Western Mountaineering Versalite Sleeping Bag Review
Western Mountaineering Versalite 10 Degree Sleeping Bag
By far, my Versalite sleeping bag by Western Moutaineering is my favorite piece of backpacking gear. I purchased the Versalite before my thru-hike on the Continental Divide Trail in 2019 and I only wish I had it sooner. I knew my old Marmot Phase30 wasn't going to cut it in Colorado and I was ready for an upgrade.
Sleeping bags are a big investment and you usually take a gamble when you purchase your first one. With the Versalite, you won't need to upgrade to something better, since this bag has it all for the temperature rating and weight. The Versalite is a good move for most thru-hikes and backpacking trips due to its versatility. Heck, I see where they got the name from!
When I started working at Mountain Crossings, located on the Appalachian Trail, I didn't quite understand the hype around Western Mountaineering. The outfitter sold Western Mountaineering bags but I was shocked at the $600-plus price tag. I had never invested that much in a piece of gear and I was hesitant. I flipped through the product catalogue, which you can check out here, and I learned a few things. I learned that they designed the continuous baffles so you can adjust the down fill to your needs. For example, if you want more down on top of you, instead of underneath, you can shake the bag to move the down fill over to the top side. This is helpful in warmer temperatures when you'll use this bag as a blanket covering, rather than sleeping inside the bag.
After 2,000 miles, I'm super impressed with the durability and 6" loft of this sleeping bag. After I hiked the CDT and continued with more camping trips in the last year, my Versalite still looks brand new and loftier than ever.
My favorite features:
- 10 degree rating makes this super warm
- Lightweight at only 2 lbs total weight
- 5 1/4" spacing of continuous baffles that go from zipper to zipper
- 20 oz down fill and 6" of loft.
- 850+ fill power provides a high warmth to weight ratio and excellent compressibility
- Full-length #5 YKK zipper
- 62"/39" Shoulder/Foot Girth gives you extra room to add layers
- Full down collar seals in your body heat to keep you warm all night
Depending on the time of year, night temperatures on the Continental Divide can dip into the teens. I love the design of the down collar on this sleeping bag which helps keep your body heat from escaping. The Versalite is the perfect assurance you need when hiking into cold or windy areas.
