Western Mountaineering

TerraLite Sleeping Bag: 25F Down

Terralite

I was needed a warm bag for a Utah bike tour. I narrowed it down to the Terralite and Alpinlite. I already owned the Tamarack bag but it was way too bulky for my bike. I consulted my ever-reliable Gearhead, Ryan, and he did not let me down. The big question I had was the Alpinlite had a down draft tube around the chest-neck to prevent heat loss as did my Tamarack. That feature is a big plus. Ryan thought through the purchase with me. I already owned a 15* bag. The difference between the Alpinlite and Terralite is 5* and $90. The TerraLite would give me more versatility in warmer conditions. So, was that chest draft tube worth $90? Ryan suggested I could stuff a puffy in the bag that would serve the same function as a draft tube. I agreed. I'm carrying the puffy anyway, so I decided to go with the TerraLite. I bought the 6'6' though I am 5'11" and am glad I did. The extra girth and foot length adds to the flexibility for temperature regulation and comfort (I want my tootsies to breathe). The bag worked out perfectly. Though temps only dipped into the upper 30s/low 40s, I was toasty with my puffy stuffed on top. I plan to use the bag in October/November here in NE Oregon so that will test the bag's comfort. Originally, I thought the Backcountry Gearhead program was a gimmick but after taking advantage of Ryan's experience and knowledge over the past two years, I fully appreciate him and encourage others to utilize this free valuable resource. Bottom line: The TerraLite bag is a great bag and I highly recommend it!

The most comfortable bag I've ever used.

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

10.5

Height:

5' 10"

Weight:

180

Most comfortable bag I've ever used. I bought this as a 3 season option for 20 and up degrees conditions, as its ability to completely open and act as a quilt is perfect and makes it usable in all summer. I'm 6'2" so I bought the 6'6 bag. Even tho the majority of my height is from my legs, I can curl up with my lower legs perpendicular to the bag's length and have 2 inches of width to spare. All this dead space is hard to heat when the temps unexpectedly drop. The lack of a down collar or neck sinch makes it impossible to stop cold drafts without uncomfortably pulling the hood around your face and stuffing extra clothes around your neck. I love the bag, but I do not understand why WM opted out of a down collar, this would easily add 5 degrees to its lower comfort range.

TerraLite

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

59.5

Height:

6' 2"

Weight:

190

Returned because of Short hood w/o padding around pull-cord - otherwise a great bag.

Oh Yeah!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Great bag, great company. I've been using this bag for over 3 years and love it. It is a crucial piece of my UL setup. Comfort: A, The semi-rectangular shape makes a big difference (vs full mummy) in comfort for me; I can roll around and move my legs (as I am bound to wake up and shift a lot while sleeping out on trail). Durability: B+, I've had one little down leak that was repaired with a tiny piece of Scotch tape. Warmth: B+, I don't know about 25 degrees, as around freezing I'll be layering up or adding a down quilt, but I tend to run cold on every bag I've owned. UL performance: A, very light, packs down small, solid 3-season performance *Tip: I just discovered that my Thermarest Neo X-therm fits perfectly inside the bag, while you sacrifice a little room and warmth, this essentially eliminates sliding (and cuts down the "crinkle" of the pad) and I have slept much better since