their down. Maybe its a gimmick but it does make sense to control everything in the production of their product. And FF is no longer selling through dealers. You have to buy direct from them.

 

[2ski]

Ended up getting a Mountain Equipment xero 750. Couldn't beat the price. Pretty much 50% off on about a 5 degree bag. Since its a British company I had to convert the rating from Celsius. I don't see much on ME here or anywhere else online. Anyone have an opinion of them? This is not the ME coop in Canada.

 

[Riplip]

I just got a FF Puffin Nano 20, which is a semi-rec bag. Unreal quality and tons of room if you aren't a mummy guy. A little on the heavy side but extremely comfortable and unzips fully so it can be used in quilt mode. I tried the Montbell UL SS #1 and really wanted to like, I just needed more room. Was also checking out WM Sycamore 35 bag, which has good reviews as well.