Does anyone have any experience with Sierra Designs Nitro bags? They seem expensive--does their quality justify the price?

http://www.rei.com/product/779383

I really like to be warm at night. The intended conditions would be 25F+, under a tarp, sometimes in a hammock, using any permutation of the bag with a Ridgerest, Prolite 3, REI Travel Down, down throw, and/or GI Poncho Liner. The poncho liner is my underquilt.

Edited by Trooper on 10/29/2009 12:44:23 MDT.

I'm bumping this because they went on sale. It might be an early Christmas present for me.

How accurate is the temperature rating? I'm right at 6 feet tall and 175 pounds with big shoulders-will I feel like a sardine in this bag? Is the quality worth $300.00?

I had a 15 degree version. The quality is right up there - the zipper is a marvel as it proved to be completely snag free.

However, the version I had (2007) was too snug for me around the shoulders and I found that I was compressing the down too much. I am 6'1" and 215.

might be worth $265 shipped...but it sounds like it would be a tight squeeze.

http://www.mammothgear.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=28220

BTW Mammoth has free shipping.

Have you thought about the Marmot Helium? It weighs a few ounces less, has a full length zipper, and a wider girth. Backcountry has them for 300.

Edited by nschmald on 11/20/2009 13:22:44 MST.

This Nitro is the newest version and they had secured the rights to use a stretch baffle system from Montbell so this one should stretch out nicely in the shoulders, far more than the Marmot.

> This Nitro is the newest version and they had secured the rights to use a stretch baffle system from Montbell so this one should stretch out nicely in the shoulders, far more than the Marmot.

No experience with the nitro, but the description says the montbell stretch is only in the middle of the bag. Wouldn't help in the shoulders.

Yes - you may be right.

"This Nitro is the newest version and they had secured the rights to use a stretch baffle system from Montbell..."

So, I'm not familiar with Sierra Designs. Are we saying that Sierra is a Montbell by a different name?

Also, would I see any improvement from this Nitro versus a Western Mountaineering Versalite? If the quality and comfort are approximately the same, I might pull the trigger on the Sierra tonight because is it significantly less expensive.

Edited by Trooper on 11/20/2009 19:10:29 MST.

I believe that MB has the patent and SD simply purchased the rights to use it, although as was pointed out, the baffles may not cover the entire body.

The lovely lady in my Purchasing Department just approved the acquisition. I love my wife!