9 Best Men's Short Sleeping Bags

Western Mountaineering Antelope Microfiber Sleeping Bag Review:

It was spring break and unlike my wife’s students who were headed south, we were looking north. More specifically, we were looking for the coldest weather in Minnesota to give the Antelope MF sleeping bag a proper temperature test.

We found what we were looking for just short of the Canadian border along the shores of Lake Superior. I was able to test the bag over several nights ranging from 5 degrees with a windchill of 2 below, up to a balmy 26 degrees. Unsurprisingly I stayed warm and happy night after night.

Western Mountaineering makes premium sleeping bags for serious adventurers. In addition to assigning a temperature rating to each bag, they also include its loft in inches. This gives a different indication of how warm a bag will be and could be useful in comparing it to other similar bags.

The Antelope has a standard cut with a little extra room in the shoulders. Having that wiggle room is nice if you’re pushing the temp limit and have layers on.

The Antelope (and several other WM bags) feature continuous baffling. According to the brand, “this allows you to shift the down insulation from one side of the bag to the other. During warmer nights, you could shift the down from the top of the bag to the bottom so there is less insulation on top of you. When the weather is cold, you can move the down to the top of the bag.”

I didn’t get a chance to test this while sleeping, but I did shift the down in the bag around to try it out. It was fairly easy to shift and the theory makes sense.

What I Liked

This sleeping bag is a beast! Each time I use it I am amazed at its loft. It only weighs 2lbs. 5oz. which is incredible for its size and rating. It’s evident that the folks at Western Mountaineering only use premium materials in the gear.

My favorite feature was the double draft collar. There’s one inside the bag around your neck that really seals in warmth. Then there’s another one for your face and head that you can cinch down leaving just a hole over your mouth. This helps keep breath and condensation out of the main part of the bag.

As a shorter fellow, something I love about the brand is that I’m not limited to the 5-degree Antelope. Western Mountaineering has the most already-made (not custom) short sleeping bag options of all the brands I’ve seen. There are 17 total that fit up to 5’6” ranging in temp from -25 degrees to 45 degrees.

Last but not least, unlike most outdoor gear, these bags are made right here in the USA.

What I Didn’t Like

The fabric on the inside is a little crinkly sounding but it’s not terribly bothersome. For this price, a case could be made requesting water-repellent down, instead of regular down. Western Mountaineering discusses it here.

Who Should Buy It?

Someone needing a dependable winter camping bag that won’t be a burden to carry a long distance or pack in a backpack. Western Mountaineering caters to people looking for high-quality sleeping bags that are willing to make an investment in their gear. It is top notch and you pay a premium for it.