Western Mountaineering - AlpinLite

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

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.

Western Mountaineering is the benchmark. Their bags really are great. In addition to WM, I also own a Gryphon Gear quilt and can say that their quality is top notch as well and they make both bags and quilts. For a few hundred less than a WM bag, you can get a Gryphon Gear Taurus bag. They are a small cottage shop so you get to deal directly with the owner and he'll make it custom to your liking if you want it a little more roomy. I think there are so many better choices than the EE quilts.

Western mountaineering… cry once, but once

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

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).

Numeri 1 - Western mountaineering - Feathered friends Li tocchi con mano e capisci subito di che pasta son fatti. Subito dopo metterei Katabatic, pieno di accessori e features utili. Poi ce ne sono tanti altri sotto molto buoni. In EU trovi piu facilmente Cumulus, fatti veramente bene. E poi ci alcuni piu piccoli che fanno roba custom made molto buoni. Ma c'è un abisso tra tutti questi e i classici commerciali e costano giusto qualche euro in piu o a volte in meno. 100-150€ per una roba che ti deve tenere caldo, essere leggero, compatto e deve durarti anni e anni, mi sembra un investimento molto piccolo. Ci prendi giusto qualche taroccata decathlon o ferrino. Io mi farei regalare lo zaino, il sacco a pelo è molto personale. Se poi dormi a pancia in giù o laterale devi prendere un quilt, col sacco non dormi.

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.

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

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