Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 Assessment

Backside Line

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is one in every of our high selections for nearly any backpacking journey. It ranks extremely on our Finest Backpacking Sleeping Baggage Information as one of many cushiest and highest-quality down baggage we examined. It boasts a stellar warmth-to-weight ratio, large down draft collar, full-length draft tube, and a dependable no-snag zipper. Most significantly, it’s as comfy as down baggage get. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer used this bag throughout many 30-40°F fall and spring nights throughout Colorado and Utah, and it was additionally the bag of selection for Gear Analyst Casey Handley’s thru-hike of the Arizona Path.

The downsides of this sleeping bag? You’ll pay high greenback. However for ultralight backpackers with an eye fixed on sturdiness and efficiency, it’s value each penny. It’s additionally value noting the UltraLite’s match is a traditional, comfortable mummy bag, so it might really feel a bit slim for some customers. And, it doesn’t have many options past the fundamentals which is a professional for minimalists and long-distance hikers, however could also be underwhelming for people who need a extra feature-forward sleep system.

Heat

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 gives among the best heat to weight ratios we’ve examined. It’s distinctive at retaining heat with its premium 850+ fill energy down and smooth 12D nylon shell. The beneficiant draft collar – which extends 360° across the neck area of the bag – mixed with the plush full-length draft tube alongside the zipper ensures that chilly air stays out and heat is locked in, making it excellent for chilly nights. The no-snag zipper design enhances the luggage means to take care of constant heat all through the evening. The comfortable mummy design successfully traps warmth near your physique, maximizing insulation.

And, we like Western Mountaineering’s conservative temperature score for the UltraLite. Whereas most producers overstate their consolation degree claims, the UltraLite 20 is a welcome exception. It’s completely full of down fill – boasting 16 ounces, or a full pound, of feathers – so we’ve discovered it might go fairly a bit decrease than the really useful 20°F consolation degree. To check this, we slept via frigid October and November nights within the Arizona and Utah deserts, the place temps hovered round 10°F. Paired with base layers and a heat sleeping pad, our analysts stayed toasty heat all evening lengthy.

The one downsides relating to heat? The Ultralites’ giant baffles. Its down tends to settle pretty rapidly in these greater areas after a couple of dozen occasions unpacking and repacking the bag. Fortunately, the feathers are simple to redistribute with handbook massaging to eradicate chilly spots, however it might develop into a little bit of a process to organize for colder nights. And, the sacrifice you’ll make for such distinctive heat is the match is slim via – which is typical for a mummy bag, because it eliminates lifeless areas that may get chilly – though the comfortable match limits what number of layers you’ll be able to put on. Final, whereas the UltraLite is impressively heat, it’s not thought of a 4-season or winter bag. In case your subsequent backpacking journey includes in a single day temps that persistently 20°F or beneath, you’ll need to contemplate including a liner, one other quilt, or swapping to a hotter bag to remain as heat as potential.

Consolation

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is as comfy as down baggage get. Because of premium supplies and a sensible, time-tested design, we hold reaching for it 12 months spherical for backpacking journeys. The beneficiant down collar wraps 360° across the neck, which makes the bag really feel additional comfortable on chilly nights. Its hood is large sufficient to accommodate a small to medium pillow and gives two cinch cords, one on the within and one on the skin, to get the precise match round your face and head, becoming like a comfortable down hat. 12D ripstop nylon feels exceptionally smooth on the pores and skin and is comparatively quiet. The comfortable match of the mother bag design retains warmth and gives simply sufficient room to toss and switch. And, the high-quality down used within the UltraLite molds properly to the physique.

Nevertheless, the UltraLite 20 is a real mummy bag, which suggests it gives a reasonably slim match all through. If you happen to toss and switch, switching into a number of completely different positions in a single day, this will not be the bag for you, and there isn’t a lot additional area for broad shoulders. Our solely different criticism is that its high-quality development calls for a bit of additional care and upkeep to make sure longevity – we discover that the thinner ultralight materials is liable to snags and punctures – which is perhaps a disadvantage for people who’re arduous on their gear.

Weight & Packability

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 leads the pack for its heat to weight ratio, so it’s excellent for backpackers who need excellent packability, top-tier insulation, and minimal weight. At 1 pound, 13 ounces for the 6 foot mannequin, the UltraLite lands in the midst of the pack for general weight, however remember 16 ounces, or one pound – greater than half of its whole weight – is nothing however down feathers. That’s plenty of insulation, giving it round 5 inches of loft that’s tremendous heat on chilly nights however compresses remarkably nicely. On longer journeys we are likely to stash our sleeping bag loosely round our different gear to forestall shifting whereas mountaineering, nevertheless it does match effortlessly right into a compact stuff sack. The minimalist design helps hold weight down with out compromising efficiency, so it’s a handy selection for multi-day journeys, balancing weight and performance.

That mentioned, should you’re an ultralight aficionado who’s principally tenting in summer season or circumstances the place in a single day temps keep above 40°F, this bag is a bit heavy, and we’d suggest going with a lighter possibility. However for backpackers who’re trekking in shoulder seasons, taking up gentle winter circumstances, or are spending time within the excessive alpine, you received’t discover many extra packable or light-weight baggage wherever.

Options

The UltraLite is constructed for ultralight fanatics, so it has an easy function set. The hood is spacious sufficient for many backpacking pillows, and the inner and exterior hood cinch cords are excellent for blocking out chilly air. Sturdy, light-weight two-way zippers with thick full-length zipper baffles and a full-circumference neck baffles makes this bag efficient and heat.

However that’s the place the options finish. For the reason that UltraLite 20 is concentrated on shedding each pointless ounce, you received’t discover components like a stash pocket, ventilating mesh, further zippers, or different conveniences that heavier, extra feature-forward baggage supply. This won’t hit the mark for everybody, however we admire its streamlined design: by chopping out the extras, the UltraLite gives one of the best of one of the best for a high-performance, light-weight sleeping expertise.

Ought to You Purchase the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20?

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is ideal for ultralight backpackers who need a technical sleeping bag with an distinctive warmth-to-weight ratio and high-quality development. It’s the gold normal for these prepared to put money into a premium sleeping bag that can final for many years if well-maintained. With a no-frills design that provides a beneficiant down collar, a full-length draft tube, and a no-snag zipper, this bag excels at retaining you heat and cozy down to twenty°F. Its design, optimized for heat and effectivity, makes the UltraLite 20 a superb selection for cold-weather tenting and long-distance mountaineering.

Nevertheless, the UltraLite 20 isn’t for everybody. The excessive value level is usually a barrier for budget-conscious hikers. Additionally, its comfortable mummy match could also be a bit too slim for customers preferring more room. The bag’s minimalist design, whereas excellent for weight-conscious adventurers, lacks additional options that some would possibly discover helpful. Nevertheless, for high-mileage adventures the place each gram counts and dependable efficiency issues, you received’t discover a increased high quality bag wherever.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Baggage Ought to You Contemplate?

Feathered Pals Swallow YF 20 Assessment:  This bag gives an identical weight, heat, consolation score, and options to the UltraLite 20. But it surely’s extra reasonably priced, obtainable in each girls’s and males’s variations, and boasts a barely increased fill energy and fill weight that gram counters and minimalists would possibly want.

Kelty Cosmic Extremely 20 Assessment: The Extremely 20 gives a comparable fill energy and an easy function set because the Ultralite 20, though this bag is sort of a bit heavier – half a pound for the lads’s model, and a pound heavier for the ladies’s. However for roughly a 3rd of the value, the Extremely is a greater possibility for novices or these on a finances.

Zpacks Basic 20 Assessment: The Basic 20 bag shares components with the Ultralite 20 like an identical consolation score, high-quality down and a easy, well-executed design. Nevertheless, it’s considerably lighter and extra compressible, comes with a better fill energy, and for a lower cost –  though it’s not as heat or versatile in chilly climate.