Western Mountaineering Versalite Sleeping Bag: Superlight Warm Sleeping Bag for Cold Hiking Adventures
Nothing can ruin your nature vacation, backpacking, hiking adventures, or a camping trip, like spending cold nights shivering because you have an inefficient and cheap sleeping bag. Choosing the right sleeping bag is one of the most important hiking decisions you will have to make when choosing your backpacking gear.
Good and high-quality bags offer warmth, comfort and safety while remaining lightweight. Today we are going to introduce you some tips on what to consider when buying a sleeping bag and a review of one of a top rated sleeping bags out there on the market, the Western Mountaineering Mummy Sleeping Bag.
If you’re using a good quality tent and you want your sleeping bag to keep you from freezing at temperatures below zero, this Western Mountaineering Mummy sleeping bag is the winner.
This sleeping bag was designed and engineered with the outdoor enthusiasts in mind and those who feel comfortable sleeping at 10 to zero degrees (we suggest you use same layers additionally, just in case). Measuring 6 feet in length, it has plenty of space for taller users.
Hopefully, our article and review will give you some suggestions on how to find the perfect sleeping bag for your hike in order to keep your feet comfortable and warm despite the cold. Let’s start!
Review
Packaging
Your new sleeping bag will come packaged in a box that includes the sleeping bag and a stuff sack. Once you open the package, you find that it is stuffed down to 8 x 15 inches. From there, you will want to unroll the sleeping bag to air it out before using it.
Design and Durability
Many people love the mummy shape of a sleeping bag because it is more comfortable than a traditional style sleeping bag, and it keeps more heat inside and blocks the cold air from coming inside of the bag. This highly durable sleeping bag can really stand up to the harsh outdoors and is roomy enough to move around and not feel too confined.
The 6 inch loft is highly comfortable, as well as the baffles inside of the bag. The shoulder and foot areas have extra space so you do not feel stuck to the sleeping bag, too.
You can also choose your sleeping bag by which side you want the zipper on, the left or the right. This particular bag comes in a green colored shell with a blue colored inner lining. Users say that it is attractive and functional.
Insulation
This versatile sleeping bag is the warmest bag in the Extreme Lite series designed by Western Mountaineering. Its full collar will “seal” the warmth inside the bag and protect you from any cold and its shoulder girth is 62’’, which is roomy enough and the users are sung, but straight jacketed.
If you bring this bag into the back country you will love it for its weight. The total weight of the bag is mere 2 pounds and it can be compressed in a backpack without putting much strain.
Sporting a full draft collar plus a highly breathable shell fabric and a premium 850+ goose down, this light sleeping bag is ideal for bike-touring, hiking, camping, trekking and kayaking.
The designers also combined the durability and warmth of traditional down fills, with the synthetic fill that is resistant to moisture. You will be surprised how good it can retain the warmth and is true 4 season sleeping bag if you use it with a proper tent and liner.
Sleeping Bag Specifications
Below is a table of the specifications of this sleeping bag. It will give you all of the specific details so you can see if this is the correct fit for you, no matter your height.
| Recommended Use | Backpacking |
| Claimed Weight | Short Size – 1 lb 14 ozRegular Size – 2 lb
Long Size – 2 lb 2 oz |
| User Height | Short Size – 5 ft 6 inRegular Size – 6 ft
Long Size – 6 ft 6 in |
| Shoulder Circumference | Short Size – 62 inchesRegular Size – 62 inches
Long Size – 63 inches |
| Hip Circumference | Short Size – 53 inchesRegular Size – 53 inches
Long Size – 54 inches |
| Foot Circumference | Short Size – 39 inchesRegular Size – 39 inches
Long Size – 39 inches |
| Shape | Mummy |
| Insulation | 850+ fill down |
| Materials Used | Shell – Extreme LiteLining – Nylon Taffeta |
| Degree | 10 F |
| Storage Sack | Yes |
| Stuff Sack | Yes |
| Manufacturer Warranty | Lifetime |
Versa Lite sleeping bag is a sizable yet value-filled investment in warmth, comfort and safety when spending time in the outdoors.
Manufacturer’s Recommendations
Cleaning the bag is fairly easy, but requires particular attention to the type of washer used. We suggest hand-washing with warm water, but you could also use front-loading washer too. Just stay away from all washers that can cause damage to the fabric of the sleeping bag.
The down feathers in the fill make this bag durable and warmth enough through many washings. In order to prevent any unnecessary decrease of its loft or wear, it would be best that you store it properly. Suspending it upside down in a dry and cool place is the best way to go.
We suggest avoiding using a hanger or folding whenever possible as if you fold it you might create pinch points and cause separation of the fill which will leave “cold” spots.
Value for the Money and Guarantee
This packable, breathable, ultra-light and high-thread-count ExtremeLite fabric encases the insulation without adding any unnecessary weight.
With the Ultra-premium 850+ fill down insulation that holds your body warm and provides a high warmth-to-weight ratio comparing to any other synthetic-fill insulation, the price range of $550-$600 seems like a really good deal for such a sleeping bag.
Furthermore, the sleeping bag is backed by the brand’s warranty which covers all manufacturer’s defects for lifetime. If the sleeping bag suffers from some sort of failure due to the quality, Western Mountaineering will discreetly replace or repair the damaged sleeping bag.Your only obligation will be to thoroughly clean the bag before sending it to be repaired which seems fair enough.
One of the professional hikers who tested the backpack said that this sleeping bag has more loft than his 24 pound sleeping bag. Most reviewers agreed that it is the warmest sleeping bag on the market that they have used considering its weight.
Its collar, hood and draft tube are fuller than some sub-zero sleeping bags that weigh twice as much as this Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. This mummy bag isn’t claustrophobic at all so all hikers who enjoy space will love it and you can simply wear just pants and a light down jacket while inside.
It comes with a full length zipper and you will have the ability to shift down from bottom to top which provides a wide comfort range. It’s the number one choice for backpackers who love tent camping at cold weathers. The majority of people that tried the bag in the wilds agree that they should have purchased it years ago.
Engineered (some would say over-engineered) to exceed the expectations of hikers, mountaineers, campers and those seeking a night out in the back country, Versa Lite is a must have sleeping bag that is ideal for almost any endeavor.
There were no negative reviews on this bag, but that does not mean it is perfect. The only real issue is that the nylon shell is not water proof, but instead it is water resistant. If your bag does get wet, you can hang it out to dry once the bad weather has passed.
Also, while this bag is not that expensive compared to other high quality sleeping bags, it is a little pricey, so you will want to take your finances into account, and know how much you plan to spend on a superb sleeping bag that will last for years to come.
We reviewed pros and cons of the Western Mountaineering sleeping bag that you can read below:
PROS:
- Over the top warmth for its weight
- Versatile comfort range
- Could be comfortable with limited layering
- Full-down collar with a seal
CONS:
- Ultra light weight nylon isn’t waterproof so this mummy sleeping bag should be used only in a tent.
- Only comes in one color
- A bit on the pricey side
High-alpine climbers looking to cast a couple of pounds will love this bag’s unmatched weight-to-warmth ratio and all mountaineers looking to push their limits with their seasonal gear can get a little bit more insulation from layers thanks to its wider shoulder circumference.
