Antelope MF

I have the Western Mountaineering Antelope. I love it and would highly recommend it if it is in your budget. I did not get the overfill and have not had a problem with the fill compressing so if I was going to get a new one, I don't think I'd get the overfill. I am a slide sleeper that roles around and the bag conforms around me nicely (I actually find it better then my warm-weather quilt that I some how mange to tangle myself up).

Quality of the bag/down makes a difference. I only use WM bags. Your body heat should be sufficient to "bake off" any moisture. Over the years I have spent a couple of months on Kodiak island and the Alaska interior in some nasty weather with my WM Antelope. Never had an issue with the moisture. Similar experience with the WM MegaLite as far as dealing with moisture albeit in warmer temperatures. Due to a tarp/hammock failure during a monsoon, the footbox of this bag took a direct hit from a multi-hour monsoon followed up by a multi-hour soak. It was not nearly as bad as what the naysayers would have lead you to believe. Water only soaked through the top half of the bag. Poured the water out, hopped in, and went to sleep. It was bone dry in the AM despite overnight rain.

If you don’t want to buy a bag for 10 years, get the Antelope. You’ll pass it down to your grandchildren. I have one from the late 90’s that’s my favorite thing ever, and a newer one that is the best winter bag I’ve ever tried by a good margin. High quality, warmer than its rating, excellent craftsmanship and details, the Antelope is the move. You won’t regret it. For overfill, you should be good for temperatures you’ll see, and WM down is very high quality and you won’t lose much loft at all, so it’ll just be extra weight. You can always add it later

The #3 zipper thing is legit - had one snag so much on a trip I almost ripped the baffle, defintiely go with the #5 YKK on the WM if you're keeping it for a decade.

If you want the best, the answer is Western Mountaineering. The antelope 5 is absolutely amazing for low temps. I’ve been inside sweating in 0* weather. True comfort rating not survivable temps. When it comes to other brands, I’d be looking at feathered friends, Nemo, mountain hardware, marmot. If you are experienced with quilts, that is another option.

The correct answer. Don't forget the overfill option, well worth it. Feathered Friends is also a good company, but I can not disagree with free hop. -40F Bison would be a fine choice, I have a WM -5F and I am very happy with it. I like putting a reflective mat does as my first layer of insulation against the cold ground.

WM continuous baffle design kinda is a hybrid. You can shift the down from top to bottom and reverse if its too hot/cold. So you are basically resting on the 2 thin nylon layers. If this is too warm, zip it up and use it as a blanket. No drafts, no straps,… you can take a model without a draft collar to safe weight and wear your puffy inside. Highly recommended!