Contributors to this thread:
I know it comes up every year, but I don’t always pay attention, and they come out with new every year.
Need to replace a 2+ lb Northface
20-30 degree rating. The lightest and most compact possible.
No budget
What’s the best and lightest and smallest packing?
No budget, I like this already!
—Jim
Western mountaineering all day long!!!!!
I'd freeze in a 20 to 30 degree bag....but I'm a light-weight!
WM Badger would be my choice. Going strictly off of reviews.
+4 for Western Mountaineering, I might go with the Antelope though because I’m always cold at night!
I have the WM Alpinlite and think it’s a great bag. I probably would have picked the Badger but got a great deal on this one.
I just upgraded to an outdoor vitals it’s been working great for me so far but only been on 1 trip with it so far. My biggest reasons for going with them though was I liked the versatility of that certain bag and liked that they support hunting, I’m betting that there’s lighter more compressible bags on the market.
Blane,
Go to enlightenedequipment website and look at the Revelation quilt. You can customize it and has a closed toe box. This will work for you in all August/Sept hunts and will work for sheep hunting as well as it weighs 1 lb and is treated down so it’s good when wet and I can vouch for that. I got mine rated to 20 and was snug as a bug in a rug at 20 sleeping on the ground on a single Thermarest in merino base layer and I sleep cold.
Edit: 24 and 26 was as cold as it got, but I was warm. As it gets close to the rating, you’ll want a beanie and a hoodie.
I have a WM Apache. Bought it used on Rokslide. I have not truly tested it yet. But I wanted something better than my old bag. A good nights sleep is worth the cost. (Per above, I always wear a beanie and I use a bag liner to keep my bag clean.)
I'll second Idyll's suggestion. Enlightened equipment has what you're looking for.
I will 2nd Scoot. I purchased an Enlightened Equipment quilt before they offered the waterproof down but when they still were offering think it was 850 loft. Got a 20° but paid a few dollars more for some extra fill. Wasn't a fan. I liked the extra room that you get with a quilt but felt like I needed more layers on. Still have it but since I got the WM haven't used it.
I have switched over to quilts, but I have no complaints about my WM bags that own. I would pick that I wanted off their website then call around to find a deal....Bean outdoors would be my starting point.
If you are a side sleeper, I STRONGLY suggest you look at the NEMO Riff 15. It is light, warm, and spoon shaped. I love mine.
