Western Mountaineering bag - which one?!?! has nayone bought one of these

[bogeyboy555]

Gents,

As an avid outdoorsmen living in Colorado, I am blessed with no wife and no kids to take my money, only outdoor gear manufacturers. I am looking to replace my lousy Kelty Cosmic 40F bag with a new Western Mountaineering one. I have heard that the Microfiber series ones are more durable, but the extremelight series is very packable. I sleep in a Hilleberg Soulo tent which stays very warm compared to other tents I have had. I don't own a rifle, so I am not concerned with a versatile bag for the colder rifle season. I hunt the entire month of September basically. My thoughts are that I don't need more than a 35 degree bag given that I wasnt cold once last year with a 40 degree bag. I also use the Therm-A-rest Neo Air Xlite pad - the yellow one.

Has anyone used any of these bags?

thanks,
d

 

[Solitude]

September = Alpinlite 20degree for me

 

[LandYacht]

Versalite is my bag of choice. Have had more than a few snow storms on me during archery season.

 

[Kevin Dill]

I think if you really study the specs hard a few things begin to show up. Bag weight is simply a matter of materials + size...no surprise. In any given series of bags using the same type fabric and fill, size will be the main factor affecting weight. Smaller and form-fitting bags weigh less and are more efficient to heat. In many cases the weight differences between the Microfiber and ExtremeLite bags is a couple ounces and not enough to concern me. Durability doesn't really concern me that much either, and the ExtremeLite series is more than capable of enduring serious use for many years. If you are a bag abuser then that's another thing...but WM bags are built for hard use as opposed to some which market toward appearances and trends. WM has a 35 year pedigree of making some of the best down bags in the USA. In a consideration of those two bag series, I would go with temp rating and best size as top priority...durability wouldn't be a concern for me. Don't buy more bag than you might need, as WM's ratings are accurate and in many cases conservative. No point buying a bag rated 10 degrees lower than what you'll see 99% of the time. For that 1% excessive cold, just know it might happen and you'll be wearing layers that night. For my money, sweating in a too-warm bag is bad for sleep and very bad for the bag itself. Finally, my biggest challenge used to be deciding what girth measurements I wanted. I am very broad-shouldered and a tight-shouldered mummy is hard for me to zip up.

 

[MuleyFever]

I run the HighLite 35 in the early season and I like it. It is lite and packs small. I have been using an uninsulated pad and usually sleep with my pants and a shirt on in it. I have gotten cold in it in temps in the 30's with my cloths on but that may be due to the non insulated pad. As far as durability I dont really worry as the bag is either in my pack or in the tent. There really isnt anything that will hurt it.

 

[Mmcan]

Badger
Probably warmer than you need most of the time but I'd rather be able to unzip than be cold in a lighter bag. Slept at 12,500 one Labor Day weekend. 19 degrees inside my tent just before sunrise. Toasty toasty.

 

[back country]

Versalite is my bag of choice. Have had more than a few snow storms on me during archery season.

+1. I love my versalite. If it gets too warm, just unzip it a little. I think it's much easier and quicker to cool off a bit at night than it is to warm up if you wake up shivering. I feel much better knowing I'm more prepared for a cold snap should it hit when unexpected than just banking on my higher temp rated bag and having to throw on every piece of clothing I've got in hopes that it will suffice.

That little bit of piece of mind from having a warmer bag can go a long ways.

 

[Nick Muche]

If I choose to use down, I take my Versalite as well... Great bag, warm and super light!

 

[SJ-AK]

I love my WM Ultralight. Out of the 10 or so bags I have it is my go to bag!

 

[justin davis]

I have a MF badger. Works well for just about any season here in colorado

 

[marc]

I have a Highlite and a Versalite. Both are great bags and are both nice and light. I generally use the Versalite for elk hunting unless I am taking my WM down pants then I will take the Highlite and can add a down layer if it gets cold.

 

[tipsntails7]

I've used a caribou and a megalite. I would recommend either bag, both are in your temp zone.