Western Mountaineering - Sequoia StormShield

What temperature rating do you need for your winter camping? Western Mountaineering has some very roomy winter bags available (Terralite, Sycamore, Badger, Sequoia, maybe more). They are very expensive but very good. They really can last a lifetime, so perhaps you can pick up a second hand one if you’re lucky. Alternatively, the Montbell Seamless Downhugger is made from stretchy material that works quite well. I have one of their summer bags. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBs3JFkago&pp=ygUdTW9udGJlbGwgc2VzbWxlc3MgZG93biBodWdnZXI%3D For either of these choices, you could decide to size up as well.

Late to the Party, but the Mountain Hardwear Phantom bags are no longer a good value proposition (not to imply that they were before), but you can get a Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF (Microfiber) for $850 or the Storm Shield Version for $985. The Phantom Windstopper 0 degree starts at $1,100. Western Mountaineering is made in the US and so some of the tariff-related inflation is not hitting them as hard, making them a better value proposition. Not to mention Western Mountaineering makes the best down products in the world. Other folks have mentioned Gryphon Gear. Another awesome option. You may need to wait a while to get one though. Feathered friends is great too but I think Western Mountaineering is amazing. My recommendation, Get a Kodiak MF. The Microfiber fabric may look unassuming at first, but it is incredibly durable, tightly-woven fabric with excellent weather/water resistance and it breathes super well, critical for multi-day winter outings. I have a Puma Storm Shield and while I love the fabric and the fortress feel, a laminate fabric like that takes a long time to pack into a stuff sack. It just traps air like a balloon. The microfiber is a dream fabric. A proper microfiber fabric where the filament count is equal to or higher than the denier of the fabric.

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.

I am a cold sleeper too. And I’m embarrassed to admit, I could afford a western mountaineering bag. It was 0°. And I’m 59 and I got the 6 foot six version. Giving me tons of down to snuggle into. I actually use this bag way more than just the winter and I’m always toasty warm.

Western mountaineering. I get cold easily even in the summer in Colorado at high altitudes. I also snow camp

Don’t forget to get a really big bag one that goes way over your head. It’s just so cozy.

Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends or Marmot for bags. Enlightened Equipment, Hammock Gear or Katabatic for backpacking quilts. Not cheap but quality and comfortable.

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.

Good pad. Stick with that. Edit: (I forgot about the Nemo eclipse. That's something to look at. I don't think they're ready to ship yet. I don't know that factually. I think they're officially going on sale in march. REI was doing pre-orders.) Someone mentioned Western Mountaineering. That's the best. But they're expensive. I don't know if I'd recommend it for a beginner. I have one and it's totally worth it. If you know you're going to be out there, then maybe eventually you want to make that investment. In general about sleeping bags look at the EN or ISO Comfort rating. If they don't have that, you probably don't want it. That's an incorrect statement. Because even some top brands don't necessarily publish that for certain bags. In which case you just really need to look deeper into that bag. To give you a specific example, Western Mountaineering has EN number is published on a chart under their faqs. But that only goes down to their bags that are about zero rated and above. That doesn't mean that they're cold weather bags are crap. The exact opposite actually. But a lot of budget brands are throwing a temperature rating on there that may be more related to the extreme limit number which is survivability and you'll just be cold. If you want to look at the difference between the comfort, limit, and extreme limit rating, you can. But just stick with comfort. Maybe build in an extra 10° from what you actually expect to sleep in. That's a heavy tent. You can save a lot of weight there. Let me offer a specific alternative. Durston Xmid 2. It's a trekking pole tent. If you wanted to try trekking poles, this is a great way to save weight. If you don't want to use trekking poles, Durston sells ZFlicks poles. You'll still be significantly lighter than the Half dome 2. R/durstongearheads Naturehike is a budget brand with tents you can look at to see if one would work for you. You'd save money. And probably can come out a fair amount lighter. Check out r/ultralight. I'm not saying you should go full ultralight. But if you're going to be backpacking, save weight where you can.

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!