Western Mountaineering - Bison GWS Expedition

Hello. I went with the Western mountaineering Bison, the decision was "helped" a lot because I could buy it for whole sale price, still very close to 1 thousand euro though. If not I would have also looked very close at the RAB. But I think the WM bison is very rugged, and warm, it also has good room in it, not too much but still good for moving around. I just had it out for 3 nights here in Norway, and it worked really well. Although water/ice scares me a little because it can build up quite quickly (If you make the same stupid mistake as me and take semi-wet clothes into the sleeping bag without thinking about it...). It managed -30 C in Norway really well, I was too warm to start :) But for my next trip - 14 days to Greenland I will take a synthetic overbag, some kind of Carinthia maybe. And I would probably also try a VBL just for fun :) You will be happy with it. And I'm confident about sleeping with a dog in the tent with that sleeping bag. I also slept with someone who had the Pajak, and the outer shell is just sooo thin, I would not like that, it seems very vulnerable, and the little extra weight vs extra security in the bag not opening up, don't matter when you have it on a pulka. Hope it was helpful

I liked my quilt when I was doing shorter trips. Once I started doing months at a time I grabbed a western mountaineering bag and I have no regrets. Helps me extend a bit more into shoulder season

Western Mountaineering mummy bag. I do a lot in shoulder season and these are very warm for the weight

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

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.

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

I have an ancient Western mountaineering bag and a several years old hammock gear bag. Both are excellent, it is likely that with how cheap hammock gear stuff is I won’t buy anything other than these two brands in the future.

Western mountaineering sleeping bag. If you want to do -10, it's the only way.

Western mountaineering, awesome bags and uber lightweight.

My buddy has a nemo with the gils that he really likes. Packs almost as small as mine and He got it right when a got a 20 degree alpinlite western montaineering bag before we went on the Grand Canyon. I love my Western Mountaineering, as when I use the baffel I have camped sub 25 degrees in a tshirt. I was also heavily considering a Featherd Friends quilt. I didnt know if it was going to snow/rain/be cold on the river as it was early march. These are definitely the more expensive options. But all and all I really did like the Nemo and was considering getting one for summer car camping. But I spent $600 on a bag so now i just use it as a blanket in the summer. The nemo is the only one I have tried out of your options. I think its a graat option. Cant say anout the others

The weakest link spoils the fun. Sleeping back: -5 degrees in winter, ignore the rating just get a Western Mountaineering bag for all but summer, in that rating. Bottom layer for ground: closed cell foam like RidgeRest, I don't like air matressesl they take work Old sleeping bag on top of that foam pad. Another sleeping bag or blanket over you. I can't stay confined inside a mummy bag but I need one for warmth so I keep the zipper open on top so I can turn and the blanket/sleeping bag on top. It's all fun with advice at home, but bring more than you need and experiment what works for you. I was more cold and shaking in 20 degrees (rectangular bag, foam pad, little else) than I was later on in -10 degrees with the right gear and "layers" described above. https://preview.redd.it/ceia9yeziire1.png?width=1569&format=png&auto=webp&s=4dcb31bd3abce5073f985278d6ac184f36e8a144

I buy Western Mountaineering lol!

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