The Battle of the Sleeping Bags...

Hey! So, I'm putting together a giant list of purchases to make. I get prodeals on companies like Mountain Hardwear, Arc'Teryx, MSR.. basically 50% (or more) savings on most top brands. I'm having trouble trying to decide on a sleeping bag. I get the deal on Mountain Hardwear, but not Feathered Friends, and this is what makes it hard to decide. This is what I'm looking at:

Mountain Hardwear Mtn Speed 32:
15.6oz
Good to 32F, has integral hood.
$480 (minus 50% = $240)

Feathered Friends Vireo UL
15.5oz
Bottom of the bag is good to 25F, and gradually up to 40F. Can use down jacket to make warmer. Probably packs smaller. Unfortunately is more expensive because I don't have a discount on it.
$330

I can't decide on what to get! I'll basically be using it for 3 seasons, and very possibly into the high 20's paired with a jacket. If you were me, what would you decide on? The Vireo UL seems like a better quality and more versatile bag, but it's also $100 more. Help!

Feathered friends are top notch bags, I would go that way, it will last a lifetime.

Thanks for the vote. What about going with the Mountain Hardwear bag, and adding lightweight down pants in shoulder seasons?

I looked at the Mountain Hardware and it only has a half zipper.
On nights in the mid-40's and above I open my bag all the way and use it as a quilt. The half zipper would make it work poorly for me.

I wasn't too concerned with the half-zipper. I'm okay with the weight savings and I only ever zip my sleeping bag down about 2-3 ft to get inside anyways. If I'm too hot I'll just crawl out sleep ontop of it.

Question: How warm is 150g of 850 fill down?
http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/e...eping-bag-p1459

I'm also looking at this backless bag. Thoughts?

Well I may or may not be of help here but I can at least tell you of my go around with sleeping bags when I had a similar decision as yours.

I posted here of a fantastic deal I was able to get on a set of 15 deg. bags that spec'd out quite nicely. All the good stuff, light weight DWR pertex outer, 800 fill dry down, very light and packable. Most every one here recommended WM bags and insisted that budget be damned get a GOOD bag despite the cost. It is the anchor piece of your gear they said so spend your money here first. Well long story short I was purchasing the "DEAL" with a money back guarantee so I gave them a try. They were OK at 39F but at 32F we put on all the clothes we had. Back they went and being the tight wad I am I shed a few tears as I wreaked my wallet buying 2 WM Versalites at almost twice what I paid for the others. First night out in the WM at 23F and I was VERY . No doubt IMO the bag will make its true rating and I would not consider myself a warm sleeper.

Also after talking with the good folks at WM it is clear that loft is King. There is no replacement for it as it is the key in how the insulation does its thing. Also the ability to move the insulation with continuous baffles is now IMO the only way to go. I can push that down to the top and my bag literally lofts beyond the 6 inch average advertised measured loft for that bag. I will stop short of telling you all the other things that make this bag an incredible piece of gear but I will say to heed the advise of those here or make sure you can return if not satisfied.

I always try to buy good equipment for any hobby or sport I am involved in so Im not sure why I thought I could get cheap on the one piece of equipment that would keep me comfortable and at worst alive but once again I learned you get what you pay for. Now your mileage may vary.

jimmyb

Boy, I didn't know Mt Hardwear made a bag that light, here I just bought a EE quilt at a pound, good to 30F.
Duane

did you get an enigma? I'm seriously looking at the 40* reg/wide 12.5 oz.

12.5oz? Okay I'm looking into this. Do you think you would supplement the temperature rating on this with added clothing throughout the year?

after taking my 20* EE quilt down to 12* I'm sure with some wool base layers you could take a 40* quilt down 5-10* lower.

Yes, I picked up the 30F Enigma, do not need the water resistant down, but liked the weight.
Duane

What size? Did you already get it? How about a few pictures??

It took less than a week to receive, it was one of his ready to ship ones, black exterior and gray interior. I got Tim's long 6'5" length, he said the 5'11" would be short for my 6', got it in the regular width, I think, I'm 160lbs., I could have gone with the slim I think, not much difference in weight. Lots of material to tuck around me. The thing comes up to my eyebrows. His listed weights do not include the stuff sack or straps. Total is about 16.5 oz. This is for summer use, I guess I'll get a ZPacks 10F bag in the Spring. Wrong seasons. No pics.
Duane

I'm looking into the Feather Friends Hummingbird UL20 myself. I have the Mtn Hardware Ultralamina 15 and it works well (but at 2.8 lbs, it's a tad heavy) If you're using it in conjunction with a bivy...the double-zipper is great (makes getting in and out of it easier than a traditional zip bag). Mtn Hardware makes dependable stuff.