What’s your preferred light weight alpine bags and why?

Looking to get a new light weight bag for the alpine and was looking at this One since I’ll have a jacket with me anyways. Chances are someone is already using so some pros and cons would help. Other options are welcomed if you have a bag you’d never swap out. Thanks
-Justin

The 7d fabric is getting kind of silly IMO. 20d is fragile enough.

I have a similar bag in synthetic. I like not having to worry about moisture or shell damage. 

jdejace wrote: The 7d fabric is getting kind of silly IMO. 20d is fragile enough.

I have a similar bag in synthetic. I like not having to worry about moisture or shell damage. 

I carried a 7d Western mountaineering ultralight for the entire PCT in 2017. I never poked a hole in it. I rolled off my pad in the desert while cowboy camping, but it fared just fine. Avoid stabbing them with a tool or an ice screw or setting them on fire and you'll be fine.

The Extremelite series are 12d as far as I know. Backpacking is not climbing but yes if you manage to be careful 100% of the time the shell will be fine. I can't manage that. 

I've a similar lightweight sleeping bag the past year that has a 10D shell fabric. It's survived a trip to Patagonia and a whole summer of alpine rock climbing and doesn't have any holes. Given the quality of Feathered Friends products, I wouldn't have any qualms about the 7D fabric. I haven't exactly babied mine and it looks fine. So long as you're not trying to breakdance in it while bivvied on a ledge, you'll probably be fine.

Thanks for the input everyone. My OR puffy is a 10D outer shell and it’s held up pretty nice other than the dispute it had with my nut tool. My only thought other abrasions on the 7D was moisture seeping in and killing the loft. My puffy is pretty quick to pick up moisture, but it dries out pretty quick.

I've been using the Flickr 30 from FF for over a year now and I love that thing. It has a 10D Pertex face fabric, and it honestly feels pretty good. Better than alot of thinner face fabrics I've used in the past. Those light face fabrics really let the 950+ fill power down loft up good. I've been debating on getting the Tanager lately also, it weighs nothing and probably packs down crazy small. I've also got the Lark 10 UL from FF and you just can't beat their products. Only bags I will use these days.

Justin Sanger wrote: Thanks for the input everyone. My OR puffy is a 10D outer shell and it’s held up pretty nice other than the dispute it had with my nut tool. My only thought other abrasions on the 7D was moisture seeping in and killing the loft. My puffy is pretty quick to pick up moisture, but it dries out pretty quick.

Yeah water can typically get through those tissue paper fabrics a bit more easily, on the other hand they tend to dry faster. Hard to say what the better compromise is on any given day. Down is high maintenance :-)

If you want that kind of bag another option besides FF is Nunatak. It's a custom item so will take time. It will be sized to your specs, whatever fabric you want, down or synthetic.

https://m.facebook.com/nunatakgear/posts/358239227866480

Compact, waterproof/windproof, and at 60 cents a pop, you can get a new one for each climb...

enlightenedequipment.com/re…

Way more versatile then a bag ! And you can design it to your preference. I absolutely love mine !

Haven't used on, but i've heard good things about the Patagonia Hybrid Sleeping Bag

Antisocial Alpine Hiker wrote: That's for real mountaineers.  Pretty sure the OP is a trust fund baby with deep pockets, and is looking for an option that doesn't require spooning.

My trust fund doesn’t kick in until my old man kicks the bucket unfortunately. Luckily the folks just let me buy what I want until then. Plus I wouldn’t buy those cheap bags anyways. The fabreeze stretch fit smell better and allow for more movability.  

I have a custom Feathered Friends UL Vireo that I’ve used for years.  When they built it for my I opted for a single layer of fabric and no down on the bottom except for the lower two baffles which go all the way around.  Most of the baffles wrap just a bit underneath me.  I also had them over stuff the bottom two foot baffles for increased warmth around my feet.  I believe total weight is around 350g, though I’d have to go weigh it again to make sure.  I’ve used that bag a lot in Patagonia, little bit in lower/warmer elevations in AK and late winter in the Canadian Rockies.  I’m not sure why this design isn’t a normal option from FF or others.  It seems way warmer than the Patagonia half bag.  I’ve had partners with the Patagonia bag freeze their asses off and I slept just fine right next to them.

Mark Pilate wrote: Compact, waterproof/windproof, and at 60 cents a pop, you can get a new one for each climb...

Bridwell used one in the Alaska Range...

Artem Vasilyev wrote: How does MP feel about this bag vs. the bag described by Mikey Schaefer?

I guess it depends on how cold you expect it to be. The Mont Bell half bag seems pretty heavy at 23 oz.

Edit: Any choice of "alpine" sleeping bag will depend on the temps expected. For my summer Sierra trips, I prefer lightweight quilts. And "lightweight" is relative.

Artem Vasilyev wrote: How does MP feel about this bag vs. the bag described by Mikey Schaefer?

Depends on what layers you're bringing but I prefer having insulation up to the neck. 

+1 for the FF Vireo. Pair it with a down jacket.

mark kerns wrote:

Bridwell used one in the Alaska Range...

Seems like the same idea as an emergency space bivy sac. Used one once in a frozen/ stuck rope kind of a situation and I was toasty warm all night. They work as a vapor barrier and are really effective. The problem is when you have to get going after the weather or night breaks and now your covered in condensation. 

Artem Vasilyev wrote:

Just bought the one linked by OP and planning on pairing it with a down jacket and a Montbell Down Balaclava to plug up any air gaps. Comes out to ~600 grams which is nice. May even use some Downbooties for colder nights. 

When you get it will you let me know your first impressions and then possibly sleep in the back yard to let me know if it’s as warm as the few reviews say? All jokes aside if you could let me know I’d appreciate it!

Weird, I look at the weight and sizing. I've got the Western Mountaineering Alpinelight, roomy, draft collar and proper hood, similar weight and temp.
Sorry, was looking at fill weight.
985g WM vs 558g for the FF.
But that temp rating is only when using a hooded puffy.

Luc-514 wrote: Weird, I look at the weight and sizing. I've got the Western Mountaineering Alpinelight, roomy, draft collar and proper hood, similar weight and temp.
Sorry, was looking at fill weight.
985g WM vs 558g for the FF.
But that temp rating is only when using a hooded puffy.

I might be different, but I always carry a puffy whenever the weather is cold and I might be still for a bit. I haven’t done alpine climbing, but I have quite a bit of winter hiking and camping under my belt and never ended up in a situation I’d have a bag where I didn’t have a jacket. Just seems like a piece of gear I always carry.