Earlier this year, I had purchased a sleeping bag even though I wasn’t planning on getting a new bag. That purchase didn’t work out, and after a multi-month hassle I got a refunded. With the refund and a bit of extra cash, I picked up a Western Mountaineering FlyLite sleeping bag as a replacement.
My idea about picking up this bag was that I could get a bag that was slightly lighter than my old quilt and just as warm but with less hassle. I also wanted a new sleeping bag for the summer and the shoulder sessions near summer. My main sleeping bag is too warm for the summer, but perfect for fall Boundary Waters trips.
We may earn commissions if you shop through the links below.
What is the Western Mountaineering FlyLite?
The FlyLite is a fully baffled 36°F (2.2°C) sleeping bag. It was designed for the lightweight hiking community and “minimalist adventurers” in order to provide a high-quality bag that was light and warm. On my scale, the bag weighs 14.7 ounces in the medium size. The medium size fits up to 6 foot. I’m 5’10”, and it fits me well even with the hood closed.
It features a half-zip mummy design with a lightweight shell fabric and 850+ fill power goose down. The down is ethically sourced and hypoallergenic. In contrast with the bag that I had bought earlier this year, there was no smell associated with the down, which is what I’d expect.
In this sleeping bag, each baffle is completely separated from the others so no down migration between baffles will occur. But each baffle is continuous from the front to the back. This allows you to shift the down for more insulation on top in colder weather. It doesn’t feature a way to secure the bag to a sleeping pad, so if you toss and turn, you might end up with a cold back should you shift most the down to the top. I’m really interested to see how this works out in practice.
Along the YKK zipper, a denser fabric or tape, I can’t tell which it is, protects against snags, and there’s a draft tube.
The sleeping bag comes with a big storage bag and an ultralight stuff sack (0.7 ounces) that packs down to about 5 by 10 inches.
Initial Impressions
Had I gone with this sleeping bag originally, I would have likely already had enough nights on it to give a good initial impression. Instead, I had to mess around with the other bag for months before I got a refund. So, these are just the impressions from my house.
First, it seems really nice. The stitching is great. The down, as you would expect, doesn’t have a gamey odor. It’s really warm when used in the house. The zipper doesn’t snag, and the baffle seems to cover the zipper well. The fit is what I’d expect from a lightweight bag. It isn’t tight, but it isn’t loose either. The hood is somewhat small compared to other bags that I’ve used. It works fine though. I wish the zipper was longer to make it easier to use as a quilt in really hot weather. The length fits me fine.
I’m hoping to be able to use this in the coming month if it doesn’t get too cold. I just got back from Grand Teton National Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park where I spent two weeks in a sleeping bag that was way too warm. I wish I would have been able to use this one, but it arrived just after I left for the trip.
I’m not sure what I think about the continuous front to back baffles. I’ll have to see how that works out or even if I end up using the feature.
Wrap Up
I’m looking forward to trying this sleeping bag out. For me, it’s something that when I got it I felt satisfied with my purchase, at least indoors. I’m looking forward to getting it into the field.
Get it: Western Mountaineering FlyLite
