opinions on wiggy's sleeping bags

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woodsrover

Joined
Oct 21, 2007
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howdy all. i'm looking to replace my well worn NF cat's meow, and in the process expand my sleep system's range. i'm considering the wiggy's ftrss with the super light and the overbag. i'm looking for those with experience with wiggy's bags to chime in and offer opinions. i understand they are a tad heavier and not as compressible, but i always hear them compared to down bags and not to other synthetics. i don't mind carrying a teeny more weight to ensure durability and gear that performs, but still want it to be suitable for backpacking.

any thoughts?
thanks
 
I have a Wiggys super-lite and love it. In it's compression sack it fits on top of a backpack no problem. The lamilite insulation is very good also. Dries easily ,lightweight , and doesn't bunch up. #10 YKK zipper which is almost unheardof in other brands is easy to open and close.
I've been in -10c with it and was toasty. It's a mummy style bag.
They can be kind of expensive ( mine was $225 on sale) but I do not regret buying it and would buy another if I had to. If cold weather is your worry , get the Ultima-Thule , suitable for arctic conditions.
 
woodsrover, I'm debating something similar.

Got my eyes on a downbag, but have had a chance to handle the Wiggys one from a fellow forum member. The bag was very well put together and very roomy. He had the super light and the overbag. I know that a lot of people are attracted to this particular combination because you basically get a 3 in one system with four season use. However, in feeling the bags and seeing their pack size, I just felt that the two bags together were just that. Two sleeping bags, and if -40 degrees is what you want and you don't mind hauling two bags then those two bags will probably work. But make no mistake, together they are very bulky.

Personally, I just don't think the carrying 2 bags is worth it. Even though the weight isn't that bad (6lbs) you are looking at a lot of bulk there. On the other hand, it seems that going to the ultima thule which is a single bag of 5 lbs giving you a rating to -20 degrees is much more reasonable. Even though weight is only a pound less, the bulk will be much more manageable then the two bags. Also, going to the one four season bag will save you about half the price of going to the two bag solution - assuming you already have a bag for the other seasons.

I don't take too much stock in the longevity claims made on the website. Lots of folks keep their down bags for a decade or more and I even have some other synthetics going on a decade that still have kept their loft and warmth. On the other hand, being able to clean the bag in a washing machine is a nice thing. You do hear over and over again that Wiggy's totally honours their warranty on returns even when people have washed their bags many, many times. I also believe the testamonials of it working when wet and with my climate that does hold some promise. I've got a lot of primeloft clothing and I know that primeloft can be absolutely soaked and still provide very effective insulation.

Anyhow, they do seem to be one of the better deals out there on a performance basis. The Wiggy's ultima thule is almost 1/3 the cost of the down bag I have my eyes and keeping $400 in my pockets seems like a good thing. It weighs about 25% more than the down one I'm looking at and probably packs about 50% larger. But hey, $400 is a lot of cheesecake and lapdances!
 
my intended use would be mostly as separate bags. the over bag for summer, and the superlight for anything under 30* down to 0*. we do get a fair amount of below sub 0* nights here, so i like the versatility of using then together even though it would not likely be often.

my cat's meow bag is over 10 years old and as seen better days. i figure the wiggy's set up could pretty much cover all the bases.

also, i just can't bring myself to use a down bag. i've seen wet bags too many times.
 
I have the Wiggy's system. It is way too bulky and heavy for backpacking. If you want synthetic but very compressible (almost as well as down), then check out the Mountain Hardware Ultralamina series. I have the 15F series and it is a warm bag. They also make warmer versions.
 
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I have the Superlight system as well but have never really needed to double them up. I backpack with mine and it is very bulky, but pretty much bombproof. I've had the SL to 0 degrees many times, but always on my Downmat. SL in winter and Overbag in summer. It's a big, heavy, bulky bag, but it works well.

SANY0016-6.jpg
 
brians said:
I have the Superlight system as well but have never really needed to double them up. I backpack with mine and it is very bulky, but pretty much bombproof. I've had the SL to 0 degrees many times, but always on my Downmat. SL in winter and Overbag in summer. It's a big, heavy, bulky bag, but it works well.

SANY0016-6.jpg
Click to expand...

What kind of tent is that?
 
does anyone have a pic of it in a stuff sack? maybe next to a pac or another bag for reference? everyone say they are bulky and heavy....but compared to what? the 0* vesion of that MH ultimalamina bag is barely a pound lighter and according to the en rating is good to 14*, not 0. i'm not looking for the weight and compressibility of down. i know that down is the only bag that will have that. durability and performance are key and i want something that weight and bulk are still manageable.
 
woodsrover said:
does anyone have a pic of it in a stuff sack? maybe next to a pac or another bag for reference? everyone say they are bulky and heavy....but compared to what? the 0* vesion of that MH ultimalamina bag is barely a pound lighter and according to the en rating is good to 14*, not 0. i'm not looking for the weight and compressibility of down. i know that down is the only bag that will have that. durability and performance are key and i want something that weight and bulk are still manageable.
Click to expand...

Mine's still in it's sea-to-summit waterproof compression sack. I'll post some pics later this morning.
 
I'll tell you what I know, not what I think.

I used to be a Wiggy's dealer (re-seller). They are amazingly awesome bags! You can keep them compressed like in a long term bug out bag or stored on a Bush Plane, or Rescue Truck, and they'll still retain their loft and warmth unlike most other bags. They are bulky and heavier as others have indicated. But for a bug out bag where you need to keep it compressed and "ready to go" 24/7/365 they are an excellent choice.

They are extremely well made. They come in a great wilderness (low profile) color and their filling is very good.

I have 3 Wiggys bags personally and am in no hurry to change. I do have one lighterweight "backpackers" bag that is not a Wiggys I use for longer backpacking types of trips tho.

Every piece of gear has its pros/cons and its tradeoffs. The tradeoff on this system has been clearly articulated. But if you need a super warm bag that works in cold or damp temps, is reliable and can stay compressed for longer periods of time. Wiggys is your bag.

BTW, I never recommend or encourage you to keep a Wiggys or any bag compressed for long periods of time if you do not need too. Wiggys seems to retain its loft extremely well if you "need" too.

I keep a Zero Degree Super Lite Bag covered by an eVent Bivi bag inside a Granite H20 compression bag ready to go.
 
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woodsrover said:
howdy all. i'm looking to replace my well worn NF cat's meow, and in the process expand my sleep system's range. i'm considering the wiggy's ftrss with the super light and the overbag. i'm looking for those with experience with wiggy's bags to chime in and offer opinions. i understand they are a tad heavier and not as compressible, but i always hear them compared to down bags and not to other synthetics. i don't mind carrying a teeny more weight to ensure durability and gear that performs, but still want it to be suitable for backpacking.

any thoughts?
thanks
Click to expand...

I sent my 20 year old, very used north face bag in to have a panel replaced. They have a life time warrantee on their product. They replaced the panel and refilled the entire bag with fresh 600 fill down. It's better now than when it was new, and they sent it back no charge!!! That is some kickass customer service.. North Face Rocks
 
Rover,

Here's some pics I just snapped. Like I said, she's bulky, but I could've probably reduced the size another few inches by sitting on it. Mine is the long-wide version - their biggest, I think.

I think that crazy Canuck, Bushman5, also has one and maybe he will chime in. But I'm not sure.

Roughly 15 to 16 inches in length:

SANY0006-9.jpg


10 to 11 inches in width:

SANY0009-11.jpg


And here is where I train for my Messin with Sasquatch encounters, which are frequent here in the PNW :) Hope this helped:

SANY0028-2.jpg
 
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I have the SL and overbag. As others have said they are not light, but they are near perfect in every other category.
 
Quirt said:
But for a bug out bag where you need to keep it compressed and "ready to go" 24/7/365 they are an excellent choice.

But if you need a super warm bag that works in cold or damp temps, is reliable and can stay compressed for longer periods of time. Wiggys is your bag.

BTW, I never recommend or encourage you to keep a Wiggys or any bag compressed for long periods of time if you do not need too. Wiggys seems to retain its loft extremely well if you "need" too.
Click to expand...

Several years ago I had a Wiggy's bag and kept it in a fairly large compression sack in my truck over the winter. I took it out in the spring for a camping trip and after a week of hanging on a hook it still hadn't lofted to anywhere close to it's original state. I tried running it through the drier as well and it made absolutely no difference. It's very possible that the fill material in mine was different than what they use now but even back then they said it wouldn't hurt it to keep it compressed. I'll never own one of their bags again.
 
brians- thanks a bunch for the measurements and pics. i measured my cat's meow at 8.5 x 13.5" in the same event sack.

i've been looking at different mfrs and can't seem to find much else. for bags in the same temp class, they might weigh 6 oz lighter, but that's about it. seems a small price to pay for a bag that keeps you warm.

i also really like the fact that it's made in the US. not enough products are anymore.
 
hiwa said:
I have a Wiggys super-lite and love it. In it's compression sack it fits on top of a backpack no problem. The lamilite insulation is very good also. Dries easily ,lightweight , and doesn't bunch up. #10 YKK zipper which is almost unheardof in other brands is easy to open and close.
I've been in -10c with it and was toasty. It's a mummy style bag.
They can be kind of expensive ( mine was $225 on sale) but I do not regret buying it and would buy another if I had to. If cold weather is your worry , get the Ultima-Thule , suitable for arctic conditions.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I would have said. I pack mine on the back/bottom of my pack in a OR Summitsack. As long as you are ok with it not being as compressible as your old bag should serve you well.
 
hiwa said:
I have a Wiggys super-lite and love it. In it's compression sack it fits on top of a backpack no problem. The lamilite insulation is very good also. Dries easily ,lightweight , and doesn't bunch up. #10 YKK zipper which is almost unheardof in other brands is easy to open and close.
I've been in -10c with it and was toasty. It's a mummy style bag.
They can be kind of expensive ( mine was $225 on sale) but I do not regret buying it and would buy another if I had to. If cold weather is your worry , get the Ultima-Thule , suitable for arctic conditions.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I would have said. I pack mine on the back/bottom of my pack in a OR Summitsack. As long as you are ok with it not being as compressible as your old bag should serve you well. I know I like mine.
 
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