I’ve owned a WM Megalite and still currently own an Ultralite. I also currently own 40* and 20* GG Aries quilts. I think GG quality is great. Is it as good as WM? Maybe not. I think the WM bags are really well designed. If budget isn’t an issue, get the WM. If budget is tight, the GG bag will still be great and Gary is great to work with. I also think that a separate hood just makes more sense.
I'm a 5'9" male and fluctuate between 155-160lbs. I've owned the Megalite and still own the Ultralite. The Megalite is the same dimensions as the Alpinlite. At your stated size, I would definitely recommend the larger size of the Alpinlite. I think you'll appreciate the extra room. I always recommend the over stuff. It really helps to firm everything up so that there is less down shifting, which helps to eliminate cold spots.
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.
In practice I have never had any issue like this in a my hooded mummy bags (like WM Megalite). Maybe it depends on the bag, or it becomes more of an issue with bigger/warmer bags?
I can turn both with my mummy bag (WM Megalite so quite roomy), but also turn in it without moving the bag. In the latter case, the hood isn’t necessary in the way. But again, maybe that is because it’s not a very warm bag.
western mountaineering megalite fits the bill for a non-constricting mummy bag design and it its too expensive the rei magma 30 is spec'd extremely similarly at a much lower cost.
I had three of those bags in my house at the same time along with a panyam 450. The s2s was the -1 version.
I was disappointed with my quilt for shoulder season temps so decided I wanted a bag.
Comparing the loft side by side the WM was the winner and I liked the extra width being a bit bigger.
If you are ok with the standard size of the xlite and the standard 3mm zip the xlite is a great buy.
Ps as you eluded too the Sea to summit ratings are T lower limit ratings, the comfort rating of their -1C bag is 4C, the comfort of the -9 is -2C, #marketing
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Spacious for side sleepers; bulky, temp rating optimistic.
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