Anyone used Lafuma sleeping bags?

[joeydurango]

They're apparently light, small, and relatively cheap.  As a full-time wrench, I don't have the cash for the Feathered Friends/Western Mountaineering/etc. bags out there.  Curious about these European bags but can't find much info.  Anyone?

[DesertDog]

Save your money, look elsewhere and don't be disappointed.  The Lafumas are pretty much Euro-trash that don't come close to their stated warmth ratings!  You'll see it in product reviews too.

I bought one of the X600 bags last Fall on REI Outlet.  Rated for +45, but it may do at +60.  Would have sent it back, but it will suffice for travel/crashing on the floor and I have used it as an overbag with a +30 bag for winter camping. 

Those bags are a pretty big hit with Appalachian Trail hikers (only weighs 1lb 4oz) and probably do work in +70, 90% humidity conditions, but I wouldn't recommend one for Western US camping at elevation.  Maybe one of their +30 bags will do you good at +40-45, but for the weight of those bags, I'd suggest something like this - just over $100, though they might not smash down as small as you want:

REI Sahara +30 Regular:
http://www.rei.com/product/798897

REI Sahara +30 Long:
http://www.rei.com/product/798898

Cost a little more, but so much better than the Lafumas.  I use an REI Kilo Flash +40 (1lb 4oz, but not available anymore and it keeps me warm down to the low 30s) for bikepacking and an REI Mojave +15 for cold weather camping.  Quite pleased with both bags and got each one for under $100.

If you want to take a chance on a Lafuma, they have several on the Outlet site:

http://www.rei.com/outlet/search?cat=22000001&cat=22000021&page_size=109&seq=1&hist=cat%2C22000001%3ACamping+%26+Hiking%5Ecat%2C22000021%3ASleeping+Bags

Just can't think of any other really good warm and light deals right now.  May be best to wait until December or January and try to find a great deal on a Marmot or Mountain Hardwear from either www.campmor.com or www.geartrade.com (you could even find a killer deal on a Western Mountaineering bag on geartrade).

[Outsider]

Save your money, look elsewhere and don't be disappointed.  The Lafumas are pretty much Euro-trash that don't come close to their stated warmth ratings!  You'll see it in product reviews too.
...

The Lafuma, pretty much as any brand, has good and bad products. The EN 13537 temperature ratings makes it possible to compare sleeping bags of different brands, as it is based on a standard laboratory test. The comparisons might not be perfectly accurate, but are still a lot better than the previous ratings defined entirely by the manufacturer. One of my sleeping bags (an Ajungilaq) was rated by the manufacturer as having a comfort temperature limit of -20°C, at which point already felt very cold. The same sleeping bag got a comfort rating at -8°C according to EN 13537.

I have no personal experience with Lafuma products, though. Pricewise, I don't think that you can get more quality from a French sleeping bag in the US than from one of the domestic brands.

[Slim]

Sleeping bags: cheap, light, warm pick two.

Lafuma= cheap, light, not warm (so not so light for their warmth).

Montbell and REI are some of the less expensive lightweight bags out there. The good news is that thinner bags are both lighter and cheaper, so if you go for warmer weather outings you can really save on the bag, then add a down jacket for colder temps.

[joeydurango]

Thanks for the info guys.  I pretty much figured the whole "cheap, light, warm: pick two" argument applied but was hoping against common sense anyway.  Been looking around even more and I'm reaching a few conclusions:

1. Need a mummy-style bag, something over my head is a major factor in how warm I feel (doesn't seem to matter for some folks);
2. Don't want down insulation, as I'm pretty positive I'll end up with a soaked sleeping bag at some point out there and it's really expensive besides;
3. Would like it to be (once again) warm, light, and as reasonably-priced as possible.

That said, I've been intrigued by the Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 bag.  Packs small, is only 2lbs, seems like they have good reviews, and costs just under $200.  Anyone on here with real-world experience with this bag?  I hate being a gear geek but sometimes you have to be, I suppose.

[firetwofire]

I have one and have no complaints. Its light weight and keeps my warm (I'm always hot though)

[Damnitman]

My limited research indicates the Mountain Hardwear ultralamina bags are made with the same insulation as the Wiggy's bags, but Wiggy's uses a different orientation of the insulation, providing better durability...plus Wiggy's are made in the USA...

[mmeiser]

Save your money, look elsewhere and don't be disappointed.  The Lafumas are pretty much Euro-trash that don't come close to their stated warmth ratings!  You'll see it in product reviews too.

While I wouldn't be so harsh I do have to agree to some extent. In my limited experience based on extensive use of a Lafuma xtreme 600 45 degree bag (and only on a Lafuma 600, which I also got from REI outlet for cheap) I have on occasion frozen my but off when caught out unprotected on a 45 degree night with only a tarp my and a lafuma against a stiff wind. (more below)

I bought one of the X600 bags last Fall on REI Outlet.  Rated for +45, but it may do at +60.  Would have sent it back, but it will suffice for travel/crashing on the floor and I have used it as an overbag with a +30 bag for winter camping.

Wow, as mentioned i got mine from REI outlet at the same time. I must say though I absolutely love it as a summer bag. Which is what AT trail hikers supposedly love it for as I've heard from talking first hand with the lady at the outfitters in Harpers Ferry. Apparently a lot of north bound hikers buy them as they're just switching over to summer gear in HP.

Furthermore when used in combination with a bivy they do go down to their 45 degrees stated. I use an OR Aurora gortex bivy. Love the combination in fall and spring.

I've even used this combination below freezing, albeit with very heavyweight polartec fleece and a hot nalgene bottle in the bottom. Was very comfortable, but taking heavyweight polartec fleece just to sleep in is actually a pretty silly waste of space. What can I say, I was experimenting.

Here's what's funnier about my parallel experience to @desertdog: I have just purchased a 20 degree GoLite Adrenaline 800+ fill bag, 2lbs 4oz (actually more like 2lb 8oz) and I to intend to use it with the Lafuma 600 / 45 deg bag as an outer / quilt.  My hope is that moisture will dissipate right through the down and if it collects and/or freezes it'll do so in the lafuma, the outer layer of the lafuma or my gortex bivy where it'll scarcely affect my warmth. Essentially the lafuma is a sacrificial lamb. 

So far I've not yet had cold enough weather to test my Golite. I've slept with it at 35 and swetted. I was pleased, but can't wait to try it well below freezing. Especially with the Lafuma.

==what I love about the lafuma 600 ==

My favorite way to use the lafuma 600 (in the summer) is as a quilt with a foot box. Superb design, superbly light at 1lb 4oz., compact and very efficient.   Best of all I can afford to use and abuse it and don't have to worry about it getting damp or wet.  For me it's a go to summer bag. After all I do a lot of touring s24o, s48o are my "crimes of convenience" and I fit them in wherever possible. They work well as shakedown rides, are just fun and have taught me to boldly cut back weight. So much so that in summer I travel at 30lbs now. On occasion at 28lbs... and that includes the bike.

s24o summer gear shot w/lafuma (weighs approx 40 w/salsa fargo)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmeiser2/4615291196/#

very early spring road riding (35lbs on salsa campeon, synthetic 0 deg bag on handlebar):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmeiser2/4422555632/#

28lbs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmeiser2/4571522634/#
**the contents on this last one are pretty much exactly the same as the Fargo. The road bike just weighs a full 10lbs less.

Those bags are a pretty big hit with Appalachian Trail hikers (only weighs 1lb 4oz) and probably do work in +70, 90% humidity conditions, but I wouldn't recommend one for Western US camping at elevation. 

I do wonder where you got your information from about them being a favorite of AT hikers. As mentioned my info comes directly from talking to the outfitters in Harpers Ferry. Would be funny if we have the same source, but I suspect your knowledge comes from forums or some online source??

Maybe one of their +30 bags will do you good at +40-45, but for the weight of those bags, I'd suggest something like this - just over $100, though they might not smash down as small as you want:

REI Sahara +30 Regular:
http://www.rei.com/product/798897

REI Sahara +30 Long:
http://www.rei.com/product/798898

Cost a little more, but so much better than the Lafumas.  I use an REI Kilo Flash +40 (1lb 4oz, but not available anymore and it keeps me warm down to the low 30s) for bikepacking and an REI Mojave +15 for cold weather camping.  Quite pleased with both bags and got each one for under $100.

I cannot comment on the quality of Lafuma's higher end / colder weather bags based on my experience with the lafuma 600.  It might not be the case that they're all so over-rated. Hard to tell from one extremely entry level $35 degree bag. Best not to jump to conclusions.

While I agree with @desertdog completely that the lafuma is a good summer bag for the Appalachians (if I summarized correctly) I have heard that 30 degrees bags are a little to little for western trips in the rockies, even in the summer, which is part of the reason why I grabbed the golite adrenaline 20deg. My source did the tourdivide with a Marmot Atom 30 and a bivy (which I think probably ads at least 5 if not 10 degrees to it's warmth). Perhaps he found this to cold because he started in Banff?

I myself do extensive winter touring here in lower Michigan. I had been using a Slumberjack synthetic 0 degree bag for winter.  Way to bulky. Almost took up more space and weighed more then all my other gear combined. Also I think ultimately the GoLite Adrenaline / Lafuma xtreme combination will be far far more versatile and warmer.

Right now I'm lurking here doing some research for a potential winter trip from Michigan to Florida or Austin on the Natchez Trace and roughly following the Blue Ridge Parkway (depending on weather or not it's open)

I love to make a lot of my gear and though I stop short of making myself a mission critical 0 or 20 degree winter quilt I do use a DIY frame bag to supplement my Epic  (now Relevate) super twinkie and gas tank, and am currently working on a a-symetrical mid, or pyramid tent design. I guess I caught the DIY/ MYOG bug from the backpackinglight.com MYOG forums. My single favorite forum besides bikepacking.net

[joeydurango]

Hey all,

Thanks for the input.  I ended up going for the Mountain Hardware Ultralamina 32 bag.  Haven't used it yet but I think it will do well, considering my criteria.  FYI, if anyone else is considering this bag, I bought the regular length and I'm 6'2".  It fits like it was tailored for me.  I'm pretty skinny.  I tried the long but it was not only too long, but much larger in girth.  I'll let you all know how it does as far as temperature rating, etc.