Western Mountaineering - AlpinLite

WM bags are expensive and absolutely worth it. I'll never buy anything else!

There isn't really an absolute best, but I like Katabatic for a quilt and western mountaineering or feathered friends for a bag. I prefer quilts down to around the low 20s, bags below that. Having a pocket in your quilt for a sleeping pad seems silly to me.

Hmm following to check back for my alpinelite. Anecdotally I've taken it to -10f with lots of layers, but I think the layers helped me in that instance and I was thankful for the 65" width of the alpinlite

I have an EE Enigma and a WM Alpinlite, both rated to 20F. EE looks nice on its own, but as soon as you have it next to a quality item like the Alpinlite, you realize it is a strait up piece of crap. The EE is way colder than its rating even with all my layers (confirmed with Govee thermometer). The WM performs as expected. Based on the specs and performance of both, I estimate I would need a 0F EE quilt plus dedicated head insulation, at which point the weight and price is pretty much the same as WM, but you are still getting a bottom of the barrel design with EE.

Everyone should avoid EE like the plague. Shure, they work fine enough, but their quilts have the most basic design possible (no differential cut, no edge tension control and super long U-shaped baffles that promote down migration and cold spots), are limit rated and quite expensive for what you get. They also own a tactical gear company which may or may not matter to you. My 20F EE quilt is a straight up piece of trash next to my 20F WM Alpinlite. I estimate that to get the same performance from EE I would have to go with a 0F bag and dedicated head insulation, at which point t somehow WM is both lighter and cheaper while also being light years ahead in terms of design and quality.

>turn a lot WM Alpinlite is a roomier version of the Ultralight at the same temp rating. I am also a cold sleeper and found my Alpinlite to be true to rating with base layers, however I bought it second hand and is heavier than specs. I am 186cm and 78kg and would not want to go with a tighter bag than the Alpinlite.

No, I have the regular length 180cm length. I think the length is slightly small for my size, ie, the hood fits slightly tight; if I slide down then the hood feels like it fits better but then my toes are pressed up to the foot box. Overall, I think the fit is fine, but I have zero extra space in the length. A long would be better, but I got what was available and I have no regrets. My WM Alpinlite is 921g which is 41g over spec with respect to WM page, [but is inline with this vendor's own measurement](https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/alpinlite-sleeping-bag/). Long is only 12g heavier which might be a no brainer for going with the longer size, but makes me wonder if it would be slightly colder...

Getting an EE quilt that is 20° warmer than your use case comes out to be just as expensive and heavy as going with an absolutely top of the line Western Mountaineering bag. Eg: WM Alpinlite (20°F) = $710 and 880gr. EE Enigma 0°F = $610 and 821g + $70 and ~80g for a torrid hood (and this piece of crap doesn't even have differential cut or edge tension control, while having double length U-shaped baffles that promote down migration/cold spots and is a straight up cost-cutting design choice).

I own two sleeping bags: one from Western Mountaineering (superb quality, but very expensive) and one from Cumulus (high quality at a fairly reasonable price). After a lot of comparison, I personally think both brands provide reliable comfort temperature ratings and are absolutely worth the money. Just remember: if you're physically worn out, the lower limit of the comfort range might not be enough-so it's smart to give yourself a little warmth buffer.

I'm a rotisserie sleeper too and I love my WM Alpinlite.

Western mountaineering... cry once, but once

I buy Western Mountaineering lol!

I have an ancient Western mountaineering bag and a several years old hammock gear bag. Both are excellent, it is likely that with how cheap hammock gear stuff is I won't buy anything other than these two brands in the future.

Good suggestion! I love my western mountaineering. But Radiant 20 is legit for under $200.

My Western Mountaineering Alpinlite bag. It's roomy, warm, and light in my pack. I once did a trip in Arkansas when I was still somewhat new to backpacking and didn't understand sleeping bag comfort ratings. Temps at night got down to low 20s and I had a 20 degree so I thought I'd be good. Froze my damn ass off every night and was miserable. I swore I'd never make that mistake again and splurged on a nice bag when I got home.

I've been a fan of Western Mountaineering bags for 20 years now. Made in USA, and they have a bunch of models to choose from. Currently, my main BWCA bag is the MityLite. 40F bag rating. It unzips all the way to be used as a quilt. In the shoulder seasons, I use the Alpinlite 20F bag. My Alpinlite is 20 years old and as good as new, the MityLite is 10 and also still perfect.

If you are brand new, get something cheap and on sale. Fair chance that you either will give up backpacking after a few trips or realize that you want to invest more in high-end gear. You eventually need a quiver if tents, sleeping bags, and packs as no single one is great for all conditions. For summer, I mainly use: flycreek 2p tent, Western Mountaineering 20 or 40F sleeping bags, and a daypack with side straps that cost about $60 and weighs roughly half a pound.

To this, I have an alpinlite. I recently had a night that got down to -10C. I was fine, only feeling just below comfort. Definitely would not call that the limit rating.

Will be perfect. I have the alpinlite and max temp is 25 with a puffy. Can and will be below freezing up there. Sometimes I wish I had the Versalite lol. I've done every loop, out and back, trail whatever from Kennedy Meadows to Truckee.

Huge fan of Western Mountaineering Alpinlite which is a 20 degree bag. I've had WM bags for over a decade and wonderful bags from a small local USA company based out of CA. Their 30 degree bag is this one: [https://www.westernmountaineering.com/product/megalite/](https://www.westernmountaineering.com/product/megalite/) r/TheBackpackingList

Our go to is Western Mountaineering bags. They have specific tailored bags for mountaineering.

Western Mountaineering has always keep me warm in an overfilled down bag that I got from an online dealer. I would avoid treated down, if it used chemicals like teflon, cause they are going to leach into your body. I have never washed it, always use a silk liner, always wear long leave silk shirt and pants, always wipe my body down with a wettish microfiber towel before getting into bag.

My buddy has a nemo with the gils that he really likes. Packs almost as small as mine and He got it right when a got a 20 degree alpinlite western montaineering bag before we went on the Grand Canyon. I love my Western Mountaineering, as when I use the baffel I have camped sub 25 degrees in a tshirt. I was also heavily considering a Featherd Friends quilt. I didnt know if it was going to snow/rain/be cold on the river as it was early march. These are definitely the more expensive options. But all and all I really did like the Nemo and was considering getting one for summer car camping. But I spent $600 on a bag so now i just use it as a blanket in the summer. The nemo is the only one I have tried out of your options. I think its a graat option. Cant say anout the others

If the WM UltraLite would be too slim, the AlpinLite is the same bag in a wider cut. It's a wonderful bag, but a bit pricier. You're probably tracking that sleeping at altitude is colder than at lower elevations. Shoulder season and winter up the ante.

Western Mountaineering mummy bag. I do a lot in shoulder season and these are very warm for the weight

If money isn't a factor, then I'd recommend a bag from Western Mountaineering. I've had their Alpinlite bag for a few years and I love it.

I also have a Flicker, but the lack of a hood and draft tube gives me a similar experience as yours in colder weather. I use a Western Mountaineering Alpinlite (also rated 20 degrees) for those conditions, it's \*much\* warmer. It's a "roomy mummy", not constrictive, won't compress layers, a pretty good way to transition from a quilt if that's your jam. I think efficiency is more than the oz. of down, it's also the design and cut, which makes comparing bags difficult. The Flicker was OK to about 30, I've been warm cowboy camping in the Alpinlite to well below freezing.

The weakest link spoils the fun. Sleeping back: -5 degrees in winter, ignore the rating just get a Western Mountaineering bag for all but summer, in that rating. Bottom layer for ground: closed cell foam like RidgeRest, I don't like air matressesl they take work Old sleeping bag on top of that foam pad. Another sleeping bag or blanket over you. I can't stay confined inside a mummy bag but I need one for warmth so I keep the zipper open on top so I can turn and the blanket/sleeping bag on top. It's all fun with advice at home, but bring more than you need and experiment what works for you. I was more cold and shaking in 20 degrees (rectangular bag, foam pad, little else) than I was later on in -10 degrees with the right gear and "layers"described%20above https://preview.redd.it/ceia9yeziire1.png?width=1569&format=png&auto=webp&s=4dcb31bd3abce5073f985278d6ac184f36e8a144

Alpinlite is 25 but you better be wearing socks thermals beanie and puffy otherwise 🥶🥶 best sleeping bag around though!