Western Mountaineering Versalite or Antelope

[philm]

I am after a winter bag for Tasmania. I currently have a One Planet Zephyr (lower limit -7C) and don't think this will be warm enough?

I was considering either the WM Versalite (-12C) only 950gms! or the WM Antelope GWS (-15C) bag.

Does anyone have these bags and how do they perform in a Tassie winter?

[markg]

I have a WM Antelope GWS, only had it in -7 and was plenty warm with just a tee shirt. Bags seem to be well put together, not keen on the velcro tabs on collar baffle etc.

[stry]

I have an Antelope in MF (NOT GWS). Great bag and works well for me in the conditions for which I bought it. It is not my only bag.

BUT I believe you would be happier with the Versalite, unless the GWS is important to you, in which case I suggest you consider the Apache GWS.

The Antelope is MUCH heavier than the specs suggest. I believe that the non GWS Atelope will average around 300g more than the Versalite, and the GWS version will be even heavier. I do not believe that the spec weights are deliberately misleading, but there are couple of anomalies weight wise in the W/M lineup which I suspect have arisen due to some interpolation, as distinct from actual weighing of current models; on the part of the preparer(s) of the info.

I wouldn't be surprised if actual weighing showed the Versalite to also be a little heavier than the spec, however, it is the big weight increase to the Antelope which would concern me.

The packed Antelope, particularly with GWS, is significantly bulkier and takes up a noticeably large amount of pack space.

I am a cool sleeper, and I would be confident with the Versalite, or if you want GWS, the Apache GWS.

[Moondog55]

If I was shopping for a new bag I'd most probably pick the Versalite rather than the Antelope GWS, I'd also most probably wait and order it with the overfill option tho

[stry]

Another vote for the overfill option.

[philm]

Hi Stry / Moondog

Thanks for the suggestions. When you say wait and order the Versalite with overfill how is this done? Do you place an order direct with WM and how much overfill do you request?

This sound like a good option as I have also looked at some of the Exped bags and they are very bulky so understand your comments regarding the Apache. I guess the GWS is not needed as I'll be using the bag in tents and not out in the open or a bivy.

[Scottyk]

I have a WM Alpinlite for winter in Tassie
I have had it in some seriously cold weather, snow, heavy frosts and never been cold. I think it's about right for Tassie winters.
I would agree that the GWS outer is a waist of weight and money

[stry]

Hi Stry / Moondog

Thanks for the suggestions. When you say wait and order the Versalite with overfill how is this done? Do you place an order direct with WM and how much overfill do you request?

This sound like a good option as I have also looked at some of the Exped bags and they are very bulky so understand your comments regarding the Apache. I guess the GWS is not needed as I'll be using the bag in tents and not out in the open or a bivy.

The details of the optional overfill are specified on the WM website. I think for the Versalite it is probably two ounces, and is not expensive. The overfill seems to me to make the bag a little plumper, but most importantly, it doesn't seems to restrict the "drape" or make the bag any "stiffer" if that makes sense. Too much overfill can create both those problems and end up being counterproductive. Cant comment on the difference in warmth, but I don't think you would be disappointed with either.

Wherever you buy the bag (Paddy?) will be able to order one for you with the standard optional amount of overfill. As it's factory option there should be no problem ordering it.

[Moondog55]

you have to order the overfill in the footbox separately, you have no control over the overfill amount as it is fixed by WM at what they consider to be the optimum amount.
Remember also that the Versalite is an oversized bag designed with enough room [ unless you are much "Larger" than average] to give room to wear clothing inside it, adding own clothing inside it can add as much as another 20 degrees of warmth depending on the puffyness of the warm layer

[ninjapuppet]

I have both the versalite and Antelope, both not overfilled.

I would say the versalite is easily suitable for anything cold tassie can dish out even in the middle of winter.
As mentioned, it also packs alot smaller than the GWS material too. For longer 1 month trips, eg karakoram / himalayan expeditions, i prefer the GWS material.

[philm]

Excellent - thanks for the advice - now to try and order the bag...- Just asked Paddy for a quote on the bag with overfill - as this is the only retailer in Australia selling them.

[Moondog55]

Check out this ebay auction too
It may do what you need at a considerable saving
i'd bid myself if i had any money spare after XMas

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/301830127370 ... EBIDX%3AIT

[stry]

Check out this ebay auction too
It may do what you need at a considerable saving
i'd bid myself if i had any money spare after XMas

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/301830127370 ... EBIDX%3AIT

Could work out to be a good buy. It's quite a few years old. Wonder how the seller came by it.

[Moondog55]

It's probably cheap because its the Short model but I could use it anyway as a 3/4 bag

[Hermione]

We bought our WM bags a few years ago from https://www.hermitshut.com/ because we could get overfill and they ship to Australia. The exchange rate was a lot kinder then though.

[Strider]

It's probably cheap because its the Short model but I could use it anyway as a 3/4 bag

*&%$#! hell MD. Are you really 2.2m tall??

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[north-north-west]

He's a man-mountain, and he likes mountains o' women.

(Sorry. Couldn't resist)

[Moondog55]

It's probably cheap because its the Short model but I could use it anyway as a 3/4 bag

*&%$#! hell MD. Are you really 2.2m tall??

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

ROFL not quite LOL

To me a 3/4 bag is shoulder length [ 1/2 bag obviously then waist length]