Western Mountaineering Apache Super MF

Review Date
December 7, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: saberns(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have had this bag for about 2-3 years and use it for fall/winter in the southern states and fall/spring in the northern climes. Western Mountaineering makes the best down bags. Period. I have slept in many others and had friends who have other bags sleep in mine. Several of those friends have purchased one immediately after getting home! I can't think of a better recommendation than that. WM bags are not laden with gimmicks and gizmos. That is, there are no "watch pockets", expandable zippers, or stretch panels on their bags. These bags are serious, made to keep you seriously warm in the most adverse conditions. When they say the Apache Super MF is a twenty-degree bag they really mean zero-to-ten degrees - easily. The fabrics, stitching, down filling, and design are all top-notch. These bags are expensive for a reason. The MF shell is great for keeping off a little condensation and the inner lining is silky-smooth. Sleeping in a WM bag is an experience - like sleeping in a cloud. Try one, you'll like it.

Customer Service:
Don't know - never had to use it. Notice how all WM reviewers say they've never had to use their customer service? These bags are built to last.

Similar Products Used:
REI Travel Down. I am getting to buy another WM bag - either the PUMA SDL or Dakota SDL.

Review Date
January 16, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Andrew (Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I can only echo the great praise that most people have for WM bags. For a 15 degree bag it is an inferno. The rating is very conservative. The bag is of exceptional quality but the fit is very snug for my 6foot 5inch frame. After purchasing this bag I sold my -5 degree down bag from another manufacturer since this one was actually warmer.. My only complaint is the price but you truly do get what you pay for in this case..

Similar Products Used:
REI, Northface...

Review Date
October 1, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Stelco(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Texas

Price Paid:  $300.00

Summary:
WM is recognized as the "Mercedes" of sleeping bags and once you own one you'll understand why. I purchased this bag to use as my primary 3 season bag. I am a cold sleeper but have not had any shivering nights in this bag while sleeping with temps in the upper teens. These bags are cut narrow for effeciency and may be too restricitve for large individuals or people needing wriggle room. But they are ideal for medium sized individuls comfortable with mummy style bags. Bottom Line: Superb bag that stuffs into an incredibly small package and lofts into to a cumulus cloud of fine down.

A side note: I believe "Steve Mountaineer from Denver" (a previous review)has this bag confused with the standard Apache because the Apache SMF does have a draft and collar tube that he notes is missing; The standard Apache does not.

Similar Products Used:
Marmot, TNF, Sierra Designs, LL Bean, and Kelty

Review Date
September 20, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Steve(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Denver

Price Paid:  $275.00

Summary:
Well folks this is a bag!!I use it for backpacking and high altitude in summer and early fall in the Rockies. It is very warm. lofty. and stuffs very small. the Western Mounatineering zippers are reinforced and don ot snag. Only complaint-is my middle aged size makes this bag snug-no room for sprawlers. These are the best-only feature i wish it had (which makes no sense for a 15 deg bag-is a wind collar- which I like to be able to add that little bit of extra warmth in colder nights ( i sleep pretty cold-) this is a hardcore bag-great, light, warm, functional

Customer Service:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
Have norht face foxfire down (5 dgree) and Norht face sun spot (an odd ball -gore dry loft, wind collar-15 degrees) I have these bags for a variety of uses and to camp wiht my son as well-Norht fcae bags are adequate-and mine were purchased due to great sale prices-would not have paid full price-wesern mountaineering is also expensive and rarely reduced-better product-but then you have to consider price point-the two are failry close for the top of the line down bags. Gore dry loft is stupidly pricey-never would have bought the bag unless it was on a big sale-but it is great for the tent condensation which is ineveitable)