Western Mountaineering Apache Super Microfiber Sleeping Bag

2004 model
Purchased from Oregon Mountain Community   www.e-omc.com
Size:  Long 6'6" Left zip
Cost:  $279.99
Purchased Jan 16 2006
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/

Manufacturer's information:

5 1/4" Spacing/Continuous Baffles
59"/38" Shoulder/Foot Girth
Full Down Collar
6" Loft, 15° F
19 oz. Down Fill
2 lbs. 1 oz. Total Weight

The Apache Supers are built with attitude! They won't take no for an answer as they willingly push the bounds of a 2-3 season bag. They have a full 3-Dimensionally sewn down filled collar to seal in heat when your trip turns a little bitter! The efficient cut lets you heat the bag quickly and gives you a lighter parcel to carry about. 19 oz. of high lofting down pumps up a durable 6" of loft. The MicroLite XP™ shell is very weather resistant while remaining extremely breathable. At a total weight of 2 lbs. 1 oz. you'll be amazed just how much cold these bags will tame.


First use: 

1/27  Low 31.1 F,  27% humidity  winds 5-13 mph
Exposed SW facing ledge.
Slept under 5 x 10 silnylon tarp
Slept on target CCF pad and thermarest ultralight pad.
Clothing:  fleece cap, expedition weight thermal top, fleece pants, polartec socks.

Very comfortable for several hours.  Very much enjoy the inner 3 dimensionally sewn down filled collar.  Wish the hood was a little more "face shaped" - it is more oval wideth wise than lengthwise.  Hood drawstrings should use what is now on many bags  -  different cord types for the top or bottom hood drawstrings.  Hard to distinguish in the dark.

When wind picked up I put the CCF on top of the ultralight, and eventually put the bag into a bivy for wind protection.  Worked very well and was very toasty.  Some condensation in the bivy, but no indication that the moisture had soaked into the bag.  Shell was damp.

I am a very cold sleeper, and typically can only get bags within 10 degrees of their rating if I am wearing insulating clothing.

My first down bag.  Interesting to note that the down bag really has essentially no insulative value underneath it, unlike my synthetic bags which at least retain some insulative qualities underneath the sleeper with the insulation compressed.

The bag has a zipper pull on the outside zipper toggle, why not the inside?

Like the fabric stiffener along the zipper and draft tube.  Very effective to prevent snags and seal the drafts out.

2/5 - Used this bag on a backpack trip to Assateague National Seashore.  First time for compressing the bag in a compression dry bag.  The bag lofted back up to initial condition in about five minutes.  Used in conjunction with a homemade hammock and underqult system under a tarp.  Weather:  night time low of 43 F, winds 20 knots.  The wind ended up changing direction from the predicted direction, putting the wind right through the open ends of the tarp.  I woke up with my eyes tearing from the wind, but was very warm.  Slept with fleece pants, long underwear, thermal top, and fleece jacket and fleece cap.  Most of the night the bag was unzipped about 1/3 and my arms were outside the bag.