Western Mountaineering VersaLite 10 vs Western Mountaineering AlpinLite 20
vs
In short: The Western Mountaineering AlpinLite 20 costs $30 less; the Western Mountaineering VersaLite 10 is rated 10 °F colder on the figure each maker publishes; the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite 20 saves 1.0 oz; the Western Mountaineering VersaLite 10 carries the bigger loft budget at 17.0k cubic inches.
| Spec | Western Mountaineering VersaLite 10 | Western Mountaineering AlpinLite 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$795 | ~$765 |
| ISO comfort | not published | not published |
| ISO limit | not published | not published |
| Rating on the label | 10 °F | 20 °F |
| Honesty gap | — | — |
| Rating standard | manufacturer | manufacturer |
| Weight | 2 lb | 1 lb 15 oz |
| Warmth per ounce | — | — |
| Fill | 850 fill power down | 850 fill power down |
| Fill weight | 20 oz | 19 oz |
| Loft budget | 17.0k in³ | 16.1k in³ |
| Shape | mummy | mummy |
| Shoulder girth | 62 in | 64 in |
| Zipper | full | full |
| Shell fabric | 12D ExtremeLite ripstop nylon | 12D ExtremeLite ripstop nylon |
| Hydrophobic down | No | No |
| Packed size | not published | not published |
Shaded cells mark the row where one has a measurable advantage. Weight, thickness, girth and shape are left unshaded on purpose: heavier is sometimes tougher, wider is sometimes warmer, and calling a winner on those would be an opinion dressed as a measurement.
What each one does well, and costs you
Western Mountaineering VersaLite 10
- Six and a half inches of measured loft is the most in this catalogue, and Western Mountaineering publishes it rather than a marketing temperature.
- 62-inch shoulder girth leaves room to sleep in an insulated jacket without crushing the down.
- Thirty-two ounces for a 10-degree bag is lighter than several 20-degree bags here.
- Continuous baffles allow the down to be shifted to suit the night.
- Built in San Jose with the same repair-forever support as the rest of the line.
- $795 in the middle size.
- No ISO or EN figure published.
- Untreated down in a bag people will take into shoulder-season damp.
- 12-denier shell on an $800 bag calls for more care than most people give gear this expensive.
Western Mountaineering AlpinLite 20
- 64-inch shoulder girth against the UltraLite's 59, for two ounces and 19 ounces of down instead of 16.
- A 7'0" length option — the only bag here that fits someone over about six foot five properly.
- Same measured 5.5 inches of loft and same continuous-baffle construction as the UltraLite.
- Published girth, loft and fill weight for every one of the four lengths.
- $765 in the middle size, and $815 for the tallest.
- No ISO or EN rating.
- The extra volume is extra air to heat; a cold sleeper will not find it warmer than the UltraLite, just roomier.
- Untreated down, like the rest of the line.