Stephen Younge
2004-08-17 05:06:26 UTC
I've been looking into lightweight sleeping bags for summer hikes and climbs
in the Colorado Rockies and Cascades, plus winter adventures in the desert
and canyons. I'm generally looking in the 30F range since I already have a
0F Western Mountaineering bag. I'd mostly be using it with a bivvy sack but
some tent action as well.
Does anybody have experience with any of the bags below? I've checked out
the UL Down Hugger #3 and it seems to be of decent quality, but the fact
that the price and weight are lower than almost all the others (with a full
zip, no less) worries me a little.
I'm generally a fan of more marquee bag makers like Western Mountaineering
or Feathered Friends, but neither seem to have anything really solid in this
category.
Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.
Montbell UL Down Hugger #3
$230
30F
1 lb 5 oz
725-fill down
full zipper
Marmot Hydrogen
$329
30F
1 lb 8 oz
900-fill down
half-zipper
Feathered Friends Merlin
30F
$300 + $14 (for down upgrade)
800-fill down
half zipper
1 lb 8 oz
may be narrow (58/52/38)
TNF Beeline 900
30F
1 lb 3 oz
900-fill down
no zipper -- this worries me; could make temp control quite difficult!
GOLITE Feather Bag
20F
800 fill
quarter (60cm) zipper
1 lb 13 oz
$299
GOLITE Feather-Lite Bag
40F
1 lb 2 oz
$249
Also... Is there any real difference between 750+ fill and 900 fill? The
Feathered Friends web site claims that '800+ fill' is the best currently
available, while TNF and others claim to use 900 fill. Western
Mountaineering claims that the fill power ratings are essentially worthless
because they are done under unrealistic conditions.
in the Colorado Rockies and Cascades, plus winter adventures in the desert
and canyons. I'm generally looking in the 30F range since I already have a
0F Western Mountaineering bag. I'd mostly be using it with a bivvy sack but
some tent action as well.
Does anybody have experience with any of the bags below? I've checked out
the UL Down Hugger #3 and it seems to be of decent quality, but the fact
that the price and weight are lower than almost all the others (with a full
zip, no less) worries me a little.
I'm generally a fan of more marquee bag makers like Western Mountaineering
or Feathered Friends, but neither seem to have anything really solid in this
category.
Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.
Montbell UL Down Hugger #3
$230
30F
1 lb 5 oz
725-fill down
full zipper
Marmot Hydrogen
$329
30F
1 lb 8 oz
900-fill down
half-zipper
Feathered Friends Merlin
30F
$300 + $14 (for down upgrade)
800-fill down
half zipper
1 lb 8 oz
may be narrow (58/52/38)
TNF Beeline 900
30F
1 lb 3 oz
900-fill down
no zipper -- this worries me; could make temp control quite difficult!
GOLITE Feather Bag
20F
800 fill
quarter (60cm) zipper
1 lb 13 oz
$299
GOLITE Feather-Lite Bag
40F
1 lb 2 oz
$249
Also... Is there any real difference between 750+ fill and 900 fill? The
Feathered Friends web site claims that '800+ fill' is the best currently
available, while TNF and others claim to use 900 fill. Western
Mountaineering claims that the fill power ratings are essentially worthless
because they are done under unrealistic conditions.