Two of Western Mountaineering's most popular mummy bags, a step apart in warmth. The UltraLite is the three-season classic near 20 Fahrenheit, while the VersaLite steps down to about 10 for colder nights. Same premium 850-plus down.
| Western Mountaineering UltraLite | Western Mountaineering VersaLite | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 66✓ | 65 |
| Comfort rating | 30 °F | 20 °F✓ |
| Weight | 29.0 oz✓ | 32.0 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 4.9 /100g | 5.5 /100g✓ |
| Packed size | n/s | n/s |
| Fill power | 850 FP | 850 FP |
| Price | $630✓ | $735 |
| Fill | Down | Down |
| Style | Bag | Bag |
| Shape | Mummy | Mummy |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: UltraLite in blue, VersaLite in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. A lower comfort rating in °F means a warmer bag, so the warmer bag takes that row. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full bag comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
These are two of Western Mountaineering's most popular mummy bags, a step apart in warmth. The UltraLite is the classic three-season bag, rated around 20 Fahrenheit comfort, and the VersaLite steps down to about 10 Fahrenheit for cold three-season and shoulder-season nights. Both use the same premium 850-plus fill goose down and continuous-baffle construction.
The trade is warmth against weight and price. The VersaLite is warmer by roughly ten degrees, which it pays for with more weight and a higher price. The UltraLite is lighter and cheaper, and its warmth covers the majority of three-season trips. Same down, same build quality, so the decision is simply how cold you expect to sleep.
Pick the UltraLite if you camp mostly in three-season conditions and want the lighter, less expensive bag; its 20-degree rating handles most nights above freezing. Pick the VersaLite if you run cold or head into shoulder-season chill and want the extra margin, and you will carry a few more ounces and pay more to get it. Many year-round campers buy the VersaLite and accept the small summer weight penalty rather than own two bags.
The VersaLite, by about ten degrees. It carries a comfort rating near 10 Fahrenheit against the UltraLite's 20, which is the difference between a solid three-season bag and one that reaches into cold shoulder-season nights. Both use the same 850-plus fill down to get there.
Only a few ounces. The VersaLite adds weight over the UltraLite for its extra down and warmth. In return you get roughly ten degrees more, so if you sleep cold the small weight penalty is usually worth it.
The UltraLite, for most people. Its 20-degree comfort rating covers the majority of spring-through-fall nights, and it is lighter and cheaper. Choose the VersaLite instead if you consistently camp in colder shoulder-season conditions or simply sleep cold.