I have an Elite 3, and think it is brilliant. In my mind it compresses down to a tiny size for its warmth considering it is a synthetic bag, and I love the versatility of having the expanding baffle in it. Like a previous poster, i generally use this deployed, so the bag is in its widest form- and with it like this i can bring my knees up in the bag (and i am 6ft3). I've used it at all times of the year under a basha and not been cold- though i do sleep wearing my cloths, and during the winter, my softie jacket. If i got really cold in it, i suppose i would zip the baffle up and use it narrower, which would help.
To give you an idea of its size when compressed, i use a military stuff sack (as issued with the current bag), and with an issue bivi bag already over the outside of the elite 3, the two fit into the stuff sack, which can then easily be compressed to its maximum extent- i.e. so there is no more webbing tape available to pull through any of the four buckles. As an estimate, this probably creates a disc about 30cm diameter, by 15cm depth- and that includes the bulky issue goretex bivi bag!
Yes, I’m a big fan, and I own numerous other sleeping bags (softie 3, softie 10, issue sleeping bag, German army bag- and I’ve used others- '58 bag etc). For versatility, warmth to weight, compressibility, strength this is my favourite. I've not much experience with bags of a natural filling however, which generally win over on everything apart from warmth when wet, and possibly durability. For me though, warmth when wet is absolutely key.
Hope this helps!
