Light Sleeping bag

[Greyhound]

So I already have a 15 degree synthetic (mountain hardwear 2nd dimension), and I am now thinking about getting a light down bag. Since it'll be mostly for summer use, I'm thinking around 30 degrees. Right now I've been looking at the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32, Montbell UL superstretch downhugger #3, and the Feathered Friend Rock Wren, among others. Right now I am leaning towards the mountain hardwear because it is less expensive, lighter, and I can get it at REI, and return it if i don't like it. My concern (why I might not like it) is the 3/4 zip.
So any input in general on a light bag would be appreciated, and specifically your experiences with bags that don't zip all the way open.
Thanks,
Greyhound

[KeithEA]

I for one like to unsip a bag all the way and just us it as a blanket. If I get too cold I zip up and crawl in. You can't do that with a 3/4 zip. Keith

[KeithEA]

I haven't sipped a bag since I quit drinking several years ago. That's ZIP. Keith

[ND Sol]

Well if you are not sure about a 3/4 zip, then you would probably not like the Marmot Hydrogen, which is an excellent very light bag. Have you considered a Western Mountaineering bag? Great quality as well and you can get a very light full zip bag.

[bearpaw]

It's a shame you weren't around a few years ago (why do I always get all nostalgic on this site?) You could have scored one of the cheapy Marmot down bags.........
I like to use the bag as a bag, that is to say I don't do the blanket thing... but you might, and that, as they say, might make all the difference. If you can score a good price on a good down bag go for it... It won't be your first bag purchase and it won't be your last :-)
D

[Greyhound]

Thanks for the replies, I am not neccessarilly for or against the 3/4 zipper, thats why I am interested in your opinions on it. I don't see my self opening a bag up as a quilt, but in my 15 degree at low altitude in the summer I did open up the foot for ventalation. So I guess I am asking if a 30 degree bag that doesnt zip all the way would vent well enough. My feeling has normally been if I can get my feet cool, I can get the rest of me cool, but I'm interested in your experiences.
Thanks,
Greyhound

[Hiker Boy]

I can give an endorsement for my WM Megalite...an excellent bag and lives up to and beyond it's temp rating with me.

If you are looking for a great deal, shop around for a Mountainsmith Wisp...there are a few on sale right now.

[Greyhound]

Along the lines of lighweight trends, how do you guys feel about sleeping bags that use the pad as the bottom insulation, with now fill under you? The Sierra designs wicked fast/light appears to be this way, as well as the Big Agnes bags of course. Anybody actually have experience with these?

[ND Sol]

Along the lines of lighweight trends, how do you guys feel about sleeping bags that use the pad as the bottom insulation, with now fill under you? The Sierra designs wicked fast/light appears to be this way, as well as the Big Agnes bags of course. Anybody actually have experience with these?
I actually just considered this when I was purchasing a WM Versalite Super. I thought that I should consider the WM Versalite Pod15 as an alternative. Then I read a few things.

First, since the pad is attached, this means that you can't sit up very easily in the bag when eating or reading, unless you unzip the bag to the waist, forcing you to sit half out of the bag, which obviously reduces thermal efficiency.

You are also limited in your movement when in the bag, as you must turn inside the bag, not turn with the bag. As the hood is fixed to the mat this means if you sleep on your side you can end up eating fabric.

The stiffness of the mat also means if you lay on your side you create big dead spots on either side of you as the bag is held rigid beneath you by the mat - when lying on your back this isn't a problem as the down drapes over the body more fully. The lack of insulation on the bottom of the bag also reduces the comfort of the bag, as the bottom definitely feels colder because even when compressed the loft of a conventional bag still provides significant loft around the contact points.

The lack of down also means the bag has less cushiness which most people associate with a down bag, meaning you may be disappointed if you are used to that 'big bag of feathers' feeling. Another problem is that with only one very thin piece of fabric between you and the mat - which is non breathable, of course - you can feel pretty clammy where your skin touches the mat.

Based on that assessment, I decided to go the more traditional route. But I would like to hear about other's experiences.

[Greyhound]

This is all very good food for thought, i tend to sleep on my side and draw my legs up a little, which would be impossible strapped down to a pad. Well, nevermind on the bottomless bag idea, back to the Mountain hardwear, Montbell, and Feathered Friends...

[Jay H]

I love my WM Iroquois which I think has now been replaced by the Hilite. It is very light, comfy and packs like a grapefruit. A friend of mine bought the Phantom 32 which is slightly lighter, but he paid full price at Campmor and I got mine for about 30% less than what he paid for his MH bag.

Jay

[Greyhound]

I love my WM Iroquois which I think has now been replaced by the Hilite. It is very light, comfy and packs like a grapefruit. A friend of mine bought the Phantom 32 which is slightly lighter, but he paid full price at Campmor and I got mine for about 30% less than what he paid for his MH bag.

Jay

Well now you have me looking at the wm megalite, blowing my budget out the window, thanks a lot :) this may be the front runner now becuase it has a full length zipper at such a low weight, I guess I'll just have to save up longer.

[GreatDivide14]

I believe the Megalite is cut for linebacker types. That's great for linebacker types, but on my scrawny 140-pound frame, it would warm up slowly and ventilate itself like a set of Victorian bellows with every twitch. I don't know how you're proportioned, but keep in mind that too fat of a bag will do just what I described. My excellent Marmot Sawtooth is warmer and heavier than you're after, but their Never Winter claims similar specs at 30 degrees and 2 pounds. Looks like a full-length zip. I fear I don't have firsthand experience with any bag in that range, but I can definitely say that my fondness for full-length zippers trumps my appreciation for light weight.

[Jay H]

The megalight and Mitylight are slightly sized differently, I just looked at the WM website and my Iroquois dimensions are more like the Highlight but it is +38deg and it has a full length zipper which the Highlight has a half length.

Eitherway, since I primarily bought that for summer bike touring, size was more important than weight really. I can say that the Iroquois isn't for those that really want to spread out. I'm 130lbs and have a jeans waist size of 31 and I do sleep like a mummy! But for me, I love the bag and it's rating is pretty conservative. I would comfortable use it down to 30degs, personally. YMMV, of course.

Jay

[Greyhound]

Well, you guys sunk my battle ship again. I am 6'3" and 155, so im the anti-linebacker, if you will. The highlight is tempting, but I worry about it being sewn through, that has always just been a no-no in the back of my mind, so maybe you guys can give my your imput on baffled vs. sewn through bags. For what its worth, they say they are sewn through baffles, whatever that means. But with that bag I'm back to half length zipper. Oh boy, this is harder than it should be.

[Jay H]

Then there's always the custom program! FF and WM can both custom build sleeping bags for you for more $$$...

As far as sewn through vrs the straight baffles, it might depend on how you sleep. If you aren't a major mover, the sewn through might not be that important. The square pattern keeps the down from bunching up, at the expense of perhaps minor cold spots. Why don't you ask WM, they are usually pretty good on the phone and would know more about the differences than you or I. Either way, there are a lot of choices these days for bags and it might just come down to whichever one you can find on sale that meets your criteria, unless you're a true weight weenie, a few ozs isn't that big a deal.

Jay

[erikkellison]

I'm surprised that no one has been endorsing the Feathered Friends bag! I am not familiar with the particular model, but I do know they stand behind their gear just as well as REI (though, in a more personal, less "stick-it-to-REI" kind of way). Also, you can have it your way, whatever that may be. I guess I'm blessed because I leave near Seattle, but they will make you whatever you want. How can you go wrong?
Oh, and my $.02 on the integrated pad/bag: seems like a good idea, but isn't for reasons outlined above by ND Sol.
Oh, and you're definitely going to want blanket capabilities. I know with my summer bag I definitely enjoy that feature (though my summer bag is a 15 degree).

[thr0ttles]

I just used my new Montbell UL #3 on a 2.5 day trip this past weekend and it worked out dandy. I like the stretch-ability of this bag. Easy to move around in since the bag stretches. Was fine at about 40F. It even got a little wet from condensation on the inside of the tent and didn't have any issues. Overall, i'd say it's very-light, warm, and comfortable given its minimalistic design.

[Greyhound]

Well I ended up going with the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 because of the REI sale, and if I can't deal with the 3/4 zip its REI, so I can take it back. Im going for a three day trip over memorial day weekend so I'll let you know what I think of the bag after that.