Western Mountaineering vs outdoor vitals

[Gobbler36]

Is there any comparison here, really wanting a WM antelope with GWS but man there is some serious sticker shock, so been looking at the Outdoor vitals 0 degree. Being USA made is important feature of WM but I could get 2 ov for the price of the other just about

 

[turley]

I personally believe Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are the two premier American made down sleeping bag manufacturers....and are definitely worth it. Their overall quality and attention to detail is second to none.
I do prefer the microfiber on the Antelope better than the GWS...especially if it’ll be used inside a shelter.
Check out Hermits Hut online.....they provide WM bags with free overfill.
Cheers

 

[Base14]

Just buy WM and be done with it. You don’t have to worry about buying a new bag. Every few years.

 

[JeffRaines]

Look, I could go on and on about the quality of WM... but honestly, do yourself a favor and go put your hands on one first. I know it’s not in the field - but once you see the quality in person, the stitching, the zipper that doesn’t snag, no loose threads everywhere, and how lofty they are, it’s a lot easier to part with the money. I ordered mine sight unseen after lusting after them for years, it took a lot to pull the trigger on it because it’s certainly a big purchase, but the second I unboxed it and laid inside it I was like “okay yeah I get it”.

 

[Gobbler36]

Yeah would the Antelope be a good choice for Oct and Nov hunts? Usually sleep in a red cliff on those hunts

 

[JeffRaines]

Yeah would the Antelope be a good choice for Oct and Nov hunts? Usually sleep in a red cliff on those hunts

I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Another thing that’s nice about FF and WM is the temp ratings are pretty accurate, or even conservative if you’re a hot sleeper. If it says 5*, it will get you there(quality pad is a must but that’s any bag)... no need to overbuy like some other manufacturers that rate their bags very optimistically.

 

[Gobbler36]

Been a slick bag user and loved the room but it doesn’t compress well and I got cold some

 

[Gobbler36]

Is the chillkoot from SG a worthy opponent?

 

[turley]

I’m not a big fan of a one size bag fits most. The SG bags fit up to 6’5” and for those on the shorter side as I am that would be a lot of wasted space that would have to be heated as well as extra weight.
WM has a long impressive track record so it’s no wonder most bags are compared to them.

 

[JeffRaines]

I have no personal experience with the Chilkoot or Slick so I can’t compare them.

I will agree with the poster above - backpacking sleeping bags, especially looking for max performance, have to “fit”... meaning there is very little extra room. More open space makes it harder to get and keep warm, and the lower the temp the more this issue exacerbated... so at 30* in a 0* bag it may not be noticeable but once you start inching closer to 0 it’ll become more evident.

Likewise, a bag that’s too tight will compress the insulation not only giving you a poor night sleep due to being constricted, but also reducing the effectiveness of the insulation making your 0* bag more like a 10 or 20. If you browse WMs bag selection you’ll see a ton of different bags - they make different temp rating of bags in different lengths and widths to fit everyone, so make sure the bag you select it one that will “fit”.

Another thing I like about the WM over the Chilkoot is the continuous baffles. You’re able to shift the down around to control how warm the bag is with the WM... if it’s gonna be cold as hell shake all your down to the top. Likewise, if it’s warm you can put some under you where it gets compressed and the bag will run a hair cooler.

One final thing... SG doesn’t have country of origin listed on their website. I know the packs are USA, but I’m not sure about the clothing/tent/sleeping bags. If I’m paying Chilkoot money for a bag, I want it made in USA. WM is made in USA.

 

[pyrotechnic]

I've spent 14 nights so far this spring in my WM Antelope MF here in MT. It got down to 6 degrees one morning according to my truck. I was toasty warm in that bag. Sleeping in a Hilleberg Rogen on a Thermarest Xtherm max wearing Merino wool baselayers and a beenie.

This is the first high end bag I've ever owned so I can't compare it to anything other than the military sleeping system. To say I love it is an understatement. I don't think you can go wrong with a Western Mountaneering bag. The sticker shock is definitely a consideration, but I look at is as something I'll use frequently for many years and I have no reason to believe the bag won't last for a long time if I take halfway decent care of it.

 

[Gobbler36]

I've spent 14 nights so far this spring in my WM Antelope MF here in MT. It got down to 6 degrees one morning according to my truck. I was toasty warm in that bag. Sleeping in a Hilleberg Rogen on a Thermarest Xtherm max wearing Merino wool baselayers and a beenie.

This is the first high end bag I've ever owned so I can't compare it to anything other than the military sleeping system. To say I love it is an understatement. I don't think you can go wrong with a Western Mountaneering bag. The sticker shock is definitely a consideration, but I look at is as something I'll use frequently for many years and I have no reason to believe the bag won't last for a long time if I take halfway decent care of it.

Why did you go micro fiber over the GWS??

 

[pyrotechnic]

I saw some tests showcasing the water resistance of the MF. There's a sticky on the top where @robby denning tests the MF in rain. They also list head pressure resistance of the material on their website.

I'm pretty sure that anything short of a continuous downpour would be doable in the MF bags. I don't see me sleeping without some kind of cover so the extra weight wasn't desirable. I also read that the GWS bags feel a little more clammy due to the less breathable fabric.

 

[Elkslayer67]

I guess I am the black sheep. I debated this same argument but I chose the Outdoor Vitals. If you compare the specs between the two Outdoor Vitals meets or exceeds other top tier bags for half the price. They are a direct to consumer company that really seems to pass on the savings. They have a thirty day return policy so you can check it out. If you don’t like it send it back and get the Western Mountaineering bag.

I got the -15 degree Summit and a 0 degree quilt for $100 less than a Western Mountaineering bag.

Don’t get me wrong WM makes great bags. I believe out in the field you would be happy with either. It’s just when you pay for it is when you notice the difference.

As a side note someone on another thread pointed out WM doesn’t use DWR treated down.

 

[turley]

None of the three top tier companies (WM, FF, Valandre), at least in my opinion, do not use treated down. The WM website, at least they used to, explains their reasoning which was a wait and see approach as they didn’t know the longevity of the treatment.
Additionally, with the highly water resistant exterior fabrics I’ve never had a down bag wet out (even in the western side of the Olympic National Park in March when it rained continuously for 3 nights).
As the poster commented on above...the MF breathes better.
I’m not questioning the quality of Outdoor Vitals....but unless I normally used a long length sleeping bag I wouldn’t buy one as the extra room in the foot box would make it less thermally efficient and the feet give off less heat/warmth than the torso.

 

[Gobbler36]

So really leaning towards the GWS series as I plan on using this in a floorless during mid October through November December in snowy weather. Idaho tends to always get hit with a snow storm in October. It seems the clammy feel is a 50/50 some people get that feeling others have night, what have most of you guys seen that have owned/owns a GWS?

 

[KurtR]

I have had the outdoor vitals 0 for 4 years now and used it every year in Idaho last year it got to zero and i stayed warm with just my base layers on and a klymit static v lux. I did put a foam bad underneath when we had to sleep on snow or i would get cold spots on my hip when i slept on my side. Dont have the WM to compare it to.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Its like comparing vortex to the big 3 glass. Buy once cry once, WM is worth it.

 

[turley]

In a floorless shelter in winter conditions I might look at a eVent Bivy paired with the MF shell over the GWS shell. eVent though waterproof breathes better than gortex.
GWS will be waterproof but with condensation on the outside fabric of the bag the moisture one creates when sleeping will be less apt to rapidly pass through the inside of the fabric causing moisture to be retained.
MF with an eVent shell will allow moisture to pass to the outside of a bag and since eVent breathes so much better out of the bivy as well. I used a Borah Gear eVent Snowyside Bivy with a MF WM Bag and never experienced more than minimal condensation in the morning.

 

[Gobbler36]

Thanks guys I think I’m gonna go with the Wind stopper for when I do Alaska hunts and such I just want something bomb proof