The new Montbell Sleeping bags have hit their web page

[bfayer]

Looks like the new line of sleeping bags is on the Montbell website.

https://www.montbell.us/

Biggest change I see is the addition of bags with 900 fill and lighter weight shell material. Lets hope the retail cost is less than the list price, because there is no way I would pay more for a Montbell than say a Western Mountaineering. The bags however look pretty good.

Example:

Down Hugger 900 #2, $519.00, 12 Oz of 900 fill down, 1 lb. 8 oz total weight. That should make it a little warmer than a Western Mountaineering Megalite at the same weight (same amount of 850 fill).

[Dogwood]

I'm holding out for so called 1000 fill wt hydrophobic DriDown or Down Tek down.

[bfayer]

I'm holding out for so called 1000 fill wt hydrophobic DriDown or Down Tek down.

Why settle for 1000 Dridown, just hold out for 1500 helium infused Self drying down. It should be out by 2050 or so.

[Venchka]

... and built in radient heating.

Wayne

[bfayer]

Well I guess I could wait for that, but if the actual retail price is reasonable I might have to at least check these new bags out.

I don't know where they came up with the MSRP, they must be very proud of theses things.

[MuddyWaters]

Looks like the new line of sleeping bags is on the Montbell website.

https://www.montbell.us/

Biggest change I see is the addition of bags with 900 fill and lighter weight shell material. Lets hope the retail cost is less than the list price, because there is no way I would pay more for a Montbell than say a Western Mountaineering. The bags however look pretty good.

Example:

Down Hugger 900 #2, $519.00, 12 Oz of 900 fill down, 1 lb. 8 oz total weight. That should make it a little warmer than a Western Mountaineering Megalite at the same weight (same amount of 850 fill).

ridiculously expensive for a 23F bag.
Price seems lower than I remember for the 800 #3 though, its $299 , I think it was $329 last yr.

[Dogwood]

When is someone going to invent a backpack that morphs into a shelter like a tarp?

[bfayer]

When is someone going to invent a backpack that morphs into a shelter like a tarp?

Ask and you shall receive (well almost).

http://gearjunkie.com/tentpak

[verysimple]

Why settle for 1000 Dridown, just hold out for 1500 helium infused Self drying down. It should be out by 2050 or so.

Source? -)

[Dogwood]

Ask and you shall receive (well almost).

http://gearjunkie.com/tentpak

LOL. "TentPaks weigh an average of 13 pounds."
Not for me. Even with one of my massive volumed traveling backpacks and a decent UL 2 person tent I can get that number down to below 7 lbs.

[martinb]

In fairness, you should be able to find Montbell's cheaper than MSRP through online vendors, unlike FF or WM.

[bfayer]

In fairness, you should be able to find Montbell's cheaper than MSRP through online vendors, unlike FF or WM.

That is way I stated "Lets hope the retail cost is less than the list price" in my OP. I have no doubt it will be, but it will have to be a significant amount to make it worth the investment compared to a Wm or FF.

For the record I really like my MB bags. Great value for the price. We will have to see where the market takes these new ones.

[martinb]

I was responding to MuddyWaters. I have a super spiral #3 and it's my go-to bag in the summer. I've used it down to 25 degrees with long underwear.

[Just Bill]

Is it just me or did the weights go up as signifigantly as the price?

[bfayer]

Is it just me or did the weights go up as signifigantly as the price?

I think all down prices have gone up in general lately. As for the weight, I think the weight went up a little when they received their EN ratings. I know my number #3 UL long (a few years old) has 11 oz of down. It looks like the new one has 12 oz, and the hood looks like it has a little more material and a different shape.

I really do hope the street price on the new 900 bags is reasonable.

[bfayer]

I'm still waiting on these to hit the market and see what they sell for. While I wait, I figured I would run some numbers for comparison. These are for the long versions of the bags:

Total Weight (oz) Fill Weight (oz) Fill volume (Cubic Inches) EU Comfort Rating
Montbell #2 900 Long: 27 13 11700 23F/34F

WM Megalite (850 fill) 25 13 11050 WM rated @ 30F

WM Megalite W/2 oz Overfill 27 15 12750 UNK but ~less than 30F


MSRP of the MB is: $535, market price: ?

MSRP of the WM is: $460, market Price: ~$440

MSRP WM W/2oz OF $491, market price: $415*

The numbers to me confirm that the WM (like most people say) is probably accurately rated at 30F. It also confirms my view that unless the MB market price is much lower than MSRP, the WM is a much better value especially with overfill. Same weight, probably similar temp rating. The MB probably has more room for big folks that toss and turn, which is a big plus for the weight, but the WM Megalite is as big a bag as anyone makes for the weight, so I would say they are in the same class.

*Not a typo. Hermits Hut sells WM bags with free overfill at the stated price. http://www.hermitshut.com/?product=w...e-sleeping-bag

Opinions?