Western Mountaineering - AlpinLite

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

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

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.

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 have a WM alpinlite. It's incredible how versalite their bags are. I use it as a quilt when it's too warm. The zip goes 95% of the way down. It's actually more useful as a blanket style than my katabatic alsek, which has a much longer sewn footbox. I can also move the down thanks to continuous baffles, which is almost the ultimate thermal regulater. The only issue I have is the down does move around, but most of the time I don't care. If I expect a cold night, I'll shake the down so that it's mostly on top. If I expect a warm night, it's much easier to just cover myself in the part that has the least down. Any warmer than that, and my liner is probably enough.

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.

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.

I’m 6’2 220 and perhaps wider with a 46-48 chest. I have the Kodak and at our size it will just fit you like a properly sized bag. YMMV but you’re probably gonna want a mummy bag with a hood and bougie draft collar at those kind of temps. I also have the WM alpinelite which I’m taking on the AZT this month, 65 in the shoulders is as tight as I can go.

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.

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

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

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.