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Post by High Sierra Fan on Oct 17, 2016 16:49:46 GMT -8
Recommendations appreciated.
Oh, looking at sleeping bags.
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trinity
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Posts: 2,909 
Member is Online
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Post by trinity on Oct 17, 2016 16:58:15 GMT -8
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 17, 2016 17:03:32 GMT -8
I've always bought mine straight from WM with overfill. Maybe someone else can give you alternative retailers but sales are rare.
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 17, 2016 17:12:24 GMT -8
Ok. I think I get it. You want to touch and feel them? Not many brick and mortor retailers carry them. I don't know of any. Just take a leap of faith. Other than Feathered Friends they are the best US mfgtr.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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Post by Westy on Oct 17, 2016 17:18:23 GMT -8
We have North Face, Marmot, Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends sleeping bags. Essentially we are replacing the Marmot, TNF with Western Mountaineering products. Our Western Mountaineering bags are - MegaLite 30°
- UltraLite 20°
These are way superior to Marmot and TNF in weight, demonstrated warmth and pack size. Our first was replacing the Marmot Hydrogen with the WM MegaLite. Why change? It's was the zipper and it's interface. Superior with WM. Recently purchased a Feathered Friends Swallow UL 20° over the WM Alpinlite 20° My daughter uses the WM UltraLite° and it's somewhat tight around the shoulders for me. Looked at the AlpinLite 20° but purchased the FF Swallow UL 20°. The FF Swallow is 2 oz. lighter and it's for a specific application. The weight reduction is due to shoulder and hip dimensions that are 1" smaller in circumference. The FF down was 950 vs. 900. My take on sleeping bags...never another TNF, Marmot, etc. again. Either WM or FF. Price higher, quality better. |
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zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Oct 17, 2016 17:21:30 GMT -8
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 17, 2016 17:32:13 GMT -8
I've seen better prices elsewhere on occasion, but Moosejaw is usually at or near the best. Backcountry.com is also right in there.
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daveg
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Michigan
Posts: 565
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Post by daveg on Oct 17, 2016 20:33:43 GMT -8
I purchased my WM sleeping bag at The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry. But that was 10 years ago and they were having a sale at the time. Don't know if they still sell WM bags but it might be worth a call.
Several years after buying my sleeping bag I was hiking a section of the AT that took me through Harpers Ferry. I stopped at The Outfitter because I was having a problem with my MSR Miniworks and I needed batteries for my headlamp. After checking out my filter the guy I was dealing with concluded the O-ring was bad. The store didn't have an O-ring in stock so he opened up a new Miniworks, took the O-ring from it, and gave it to me.
When I left, I forgot to take the batteries I had bought and didn't realize it until I was a day or two down the trail. That evening another hiker showed up at the shelter I was staying at with my batteries. The guy at The Outfitter had given the batteries and my physical description to a hiker who had come in to the store later and asked him to get the batteries to me.
Those are the only two times I've shopped at The Outfitter. But I was left with a very positive impression.
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franco
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Post by franco on Oct 18, 2016 0:49:28 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Oct 18, 2016 0:53:23 GMT -8
Thanks, yeah I'd seen the list, so was interested in people's suggestions as to which was better if any.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Oct 18, 2016 0:54:51 GMT -8
I've always bought mine straight from WM with overfill. Maybe someone else can give you alternative retailers but sales are rare. I couldn't tell from their website that they sold direct. That would actually be my preference: get the money to the originator not middle steps. I'll look further then. Thanks. |
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,160
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Post by reuben on Oct 18, 2016 3:19:32 GMT -8
I called WM this summer about buying a bag. They pointed me to the online vendors. I bought from Moosejaw. Easy transaction.
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markskor
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Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
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Post by markskor on Oct 18, 2016 3:19:59 GMT -8
Here in Mammoth Lakes...
Mammoth Mountaineering
361 Old Mammoth Rd
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Tel: 760-934-4191
BTW, locals (and Yosemite employees) get a 10% discount on WM...
plus, it's only $40 to have them send in your bag for an overfill.
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Oct 18, 2016 3:23:21 GMT -8
Bivouac in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is my local brick-and-mortar independent gear shop. They have an online shop and are also very helpful on the phone. They have 2-3 major store-wide sales annually when just about everything is discounted at least 20%, including all the brands that are "never" discounted, like WM. One in July during the Ann Arbor Art Fair, one in early October (I think it's their anniversary sale) and at least another one, maybe around Memorial Weekend. www.bivouacannarbor.com/I have a WM Ultralite and a Summerlite, both in the 5'6" length. If you're looking at one of their UL bags and haven't seen it in person, I would recommend that you try. Their girths are on the slim side. Hilton Tent City in Boston used to sometimes have WM bags in their "bargain basement". Another classic gear shop. |
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trailguru
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Same Trailguru as before!!
Posts: 21
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Post by trailguru on Oct 18, 2016 6:23:29 GMT -8
We have a local retailer in SoCal called Adventure 16. If you sign up for their newsletter you can sometimes receive codes that also do apply for WM bags.
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