Speaking of packing, this bag packs down incredibly small, about the size of two one-liter Nalgene bottles. The Bishop Pass 30 is Mountain Hardwears value bag. My bias is towards the lightest, best-functioning, and lowest-cost solutions available. We added an additional cord lock to each shock cord to remediate this issue. If you are not a back sleeper then this may not be the best choice for you. Here are a few other things to think about. They are heavier and dont pack in the same compact size as down bags. First, cut the patch so that it will cover the tear completely and round the corners so that it wont peel. 850-fill-power down provides cozy warmth. This may be an issue for side sleepers. A Backpacking Sleeping Bag is only part of a good backpacking sleep system. If cost is a concern, this is a great option. The difference between an ultralight premium bag, like the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32 (left), and a light budget bag, such as the Kelty Cosmic (right), can be hard to identify by hand. Its about taking a serious look at how much every item of your gear weighs and making decisions about whether to take it or replace it with a lighter option. But keep in mind when shopping for a fastpacking sleeping bag that narrower bags will generally be more thermally efficient, meaning theyll be warmer for the weight than wider sleeping bags. Tube-style bags, like the Feathered Friends Tanager 20CFL Sleeping Bag, can be less versatile than hoodless zippered bags or quilts because they have fewer venting options. This is a reassuring factor that adds to your safety when heading into the backcountry. We recommend that you carry stick-on patches on your fastpacking trips so that you can field-repair sleeping bag holes. Then clean any dirt away from the tear with water or alcohol and let it dry completely. The two main types of insulation materials in sleeping bags are down and synthetic. The size regular/regular is stuffed full of 17.9-ounce, 850-fill water-repellent goose down and weighs a total of 27.2 ounces. Hes been writing about ultralight backpacking and fastpacking, as well as the intersection of these types of recreation with environmental issues, for four years. If you are slightly larger or smaller than your average hiker then you will appreciate the size choices. It allows you to use the bag more before it needs to be washed. While a couple of fastpacking-appropriate sleeping bags have been in the iRunFar teams personal rotation for a few years, this year we set out to research dozens and test 14 of what we thought could be the best sleeping bags for three-season fastpacking and ultralight backpacking. Photo: iRunFar/Eszer Horanyi. The REI Co-Op Magma 15F is a good lightweight sleeping bag for backpacking at a reasonable price. Ripstop is a woven fabric with a grid of stronger reinforcement fibers in it to make it more resistant to ripping. Cats love to climb sleeping bags as one of our testers has tragically discovered. You save: 15.00 (7%) Im 6-foot-3 and tested the long variant of the bag. The Katabatic Gear Alsek 22F Quilt on the left and the Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Down TopQuilt 15, both award-winning sleeping bags in this guide. The bag also features a zipper pull garage to prevent it from bothering your face. Ultralight (UL) backpacking is more of a state of mind than a specific definition. Sleeping bag liners do three things: They increase the warmth of a sleeping bag, increase comfort for some people, and protect the bag from your skin oils and your filthy fastpacking feet. To reach the same loft and warmth as that 950-plus-fill sleeping bag, the one with 800 fill would need several more ounces of down in it, making it heavier. For those living in Europe,RABmight be the cheapest and most available. . Overall, the Sea to Summit Spark has a very small pack size and top quality everything. Some of us at iRunFar like to use them on every trip, primarily for comfort. Weight: 29 oz / 820 gramsDown Fill Power: 850 fillFill Weight: 16oz / 450gEN Rated: NoPacksize: 9LPros:> Lightweight> High QualityCons:> Expensive. Anything purchased from REI offers the best consumer protection, closely followed by Amazon with a 30 day return policy. Zpacks is well known for only producing ultralight gear and the Zpacks 20F Hoodless Sleeping Bag keeps with the ultralight ethos of the company. If so, you can often save weight and money by going hood-free on your sleeping bag. People who try to avoid using animal products may also prefer to opt for a synthetic sleeping bag. These specs compete very directly with the other hooded mummy bag on our list, the Feathered Friends Swallow UL 20 Sleeping Bag, but costs $190 less, making it an easy choice for most people. Also, keep in mind the temperature rating and quality of your Ultralight Sleeping Pad. The Rab Mythic Ultra is even lighter than the older Mythic 400 which I loved as an ultra-light sleeping bag. Posted on Last updated: February 23, 2023, Categories Backpacking, Gear Reviews, Thru-Hiking. A Tear Aid patch could last a long time but may not make it through several laundry cycles. If you want versatility and dont want to spend the extra money for the premium features of our higher-rated bags, definitely check it out. The insulated collar yoke is generous and prevents cold drafts at the neck and shoulder. But if you want a little extra peace of mind during fastpacking adventures in a wet climate, it probably couldnt hurt to choose a bag with hydrophobic down. My only gripe about this bag is that it is marketed as a 30F bag but really has a 39F comfort rating, so it should be marketed as a 40F bag. While they feel thicker than the 7-denier fabrics on the Zpacks 20F Full Zip Sleeping Bag or the Feathered Friends Tanager CFL 20 Sleeping Bag, and could theoretically be more downproof, they probably wont deal as well with dog claws or general abuse. Alternatively, the no-hood option is ideal for anyone that already carries a warm hat (which is most hikers) or for campers that also plan to pack a big puffy jacket with a hood. That small amount of extra weight allows you to open the bag into a quilt when the nights are warmer. Best Ultralight Quilt: Katabatic Gear Alsek 22F Quilt. What is the difference between a sleeping bag and a quilt? If youre car camping or just hiking a short distance, it might not matter much. All the sleeping bags in this review use an outer shell material of between 15 denier and 7 denier. The most competitive ultralight bag in terms of dollars per ounce. Advertised Weight: 28.2 ounces (800g) in a size regular, Fill Weight: 15.9 ounces (451g) of 850 fill, Temperature Rating: 16 degrees Fahrenheit, Packed Size: 7.5 x 15 inches (19 x 38.1cm), 10.9 liters. The vertical baffles are usually used in the torso area and do a great job of preventing any down from shifting during the night. As it beads it runs off the outer surface. Sleeping Bags ; Explore Sleeping Bags; Men's ; Women's ; Double ; Kids' Bag Liners ; Blankets ; . The bag features ultralight 7D fabric on both the inner and outer shell. Be sure to read our in-depth Feathered Friends Flicker UL 20 Quilt Sleeping Bag review, too! The lightest sleeping bag on our list at just 12oz (340g), the Sea to Summit Spark Ultralight 40 is a solid all . Make sure you can return it if you ordered the wrong size. Mountain Hardwear also placed a one-inch strip of textured fabric along the zipper length to prevent snagging. In order to go fast and light, hard decisions have to be made and frequently youre giving up a bit of comfort, versatility, and/or durability over heavier similar items. Weight: 21.4 oz / 606 gramsDown Fill Power: 900 Fill Hydrophobic DownFill Weight: 12.7 oz / 360 gramsEN / ISO Rated: YesPacksize: UnknownPros:> Ultra Lightweight> EN rated> High qualityCons:> Very Expensive> Half zip is considered a negative by some people but I like it. The Spark series is made from 10D ripstop nylon on the shell and soft 7D nylon on the interior, which feels really good on the skin. For instance, this bag uses vertical baffles on the body and horizontal baffles on the legs and feet. Hes an accomplished mountain endurance athlete who has completed over 25 ultra marathon races (follow on Strava). It takes real talent to make sleeping bags light, warm, and compressible or packable. Most sleeping bags on our list can be ordered in different temperature ratings. Genius! All of the bags listed will last 10 years or more and range in price from US$280-$680. There are several ways to wash a down bag. Weight: 1 lb. Or rely on the extra weight of a synthetic-filled sleeping bag for its warmth when it gets wet. It is not unusual to keep a quality sleeping bag for 10 years. Ultra Lightweight & Portable Sleeping Bag Stealth Angel Survival Especially in the spring and summer months, less is more when it comes to your sleeping gear. 5.3 oz. A small amount of duct tape or tenacious tape is sufficient to repair the bag. This helps justify the slightly lower price in comparison to higher-priced bags. Therm-A-Rest also ingeniously integrated two removable sleeping pad straps that keep you from sliding off your sleeping pad in the middle of the night. Its made with 850+ fill Ultra-Dry Down thats Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified for sustainability. I love this feature. One of our testers appreciated this feature when sleeping on the banks of Lake Powell in 60-degree Fahrenheit nights. The Katabatic Gear Alsek 22F Quilt is the best quilt for fastpacking weve found. It doesnt have the same high-tech features as the Phantom 30, but its solidly capable in its own right. David Parnell is the founder and lead editor at Trail and Summit, who enjoys writing on a wide range of topics from travel trailers to trail running. It is constructed from premium materials, including 13.7 ounces of 900 fill DownTek goose down and 0.51 ounce/square yard, 7-denier liner and shell fabrics. We had no issues with drafts when using this bag. I ripped a hole in my sleeping bag, what do I do? This design will help keep side sleepers warmer because the vertical baffles on the body prevent the down from slipping down to the sides of the bag. Sea to Summit Trek TKII - Best Entry-Level Backpacking Sleeping Bag. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The Enlightened Equipment Convert 20 Quilt Sleeping Bag, by contrast, is more egg-shaped, a probable reason it wasnt as warm as this sleeping bag. Fill power is measured by placing 30 grams, or about one ounce of down, in a plexiglass cylinder and then placing a weight on top of it. The sleeping bags that made the cut are all light, warm, durable, comfortable, and packable. I kept a quality winter sleeping bag for 20 years before I decided to sell it. Rectangular bags provide more wiggle room, though they are often bulkier, which may not convenient when on a long trek into the mountains. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne. The versatility of this mummy bag allows it to be used as a backpacking quilt and is sure to be very popular on thru-hiking trails around the world in 2023 and beyond. For example, on the last day of your trip, you can make your feet happy by hiking or running in your sleeping socks. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne. The Zpacks Mummy Sleeping Bag comes in 2 widths, 3 lengths, and in 4 colors, namely green, blue, black, and my personal favorite orange. Theres truly nothing better than traipsing through the mountains on a long backpacking trip with a light pack in tow. If you sleep hot at night we would recommend getting a sleeping bag or quilt with a full-length zipper and a drawstring footbox such as the Feathered Friends Flicker UL 20 Quilt Sleeping Bag or the Enlightened Equipment Convert 20 Quilt Sleeping Bag. Slightly delicate. I love this bag even more. The only downside to high-loft down is its high price tag. This is one of the very few areas where theres a pretty simple answer that doesnt require a whole lot of nuance. Shop for Ultralight Sleeping Bags at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. If this bag had a draft collar, you could leave the opening mostly uncinched, which would be more comfortable, in our opinion. this chemical coating will cause water to bead as it does on a car after you wax it. Because the fully open bag is more or less rectangular, it transforms into an egg-shaped, rather than mummy-shaped, tube when zipped, and is therefore very roomy in the legs. I consider my sleeping bag and shelter to be more than just comfort items. The wafer clips, on the other hand, are easier to use than the little cord lock system on the Katabatic Gear quilt. It uses 850+ down unlike some of the other manufacturers that use the highest rated 950+ down. Add Ether Light XT Extreme Sleeping Pad to Compare Sea to Summit UltraLight Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad - Women's. $119.00 - $129.00 (2) 2 . This will keep it fresh and allow any residue built up on a trip to dry off easily. This quilt uses mid-grade down and ultralight shell materials while having minimal features and the simplest design. We hesitate to say that one type of bag is better for back sleepers and one is better for side sleepers. He has hiked on every continent (except Antarctica) and has cycled from Alaska to Ecuador. The quilts stretchy pad attachment straps dont slide through the wafer clips easily, making them nearly impossible to adjust. The three-baffle hood is cinchable and features a down-filled face gasket around the collar. They are essential parts of my survival system in the backcountry. Free shipping on orders over $49 for lightweight, synthetic sleeping bags, along with other outdoor gear and apparel. Many ultralight sleeping bags now come with water-resistant down, which is ideal for use in wet environments. The WFS X-LITE is an ultra lightweight sleeping bag with hollow core fiber insulation for warmer outdoor nights, rated for 40-50 Degrees. 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ultra lightweight sleeping bag