Woods Thinsulate LiteLoft sleeping bag
Joseph Nittoly
Hello,
I recently got a Woods Thinsulate LiteLoft sleeping bag rated to -15C for
my birthday. I am already impressed by its smaller size and lighter
weight compared to most other bags. Has anyone had any experience with
these kinds of sleeping bags? Are they really as warm as, say, a down
filled sleeping bag? Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Joe.
Robb McLeod
In article
<Pine.GSO.3.95.980329...@fissure.scar.utoronto.ca>,
Re: Woods' speak: -15^C means maybe +5^C.
Gently ask whoever bought the bag to take it back. Consider getting either a
Mountain Equipment Co-op or Integral Designs bag with Primaloft fill instead.
Primaloft is good stuff for a synthetic fill - LiteLoft is better than most
synthetics but go take a look at a Liteloft bag by another company rated to
-15^C and compare it to your Woods bag. You'll understand.
--
Robb McLeod
anti...@antispam.uvic.ca
(Please replace the first "antispam" with "rmcleod" if replying via email
and delete the second one.)
Steve Olson
I have the bag rated to 23 degrees. It is very small and light, and
relatively inexpensive. I would not rely on it to 23 degrees, though.
I get cold easily anyway, so I usually bring along a poncho liner also.
I have used the bag in about 32 degrees, in a bivy sack, and it was
OK with my poly clothes on and a sleeping pad. Any colder than that and
I will definitely be using the poncho liner too.
It's main advantage is the very small size and light weight. It folds
up nearly as small as a poncho liner, but is much warmer of course. It
is a summer/fall bag. Anywhere below 45 degrees and the poncho liner is
coming with too. This makes for a versatile combo.
Your -15 bag is alot bigger than the 23 degree bag, and has other
warmth features. And it is smaller and lighter than similarly rated bags.
But, I would suggest not relying on it keeping you warm any lower than
about +5 degrees to +10 degrees. Especially if you are going on a multi-
day trip.
Cal Deobald
I'm throw my two cents worth in with the naysayers on this one. My
family owns a number of Woods Liteloft bags, some rated for 0 C and
others rated for -5 C. When it dips below freezing, we usually double
them up for adequate warmth. They basically have only one thing going
for them, and that is that they are compact.
My wife owns a MEC Liteloft bag (the Panda) rated for -20 C. No
comparison between this and the Woods bags. The MEC bag has at least as
much loft as three of the Woods bags put together. Then again, it's as
big as a small barrel and weighs 4.5 lbs, but it does keep her warm, and
she's no warm sleeper.
My recommendation: if you plan to camp below freezing with any
regularity, ditch the Woods bag. Comments in other posts about making
comparisons with quality bags are right on the money. Take a look at
details like draft tubes, draft collars, ... And zip in and out of that
Woods bag a few times. If the zipper doesn't snag on the draft tube
half the time, I'll be surprised.
On the other hand, if you enjoy the Woods bag, I have five of them I can
sell you. ;-)
--
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Cal Deobald
Gull Lake Community Network Technical Volunteer
Gull Lake High School Principal
email: c...@mail.net.gull-lake.sk.ca
http://www.net.gull-lake.sk.ca
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Kirk Roth wrote:
>
> Two years ago a rather slick salesman sold me one of these bags. I used
> it in temps of about 30 degrees and absolutely froze. When I took it back
> the salesman informed me that the temp rating is a survival rating and not
> a comfort rating. I wouldn't even say it is that. I would buy nearly any
> other bag over a Woods. I can honestly say this was one of the worst
> products I have ever used. I would say the rating is more for 40 degrees.
> After this experience, I educated myself real quick.
>
> Rant off,
> Kirk
>
> Robb McLeod (anti...@antispam.uvic.ca) wrote:
> : In article
--
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Cal Deobald
Gull Lake Community Network Technical Volunteer
Gull Lake High School Principal
email: c...@mail.net.gull-lake.sk.ca
http://www.net.gull-lake.sk.ca
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