If you use or have used a W.M. Kodiak please give me your impressions. I think I like it better than the Bighorn for my needs in the Smokies. I'm hoping to get to -15dF using a WM Meltdown, FF booties & Montbell pants.
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...ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein... (Jeremiah)
Heintooga, I was wondering how your search was going. I have a 20 year old super Kodiak - goretex and extra down. It was rated at -5 and weighs 56 oz. I am not nearly as warm of a sleeper as I used to be and I was comfortable last week and the temps in the tent were in the high teens. Its a HUGE bag. A bag with that much girth isn't as warm unless you fill it. Mine has 2 bands of elastic added that go around from zipper to zipper, one above the knee, one at the hips. It is made with 1/8" elastic so its flexible enough to let you stretch or wear anything you want inside it. Its a nice bag with a warm foot place. Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
I haven't weighed it yet but WM says 2lb15oz and if that's true it'll be 15oz less than the Bighorn. I hope to get everything in a Vapor Trail so I can return an unused Stratus Latitude. I've been using Marmot bags so I like the girth. At 6'2" and 200lbs I hope to get a couple liters and some shoes in the foot box with me. And a big plus in using the Kodiak is it fits in my bivy so I won't have to find another.
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...ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein... (Jeremiah)
Ok so mines 8 oz heavier and I had extra down put in the draft tube. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />BTW mine was made with 700 down and cost $525 new about 20 years ago and I bought it at the original MW store in San Jose, Ca. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Oh yes and it has a LOT of seam grip on the seams.
But it needs about 3,000 inches of pack by itself. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Yes, 3000cui is a lot. His Gortex shell doesn't pack as well as Microlite. Plus the weight and bulk of 700 fill doesn't compress as well as 850fill. The standard stuff sack(XL) that comes with a Kodiak(long) is 1145cui. Many folks who carry a lot of down use bigger packs to avoid compressing more than necessary, thus his bag has lasted many years of stuffing.
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...ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein... (Jeremiah)
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