Widen the cumulus? Other options?

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
Hiya,

After two seasons I've realized that quilts aren't for me, too finicky with drafts but otherwise I love the width. I sleep on my stomach with my arms above my head so I want them insulated and hate wearing my down jacket while sleeping. Looking at the Cumulus Panyam 450 and thinking about adding at least 10cm girth to it but their support seem really hesitant to agree with that opinion even though I toss and turn a lot and need to have my arms extended and bent outwards. I'm 178 cm tall weighing between 95-100kg with a fairly muscular build. Anyone got any experience with the model, wider versions of Cumulus or other brands to take a look at? Also looked at Rockfront and WM Terralite.
 

Teepee

Thru Hiker
Montbell stretchy sleeping bag? Down burrow etc.

They have elastic baffles on the inside and stretch to the users shape. The elastic also bunches the insulation in the bits that are slack up making it warmer. It makes it a wide bag that doesn't have voids.

15 years of sleeping bag bliss for me, although I tend to use them as a quilt.
 

BogTrotter

Thru Hiker
Hiya,

After two seasons I've realized that quilts aren't for me, too finicky with drafts but otherwise I love the width. I sleep on my stomach with my arms above my head so I want them insulated and hate wearing my down jacket while sleeping. Looking at the Cumulus Panyam 450 and thinking about adding at least 10cm girth to it but their support seem really hesitant to agree with that opinion even though I toss and turn a lot and need to have my arms extended and bent outwards. I'm 178 cm tall weighing between 95-100kg with a fairly muscular build. Anyone got any experience with the model, wider versions of Cumulus or other brands to take a look at? Also looked at Rockfront and WM Terralite.
You might try searching for ‘Alpine fit’ rather than the normal ’mummy’ fit. Th Alpine fit allows more generous body space to enable clothes changing in the bag rather than struggling in the mummy.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
Montbell stretchy sleeping bag? Down burrow etc.

They have elastic baffles on the inside and stretch to the users shape. The elastic also bunches the insulation in the bits that are slack up making it warmer. It makes it a wide bag that doesn't have voids.

15 years of sleeping bag bliss for me, although I tend to use them as a quilt.
Didn't seem to find any Down Burrows on their site but the seamless down hugger 800 seems interesting!
 

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
I wouldn't "mess" trying to widen a down sleeping bag.
Sneaking a few extra grams of down in a side seam is messy enough - opening up the whole bag !!!
Just buy the right bag for your needs. I like WM and they do some wide options.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
Montbell stretchy sleeping bag? Down burrow etc.

They have elastic baffles on the inside and stretch to the users shape. The elastic also bunches the insulation in the bits that are slack up making it warmer. It makes it a wide bag that doesn't have voids.

15 years of sleeping bag bliss for me, although I tend to use them as a quilt.
Really intrigued by the Down hugger 800 #2 which has a limit rating of -5c. Have you found the bags accurate to their temperature rating? I saw someone comment on reddit that the Seamless Down hugger #2 only had 312 grams of 800FP down which seems absurdly low for that rating. The Panyam 450 has limit of -6c with 450g of 850FP down... Though all the reviews I've read about the Montbell bags seem to agree that they are very warm and the ratings are accurate...
 

The Yank

Trail Blazer
Didn't seem to find any Down Burrows on their site but the seamless down hugger 800 seems interesting!
The Seamless Down Huggers fit considerably tighter than the old Spiral Down 800's or the current Down Hugger 650's.

The WM Megalite and Alpinlite are both wide cut and are big enough for a 95 -100 kg person. The Terralite is for really large folk and its semi rectangular shape doesn't provide as efficient warming as the mummy cut Megalite or Alpinlite.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
The Seamless Down Huggers fit considerably tighter than the old Spiral Down 800's or the current Down Hugger 650's.

The WM Megalite and Alpinlite are both wide cut and are big enough for a 95 -100 kg person. The Terralite is for really large folk and its semi rectangular shape doesn't provide as efficient warming as the mummy cut Megalite or Alpinlite.
Disappointing to hear, the Seamless down hugger would end up at around 340e after tax and duties which is a lot cheaper than the WM bags I can find
 

The Yank

Trail Blazer
Disappointing to hear, the Seamless down hugger would end up at around 340e after tax and duties which is a lot cheaper than the WM bags I can find
I called Montbell rep in Colorado to inquire about the Seamless Down Huggers and he told me that they get A LOT of returns because many who buy them think they will stretch and fit large like the old Spiral Down 800's... wrong! You might check Ebay UK/EU for a Spiral Down 800 #2. UOG had them up until not too long ago but looks like they're all gone now.
 
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Maxplosive

Summit Camper
I called Montbell rep in Colorado to inquire about the Seamless Down Huggers and he told me that they get A LOT of returns because many who buy them think they will stretch and fit large like the old Spiral Down 800's... wrong! You might check Ebay UK/EU for a Spiral Down 800 #2. UOG had them up until not too long ago but looks like they're all gone now.
I think I'll try ordering one from the EU site and try it and return it and then make a decision :)
 

Teepee

Thru Hiker
I've got the older down huggers. They punch well above their weight due to the baffles constricting and trapping more air. The 200g of fill in my No5 lofts to about 50mm when not under tension. Such a good, roomy and comfy bag.

Yep, disappointing that the seamless are much narrower.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
Just got a seamless bag in large and yeah I wouldn't say it's super stretchy but I think it was adequate for the price rather than taking a gamble on customized Cumulus or more expensive WM.
 

The Yank

Trail Blazer
You bought the long seamless #2 and you're 178 cm tall? Seems like there would be a lot of extra length you don't need but at least the shoulder girth is 10 cm wider than the regular version. Hope it works for you.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
You bought the long seamless #2 and you're 178 cm tall? Seems like there would be a lot of extra length you don't need but at least the shoulder girth is 10 cm wider than the regular version. Hope it works for you.
Not that much extra length to be honest, at least when on my stomach with my feet down straight. I'm waiting on a Zenbivy light sheet to arrive and compare how I like that system, basically the same weight in the end so will go with whichever feels better.
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
I returned the Montbell and attached loops to my Cumulus bag and tried it with a ZenBivy sheet. Haven't had the chance to try it outside yet but it seems to fix the issues I have had with my quilt. No problem having my hands in the hood and when attached it didn't feel very restricting except for the footbox but that's due to the quilt :) Will be trying it out on trail later this August, if it performs great then I'll probably get a new quilt from them instead. Combined weight is comparable to a Cumulus sleeping bag so doesn't feel that bad.
 

AlanL

Summit Camper
Looking at the Cumulus Panyam 450 and thinking about adding at least 10cm girth to it but their support seem really hesitant to agree with that opinion
Interesting that cumulus support are discouraging about making the panyam wider, given that they offer +10cm or even +22cm as a standard option on their website

If money is no object you could also look at PHD Greenlandic
 

Maxplosive

Summit Camper
Interesting that cumulus support are discouraging about making the panyam wider, given that they offer +10cm or even +22cm as a standard option on their website

If money is no object you could also look at PHD Greenlandic
Yeah it's weird, I've asked about widening it and they give the standard copy pasted responses, mostly they want me to buy it as normal width first and then afterwards widen it if I need it. Holy moly that sure is an expensive bag.......
 

grattygruff

Trail Blazer
I returned the Montbell and attached loops to my Cumulus bag and tried it with a ZenBivy sheet. Haven't had the chance to try it outside yet but it seems to fix the issues I have had with my quilt. No problem having my hands in the hood and when attached it didn't feel very restricting except for the footbox but that's due to the quilt :) Will be trying it out on trail later this August, if it performs great then I'll probably get a new quilt from them instead. Combined weight is comparable to a Cumulus sleeping bag so doesn't feel that bad.
@Maxplosive
I was wondering how you got on with your Zenbivy sheet and Cumulus bag?
I’ve ordered their ultralight sheet to pair with my EE Revelation quilt to try and hold the quilt in place to stop draughts
How did you attach the loops to your bag?
Cheers
 
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