sleeping bag

Enlightened Equipment on backpacking quilts vs. sleeping bags

If you’re an avid hiker or backpacker, you probably know a thing or two about the ultralight community. The ultralight concept is simple; the basic idea is to keep everything lightweight, use multifunctional gear, and limit what you don’t need. In other words, you keep your gear as absolutely minimal as possible without endangering yourself. Of course, there are more stringent guidelines depending who you talk to, but like I said, for the most part, simple.

There are those who get too carried away with the idea and end up being completely miserable in the wilderness (or much worse). The key is to find practical ways to cut excess ounces. One of these ways is to opt for a quilt instead of a sleeping bag. The basic idea behind a quilt is to cut out excess insulation and the hood from a sleeping bag, therefore saving weight. There are cons to a quilt system though such as having to junction it to a good sleeping pad or not being practical for colder temperatures, but if you’re looking to cut a little more weight from your pack then a quilt might be for you. Enlightened Equipment offers a quick overview of their quilts in the following video:

About Enlightened Equipment

We are a company dedicated to making some of the lightest and most functional camping gear in the world. Our focus on weight reduction, quality, and accessibility has made us one of the leaders in the ultralight market. While designed for ultralight camping and through-hiking, our gear is a great choice for anyone spending time outdoors. (From Enlightened Equipment)

Featured image courtesy of Enlightened Equipment YouTube Channel

NEMO Launches 2019 Collection

January 16, 2019 [Dover, NH]—NEMO, award-winning designer of outdoor adventure gear that is designed to keep you warmer, drier, and more comfortable, is launching its Spring/Summer2019 product line this week. The new collection includes a complete refresh of the sleeping pad line, as well as patent-pending innovations and new introductions throughout the tent and sleeping bag categories.

“I’m incredibly proud of this new line,” shares Cam Brensinger, Founder, CEO, and Lead Designer. “We tackled some difficult challenges that required great teamwork between design and engineering. The most satisfying part of the process is making new things and new solutions—design that moves people and improves their experience of adventure. I believe we accomplished that again this year.”

Feathered Friends Swift UL 20 sleeping bag

If you have never heard of the brand, Feathered Friends is a small business based out of Seattle, Washington. While a small business indeed, it is one that receives extraordinary praise from the backpacking and mountaineering communities. As the name suggests, their manufacturing specialties are down products. Down is the soft insulating layer underneath the feathers of ducks and geese, primarily used in sleeping bags and insulated clothing like “puffy” jackets. What follows is an overview of the Feathered Friends brand and a review of their Swift UL 20 Sleeping Bag.

Specifications

Dimensions: 64″ / 58″ / 40″
Fill Power: 950+ Goose Down
Lining Fabric: Flite 15 denier ripstop nylon
Country of Origin: Made in Seattle, USA of imported materials
Packed Size: 7″ x 12″ | 9L
Sleeping Bag Shell Fabric: Pertex® Endurance UL
Temperature Rating: 20ºF / -6.67ºC
Zip Side: Left
Length

Reg 6′ 0″ / 183 cm
Long 6′ 6″ / 198 cm

Average Weight

Reg 1 lbs 14 oz / 859 g
Long 2 lbs 0 oz / 905 g

Fill Weight

Reg 18.8 oz / 533 g
Long 19.7 oz / 558 g

Swift UL sizing. Courtesy of Feathered Friends

My thoughts and review

Starting backpacking can be expensive. Quality gear can make things more expensive. Most of Feathered Friends’ down products are high-value items, but they’re also some of the best gear available. Plenty of other quality manufacturers exist and their bags are probably more suitable options, but Feathered Friends’ sleeping bags are unrivaled. They are exceptionally lightweight and compressible for the amount of insulation they provide. Their Swift UL is their wide mummy sleeping bag. I like having a little extra room in my bag; a little extra comfort goes a long way in the wilderness.

Truly Made in the USA

The term “Made in the USA” can be somewhat of a misnomer. We often like to view products “Made in the USA” as having the utmost quality while showcasing our pride for American craftsmanship. While the branding of Made in the USA is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission to ensure the product is “all or virtually all” made in the USA, the designation itself isn’t always synonymous with utmost quality. With Feathered Friends, there is no question that their “Made in the USA” designation is as stout as the claim can be. Sleeping bags like the Swift UL 20 are as high quality as a sleeping bag can get.

Sleeping Bag Ratings

The problem with sleeping bag ratings is that there is not a standardized or universally-used method to ensure temperature ratings are similar across manufacturers. In other words, the 20°F sleeping bag from Company A can feel warmer or colder than the 20°F bag from Company B (mildly or significantly so). To ensure an honest temperature rating for sleeping bags before purchasing, you should look at a company’s reputation, especially from the perspective of its buyers. The trend with Feathered Friends is that their products’ specifications are generally modest, performing beyond users’ expectations. I have used my Swift UL 20 in temperatures lower than its rated 20°F and I was still comfortably warm.

Down Fill Power

Some people might be unfamiliar with “fill power.” The fill power describes the quality of down used, and in a way, the insulation capability of your sleeping bag. Fill power is expressed by cubic inches per one ounce, how much warmth can be insulated by one ounce of down. The difference between two identical sleeping bags with differing fill powers is that the bag with the higher fill power will be the lighter bag because of its better insulating ability. For example, if two sleeping bags have an identical temperature rating of 30°F, Bag A (fill power of 800) will need less down than Bag B (fill power of 500) to achieve the same temperature rating of 30°F, this results in Bag A being physically lighter than Bag B. Feathered Friends use fill powers of 900+ and 950+ meaning their sleeping bag insulation is exceptional for its weight.

Feathered Friends Swift UL 20 in the titanium color option.

The verdict

The good
-Lightweight
-High down fill power
-Works at colder temperatures than what it’s rated for

The bad
-Expensive

Feathered Friends makes the some of the best sleeping bags available. The Swift UL 20 has an MSRP of $509. Yes, it’s expensive, but you do get what you pay for (cry once, right?) As I mentioned earlier, there are other great sleeping bags available across several manufacturers, but Feathered Friends is definitely on top. The insulating ability, its minimal weight, and compressibility are all features you want to have in your sleeping bag.

If you own any gear from Feathered Friends, let us know what you think in the comments below!

Thermarest Saros Sleeping Bag

The Thermarest Saros is one of Thermarest’s newer model sleeping bags. Built to sustain someone down to temperatures of 20 degrees, it is a good all season bag, with the quality Thermarest has always been known for. It has some awesome features, and all of that combined with Thermarest’s state of the art eraLoft synthetic insulation, make this a great lightweight sleeping bag. It retails through Thermarest for $170, but you may be able to find it even cheaper at some of their licensed retailers. Interested to learn more about the Thermarest Saros? I did a video highlighting some of its features and how well it served me when I had to spend a few nights out at the range last week.

Author – Tim M. is an Army Ranger who has served in Afghanistan and is currently a K9 handler for ARSOF. In his free time, he enjoys shooting, working out and hitting the trails with the dog.

Big Agnes Kid’s Sleep System (Haybro15)

I am excited for Spring to fully arrive. I plan on doing some overnight hikes with Loki (my dog), and my son Cole. Recently I wrote about my top ten overnight hike essentials, but what if you plan on bringing your kid? It was an interesting process to start finding some gear for my son. There seemed to be two camps; extremely cheap low-quality gear, or extremely expensive top-end gear (which I thought was a little overkill for a 4 year-old).

After searching for some time I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon Big Agnes. Big Agnes sells; sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, clothes, camping accessories, and more. I was even more excited to see they had a presence on promotive (discount site). After looking through their sleeping bags/pads I finally settled on the Haybro 15 sleeping bag, and the Air Core 20x66x3.25 sleeping pad. You can check out both in the video below.

The Haybro 15 retails for $99.95, but can be found for a better price on promotive. The Air Core sleeping pad ranges from $49.95-$99.95 depending on the size needed. For the Haybro 15 I went with the 20x66x3.25 which retails for $57.95, and can also be found for a slightly better price on promotive (learn how to join). This is a great price point for a product that can work in temperatures as low as 15 degrees.

I am very pleased with the quality, and price point. This sleep system is something my son will use now, and grow into later. The top-end capacity for this sleeping bag is 5’6” so I am planning on many years use. Please let me know if you have any questions about this product by using the comment section below, or our comms check.

New Terra-pod Sleeping Bags provide relaxation to outdoor enthusiasts

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – With a solid reputation for delivering innovative and essential camping and survival products to the outdoor market, 12 Survivors is proud to announce another crucial camping product line, Terra-pod Sleeping Bags. With two different sizes, regular (TS48000R) and long (TS48000L), Terra-pod Sleeping Bags are designed to provide sleep comfort to people of all shapes and sizes.

Terra-pods seal tight to keep you warm and snug in cold temperatures down to 20° F and are constructed with both a draft collar and hood draw. For warmer climates, a full double-zipper footbox allows for optional airflow to cool you down and ensure a good night’s sleep. Terra-pod Sleeping Bags also feature an interior chest pocket for convenient storage of small personal items such as phones and glasses and heavy-duty YKK zippers, trusted for durability and reliability.

Terra-pod Sleeping Bags aren’t only for sleeping; they reverse to a bright signal orange color for emergency situations. The Regular model is ideal for people up to 6 ft. tall while the Long is better suited for taller individuals. Terra-pod Sleeping Bags include hang loops for storage and airing out as well as a compression stuff sack for quick and easy storage.

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About 12 Survivors®

12 Survivors is a modern brand concept built around positive principles and support of the outdoor lifestyle, providing quality products such as knives, multi-tools, tents, first-aid kits, backpacks and other innovative gear to meet the demanding needs of survivalists, preppers, campers, hikers and hunters. For more information about 12 Survivors products, visit www.12survivors.com.