Zen bivy vs western mtn versalite

[Elkangle]

Looking at experience/thoughts on the two bags

This will be a shoulder season bag, teens at the lowest for temps...will be used all over the country from up north to lower 48

if the zen bivy runs hot does a guy get the 25 degree ? Muscovy down vs goose down ? Is muscovy just a cheaper product for the companys margin ? Will the 10 deg be over kill if average night is in the 30s ?

Or for a bomb proof bag is the versalite/alpinelite the way to go

Will be used in a 4 season shelter

For those who have slept in both in a wide veriety of conditions would love to hear your thoughts..what you trusting your life with

 

[RWT]

Watching. Curious if you sleep hot or cold

 

[Elkangle]

Watching. Curious if you sleep hot or cold

Id say i sleep average, ive never been in a bag that i thought was underrated... usually dont zip up mummy bags but will wear a alpha hoody to bed

I like the idea of no zippers as its one less thing to fail but the idea of jumping into a zen bivy soaking wet on a 20 deg night isnt as fun as the same idea in a full WM mummy bag

 

[sneaky]

Once it gets mid 20s and lower the appeal of quilts is really lost for me. I've got a 20 degree quilt, and it's fine for archery elk and deer. But once those nighttime temps start dropping a good bag is just way easier to stay warm in. Ymmv

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[AK_cowboy]

Also following to see if anyone has any strong opinions about the goose down bs Muscovy down

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

I've only tried the 10 degree ZenBivy for a backpack trip up about the snowline a few weeks ago, but can share my comparison of that with a WM Alpinlie (overstuffed to supposedly add 5 deg warmth to bring it to 15).

Note: The ZB I believe lists the "comfort" rating of their figures as 10 degrees higher, so believe that differs a bit from WM.

My overstuffed WM Alpinlite seems to have notably more down than the 10 degree ZB. On this last 2 night backpack trip, camping at 8700ft I'm guessing the coldest it got was about 40degrees. I had tried sleeping with just an alpha direct 60g top and boxer briefs, but by morning when it reached the coolest, I actually was a touch chilly in the legs. I slipped some down booties on which helped. Maybe it'd have been a big difference if I'd slept with a wool lower baselayer.

I'm still going to fully vet the ZB system as I did appreciate being able to turn from side to back to other side freely without the constriction of the WM Alpinlite, even though the Alpinlite is the wider of the WM bags. So I'll be experimenting with various baselayers to see if I can find a sweet spot with the ZB.

All that to say, that for me if I try the ZB 25, I'll have some warm baselayers/jacket to have on hand to wear in case they're needed.

 

[Elkangle]

I've only tried the 10 degree ZenBivy for a backpack trip up about the snowline a few weeks ago, but can share my comparison of that with a WM Alpinlie (overstuffed to supposedly add 5 deg warmth to bring it to 15).

Note: The ZB I believe lists the "comfort" rating of their figures as 10 degrees higher, so believe that differs a bit from WM.

My overstuffed WM Alpinlite seems to have notably more down than the 10 degree ZB. On this last 2 night backpack trip, camping at 8700ft I'm guessing the coldest it got was about 40degrees. I had tried sleeping with just an alpha direct 60g top and boxer briefs, but by morning when it reached the coolest, I actually was a touch chilly in the legs. I slipped some down booties on which helped. Maybe it'd have been a big difference if I'd slept with a wool lower baselayer.

I'm still going to fully vet the ZB system as I did appreciate being able to turn from side to back to other side freely without the constriction of the WM Alpinlite, even though the Alpinlite is the wider of the WM bags. So I'll be experimenting with various baselayers to see if I can find a sweet spot with the ZB.

All that to say, that for me if I try the ZB 25, I'll have some warm baselayers/jacket to have on hand to wear in case they're needed.

Hey appreciate the thoughts, getting chilly at 40 with a 10 deg bag kinda sucks esp with a alpha 60 up top...shouldnt matter what you slept in ! Theres another thread on here where form is talking bout how warm they are and regards them to WM quality but im worried about quality control

 

[Kenai]

I used the 10 degree Zen Bivy on a 10 day hunt last September. We had multiple days that dipped into the 20’s with most hovering right around freezing. The comfort of the Zen Bivy system is pretty nice. I’m a side sleeper and usually move around a bit during the night. It really does feel like sleeping in a bed with a comforter.

On the colder nights that dipped below freezing I was a bit chilly. I am usually a bit of a cold sleeper but I needed to toss an extra layer on to be comfortable. I was using a Helinox light cot and Exped down mat. We were using a Seek Outside 12 man as our shelter.

The year before (on the same hunt) I brought the Stone Glacier 15 degree bag and stayed warm. That year it wasn’t quite as cold though with most of our nights just about freezing.

I have had a couple WM Versalites over the years, but as I get older I have moved toward wider bags (FF Raven and SG). It’s a fantastic bag though and always kept me warm.

I very much still like quilts in warmer weather, especially the ZB set up, but much prefer a wide, quality down mummy bag when it’s below freezing. I do think I would have been comfortable with the ZB zero rather than the 10 though.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Hey appreciate the thoughts, getting chilly at 40 with a 10 deg bag kinda sucks esp with a alpha 60 up top...shouldnt matter what you slept in ! Theres another thread on here where form is talking bout how warm they are and regards them to WM quality but im worried about quality control

Yes, I was a little surprised but not too much as people and bags have such different comfort levels. I will say that while I used to sleep quite hot, as I'm hitting the mid 50's in life it seems I sleep a bit colder.

For the sake of space/comfort I'm going to still experiment with the ZB system, and actually be prepared to try some kind of layering of quilts when it gets colder. Last Oct. on a short backpack trip in the snow during rifle season I layered my 40 degree katabatic quilt over my WM alpinlite, which kept me comfortably warm on a stormy night with normal baselayers for sleeping.

 

[Elkangle]

Interesting, thanks guys not getting a huge warm and fuzzy over the zen bivy in colder temps...assuming everyome is getting goose down or muscovy down that could be a difference in the loft/temp rating ?

One idea i did have was just buy the WM mummy bag and then buy the zen bivy sticl on loops and attach the loops onto the WM bag for when i want to use it as a quilt/blanket an be comfy..then if im more worried bout being cold and weight i can just ditch the zen bivy hood part

 

[Kenai]

I have the goose down.