Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags

“I'm waiting for my new sleeping bag to arrive...should be here on Monday....and I'm very excited about it!!!!

Still playing!!!”

“Let us know how you like it. WM has an excellent reputation. I've been eyeing the WM Kodiak for some time now (roomy, 0 degree), just gotta bite the bullet one day and pay the bucks.”

“I love my Badger. I do have a problem with the zipper seperating but they will fix it for free as they ahve a lifetime warranty.”

“Nigal...I almost got the Badger ...
but for $10.00 more... I get 1" more loft 1 oz heavier and 15 degrees warmer. The draw back is 4" less shoulder girth in the 6' model.

Badger Super MF 6'0" 375.00
6'6" 395.00
Antelope Super MF 5'6" 365.00
6'0" 385.00
6'6" 405.00

Badger Super MF/DL Mummy w/Collar 20° F 6 in loft
6' 66"/57"/41" 24 oz 2 lb 12oz

6'6" 67"/58"/41" 26 oz 2 lb 14oz

Antelope Super MF/DL Mummy w/Collar 5° F 7 in loft
5'6" 62"/53"/39" 24 oz 2 lb 10 oz
6' 62"/53"/39" 26 oz 2 lb 13 oz
6' 6" 63"/54"/39" 28 oz 2 lb 15 oz”

“The shoulder width is what I was looking for. Aren't all men wishing for an extra 4"? I paid a bit more and got some overfill.”

“I'm looking at the Kodiak in part because of the generous roominess:

6' 66/57/41 3 lb 2 oz

I "tried on" a Badger with identical dimensions at my outfitter and loved the roominess. Could bend my knees and twist myself like a pretzel without having to fight the side of the bag for space.”

“I do wish the badger had a draft collar.”

“I was looking at the Badger Super MF...it has a draft collar. The "Super" models automatically come with 3 oz more fill...it's in the collar! Plus the water resistance of Micro Fiber or Dry Loft shells.

Go for it Steve...it's only $520

Side note...I got a little deal on the Antelope Super MF $365.00 and free shipping! My wife said "You paid how much for a sleeping bag?"
I handed her the check book and said ...."Your Turn" all is well now ;)”

“For winter trips, when using a MicroFiber bag with their HotSac vapor barrier liner, the DryLoft bag appears to just be better protected from condensation or moisture.

You would think that there's a chart somewhere that shows a loss of loft as a function of moisture or condensation exposure. As you lose loft, you might lose some cold weather protection.

For winter trips, a VBL and a MicroFiber combo might make the most sense for the money.”

“WW fantastic idear with the wifey, I'll try that one for sure!

Numerous times I've heard that if you go with down fill, buy WM or Feathered Friends, as they by far are the 2 superior down bag makers. Something about the quality of Euro down in the above companies, verse the cheaper and lower quality of Chinese and southern Asian downs. Just a lil FYI for yuns.

Nigal---> I her'dat!”

“Well it didn't show up up yet!
I was hoping to sleep in it tonight ;)”

“dang hickups”

“Tekapo- How are the VB bags to sleep in? I've used a trash bag vest and bags under my socks but have never used the full blown bag. How moist does it get?”

“nIGAL- Haven't slept in my VB bag alone, so can't vouch that. As an insert to my Ultralite, it gets toasty in there and the VB is still somewhat isolated from the elements. It's kinda like a space blanket inside a downbag.

Never heard of trashbags as a sleeping liner. It makes sense though considering that's what I use for a tent foot print.

Ever use trash bags for stream crossings? You just step into each bag, lace up your boots, and tuck the openings under your pant legs. You come out the other side fairly dry (but still cold).”

“*Never heard of trashbags as a sleeping liner.*

I just cut a head hole and arm holes and wear it as a vest under my long johns. Does the trick. I've even heard of wearing disposable shower caps on your head but I just can't go there. LOL!

I've never used them for stream crossings cause I wear running shoes or approach shoes most of the time and I just slog right through. The shoes are dry in a short time or hiking.

Thanks for info dude!”

“Wow....it is really a substantial bag ! The 7" loft was really a true statement....I checked and it's more like 7.5" - 8" when it's all fluffed up. It was 30 degress outside last night ...supposed to be in that range again......yep I'm sleeping outside tonight and not because my wife found out I blew a wadd on a sleeping bag! ;)

Man... I love new gear!!!”

“Woo HOo!!! Ain't life grand Wind Walker???!!! I love WM bags.”

“Just laying there on the floor ...you can tell it's a quality piece of gear!

I pulled out my 20 year old camp7
5 degree bag ....and boy does it look wimpy next to the WM Antelope.
The Antelope is a good 4" wider than my old bag and much loftier.
The old bag doesn't have a collar either.”

“You might not want to stuff your bag into the stuff sack they sent you. I remember when my WM down bags came everyone told me not to squish the down too much. You can even stuff them loose in your bag--I have never done that but I do use a biggish stuff sack. I have the highlight (40 degrees) and the ultralight (25 I think)”

“Wind Walker, just remember to breath and don't lock your knees. If you get lightheaded, put your head between your knees ; )

I think you're giddy!”

“Enjoy it WW. I look forward to the day when I can graduate to a "real" down bag like Western Mountaineering.”

“"Ever use trash bags for stream crossings? You just step into each bag, lace up your boots, and tuck the openings under your pant legs. You come out the other side fairly dry (but still cold)."

I didn't mention earlier that this is something to be careful about since the bags can baloon if you fall in.”

“Maryphyl - You're right. The ultralite bag is rated at 25 degrees.

For a winter bag, today I made the plunge for a Kodiak DL with a foot box overfill. It won't be here for the trip in a few weeks, but it should be here for the January trips. Yeehaw!”

“Heeee heeeeee....I just ordered a Western Mountaineering Big Horn Super DL with overfill.......hheeeee heeeee.....







I feel positively decadent.....



Like a kid with his first ha_d on.....tee he




Ok....I have my head between my knees now........
....thats better. I was considering a Mountain Hardwear bag (I can get it at cost) but a client paid up on a bill I all but given up on....

Sometimes you get what you need........”

“I know exactly how y'all feel about your purchase!!!
And I thought the Antelope Super was expensive...You guys are big spenders... Have Fun!!!”

“Me, too... I'm looking for a new bag to add to my EXPANSIVE collection. I plan, someday, to open a museum to display them all, and I hope you will all come, pay 49.95 to get in, and oooooh and ahhhhhhh.... oh yeah... and wipe your feet.”

“Has anyone got a website for Western Moutaineering?”

“ta”

“I see they have WM bags for us short people. I'd really like one of their zero degree bags, but it'll have to wait until next winter.”

“once you've had one, you'll never go back....ahhhhhhhhh”

“So did anyone ever try out the HotSac mentioned above? I'm wondering about the comfort of the VBL . . . was it humid? I have to protect the bag as I'll be out for several days in the Cascades trying to stay warm in my WM bag, but I don't want to feel humid in the VBL.”

“I have used a VBL in my Marmot 0* bag and didn't like it. It is a Integral Designs and besides being too snug I got really warm and felt clammy in the morning. It was about -10* that night. I guess it worked but it is too confining. I am thinking about sewing a wedge into it for more girth. The whole principal of a VBL is the humidity. Stephensons Warmlite has a great write up about VBL's on their website
www.warmlite.com/start.htm
They seem to like VBL clothing rather than a liner. It seems like it might be better and multi-use.”

“After all the praise and applause that WM bags got here on this forum I went to the one shop in town that sells WM bags. The WM Antelop sure seemed to be a very nice bag, but I found that it was just out of the price range that I am willing to pay for a sleeping bag.
Around lunch time, when precision had pulled out this old thread, I searched the internet how much WM bags cost in the US.
I nearly spat my cheese maccaroni across the desk and gagged: I'd pay 200 U$ (two hundred!) less if I'd buy the Antelop for the regular retail price in the US!”

“Wow Euro, guess they probably get you on price because it's an imported bag? Who knows. They are worth it if you spend the money.... just buy it from a US site :)”

“Hey Euro...If you buy a bag online, check out Hermits Hut. You usually get a freebie of one kind or another too. Tell'em Steve sent ya.”

“sigh....I bet they won't ship it for free across the pond.
Maybe, maybe I visit a friend in Minnesota next spring. I could get a bag shipped to her address and pick it up there ;-)”

“I bought a rucksack from Telemark Pyrenees(France) about six years ago and the shipping was not bad.
The exchange rate was bueno, too.”

“What about Valandre? They are a European bag manufacturer that I have heard makes bags of similar quality.

I can't say enough good things about Western Mountaineering bags though, I have 2 already and I think I may be getting number three for Christmas!”

“Try that exchange rate now, why in hell would anyone want to sleep in 'made in the USA'? They could be hand made by libbies or licanites or people that voteD for Carter?”

“I bought one of my bags from the Hermits Hut... I am sure if you talked to them you could work something out. They were quite easy to deal with.”

“Yeah lt. I've been reading that site's info. Some others too. I guess you're s'posed to wake at night and vent it. . . ' just don't want it feel like Florida sleeping in my bag. Ahh, what to do?”

“VBL clothing is the way to go. I got mine from stevensons and love them. Less layers around camp too.”

“WW, you'll never regret spending that dough, and you'll always know you will sleep warm in that bag. It should last you for 20 years. I'll drive a beater 16 year old cars, but I'll spend the big bucks on WM sleeping bags.

Euro, does it cost that much to ship something like that across the pond? You might find the model you want on ebay, and the seller would ship it to you for cost.”

“I'd much prefer to ship myself across the pond. Tax free.”

“Who has experience with the Dryloft versions? WM bags are pretty expensive and the Dryloft version costs quiet a bit more. Is it like a total 'must have'? Or is it a 'nice to have'? What do you think?

I always take good care of my bags and make sure they don't get wet.”

“I have a microfiber WM bag, and I think it does great.

I even got drizzled on for a few hours once. I pulled my bag up over my head and waited to feel the moisture, but I never did. Stayed warm, too.”

“just so it is clear, dryloft is not insulation. dryloft is a thin waterproof breathable layer (like thin gor-tex). you could have dryloft on any kind of sleeping bag, down or synthetic. personally i think it's a waste of money for most casual users. i would not even call it "nice to have".”

“i'll add that i have always distrusted waterproofing treatments for sleeping bags, especially for down sleeping bags. when you sleep your body puts out a lot of moisture and this can easily get trapped in the bag. a barrier will keep water from getting in (which in reality doesn't happen that often to casual hikers) but it will also inhibit water from getting out.

a better solution, in my book, if you are concerned about water and your sleeping bag is to purchase an ultralight bivy made from a fabic like dryloft (epic, etc). there are many ones like this on the market. then you can use the bivy in cold weather when you think condensation/moisture will be an issue -or- you can leave the bivy at home for warmer conditions when you think it will be more dry.”

“I am actually looking at the Microfiber version of the Antelope and are very reluctant to spend the extra money on the Dryloft.
And I will only have the Antelope if I can convince a friend, who plans on skiing in Switzerland next month, to get me one in the US. Over here the same bag will cost me incredible 200$ more and that's just so totally out of the price range that I am willing to pay for a sleeping bag.”