Western Mountaineering Opinions

[Beendare]

WM is the top of the heap in Bags....this is the only complaint I've ever seen [in decades!] on WM bags.

Now you have to use an insulated pad with any Down bag as the insulation compresses out under you.....could be that was Coveys issue, don't know?

I have the badger, froze in this past week. I’m 6 2” and got the long. Maybe too much space?

Archery elk September fine, lower 20’s to teens, I froze.

I don’t like the material inside the bag. It’s like sleeping in a plastic bag and it forces me to wear base layers.

 

[MuleyFever]

I had a WM bag. I think it was the Highlite. Couldn't sell it fast enough. I froze in it anywhere near the rating.

I'm willing to give them a second chance though. Looking at the Versalite.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Love my Antelope. Looking to pick up another WM bag for when it is warmer.

For when it gets cold, you do need a quality insulated pad. This is true for all bags.

 

[Coveyleader]

I was on a cot, cheap sleeping bag under me for a pad. I don’t sleep cold, but this last week for me was an eye opener.

Pad would have helped but car camping with cot, cheap bag under me, WM bag, and a blanket over me should have been sufficient. I froze! I really think the bag has too much empty space as mentioned it’s a long and I’m thin 6’ 2”.

As mentioned, elk, September it’s fine.

I still think major con is the plastic bag feel inside. Sleeping with only underwear on is annoying.

If you try the bag, try it wearing a pair of shorts to see what you think.

 

[sneaky]

I have the badger, froze in this past week. I’m 6 2” and got the long. Maybe too much space?

Archery elk September fine, lower 20’s to teens, I froze.

I don’t like the material inside the bag. It’s like sleeping in a plastic bag and it forces me to wear base layers.

I thought that wolves like you didn't need bags

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Coveyleader]

I thought that wolves like you didn't need bags

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I'm sure you're always warm being a sheep.

 

[Kevin Dill]

I always sleep in light base layers. I think doing so adds 5 degrees to my lower comfort level, and I KNOW it drastically reduces skin oil and moisture transfer directly to the sleeping bag. The end result is my bag stays cleaner and loftier, and requires much less laundering over its life.

Pads and mats: I look at it this way. A sleeping bag for a 20 degree night deserves a pad or mat rated the same. Body compression reduces any insulation to a fraction of its normal loft. If you've got 4.5" of lofted insulation above and around you, then you certainly should have that same amount beneath you in order to achieve the rated comfort level. You might not notice it until you get a night cold enough to need it.

This is why I combine an Exped DownMat with my WM Sequoia GWS. I've never had a cold night in it, but you can bet I've spent a LOT of cold nights sleeping in Alaska.

 

[3forks]

I’ve got a Versalite and been running it for years.

I never froze, or woke up cold enough to be really uncomfortable. But, I sleep cold and started using a Neoair X Therm instead of the Lite for a pad - and since then - getting a little chilled hasn’t been an issue.

For me, the pad made all the difference in staying consistently warm. I got to the point where I was tired of changing up bags and pads based on the season. Generally, I was probably overthinking it to save a few ounces. I just unzip my bag if I get too warm, but even that’s rare for me.

For a few more ounces, I sleep better without needing to worry too much about the temperatures I’d be encountering.

 

[Coveyleader]

This was a couple weeks ago, just used the bag, nothing over me. In this case, the temps dropped down to about 15-19 degrees. You can see it frosted pretty good slept with jacket and hood. Last week, I was in a tent, with blanket over me when I froze.

Again, we know they are quality bags, but as mentioned, the bag is a 6-6" long, and the cut is very wide (nice for bigger guys) and may be the cause of being cold as there is alot of dead space not being used. Actually, I'm almost positive this is the case. Dead space = Cold air.

 

[hikenhunt]

I was on a cot, cheap sleeping bag under me for a pad. I don’t sleep cold, but this last week for me was an eye opener.

Pad would have helped but car camping with cot, cheap bag under me, WM bag, and a blanket over me should have been sufficient. I froze! I really think the bag has too much empty space as mentioned it’s a long and I’m thin 6’ 2”.

As mentioned, elk, September it’s fine.

I still think major con is the plastic bag feel inside. Sleeping with only underwear on is annoying.

If you try the bag, try it wearing a pair of shorts to see what you think.

Curious how heavy the blanket was over you. That might have been compressing some of the loft of the bag.

 

[SteveCNJ]

I watched and read everything on the site about sleeping bags rated in the 0* range for about a year. I recently pulled the trigger on a WM Bristlecone and combining it with a Klymit insulated static V luxe pad for a 3rd rifle hunt in Colorado if the lottery is kind.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[chasewild]

This is probably the only criticism I've ever seen of a WM bag. I have the Apache MF and its blown my mind compared to the mountain hardware bag I used to have. My wife has the Antelope and if she lost that thing, she'd cry harder than if I left her.

 

[Montana Slim]

This is probably the only criticism I've ever seen of a WM bag. I have the Apache MF and its blown my mind compared to the mountain hardware bag I used to have. My wife has the Antelope and if she lost that thing, she'd cry harder than if I left her.

Hahaha - likewise. My antelope comes with us on most trips .... even in the summer. But I'm definitely not under it in those Temps. It's good to be realistic about what your wife's priorities are!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I didn’t believe the hype at all until I got one. I now own 2. I can honestly say they are 2 of the best pieces of gear I own. Many warm nights, no zippers catching. Made in the USA.

I was the same, for years I just didn’t believe there could be a difference, I knew a guy who had one and I always thought they were overpriced until last year, I had some extra $$$ and got my badger, I only have about 30 nights in it but it’s the most comfortable bag I’ve ever used, it was worth every penny.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have the badger, froze in this past week. I’m 6 2” and got the long. Maybe too much space?

Archery elk September fine, lower 20’s to teens, I froze.

I don’t like the material inside the bag. It’s like sleeping in a plastic bag and it forces me to wear base layers.

interesting, I’m 6’4 and almost ordered the 7 foot version but went with the 6’6, o guess it’s made to fit somebody that tall comfortably. I’ve had mine out on cold wet moose hunts where the temps had dropped into the teens and I was comfortable. I’ve slept in it with just base layers on but I’ve also been just fine with my kuiu guide pants and a mid weight top.

 

[boom]

i love my Alpinlite. sucks that my wife loves it as much as i do.

i have been trying to get that reasoniing behind the purchase of the Badger. falling on deaf ears so-far.

 

[boom]

the no catch zipper is the best thing ever for those late night "i got to pee" excursions.

 

[Mike Islander]

1. I always wear a base layer in a sleeping bag, since I don't want to have to wash it too frequently.

2. Western Mountaineering bags have horizontal open baffles. Lay the bag flat on the floor and move the down onto the top of the bag with the palm of your hand to get the highest heat rating. Scoop it to the bottom side when it's hot.

Western Mountaineering bags are rated per standard, so if you get cold in one, you probably sized it too large for your body or don't have enough down on the top.

 

[sneaky]

I'm sure you're always warm being a sheep.

Nah, still warm from all that leftover Iraqi desert heat. You slept on a cot, on top of another compressed sleeping bag, put a blanket on top of down and compressed it even more, and got cold. Buy a good pad and be done with it. A bag is only half the equation.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[JeffRaines]

This was a couple weeks ago, just used the bag, nothing over me. In this case, the temps dropped down to about 15-19 degrees. You can see it frosted pretty good slept with jacket and hood. Last week, I was in a tent, with blanket over me when I froze.

Again, we know they are quality bags, but as mentioned, the bag is a 6-6" long, and the cut is very wide (nice for bigger guys) and may be the cause of being cold as there is alot of dead space not being used. Actually, I'm almost positive this is the case. Dead space = Cold air.




View attachment 183154

The width has nothing to do with you being cold. The thousands of posts online that state you need a quality sleeping pad to go along with your bag might be hinting at something.