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Sleeping Bags

 

Down Sleeping Bags

Synthetic Sleeping Bags

Down PROs:

  • ounce for ounce, down is warmer than synthetic
  • down retains shape and loft better than synthetic
  • highly compressible and lightweight

    • wicks body moisture away

Synthetic PROs:

  • provides some insulation when wet
  • dries faster than down
  • hypoallergenic
  • easier to wash than down

    • less expensive

Down CONs:

  • slow to dry when wet
  • substantial loss of insulation properties when wet
  • some people are allergic to down
  • costs more than synthetic

Synthetic CONs:

  • bulky
  • heavy
  • synthetic fibers break down faster than down

Down Viewed from a Microscope (1mm)

Down Magnified

Synthetic Fiber Viewed from a Microscope (1mm)

Synthetic Fiber

Fill Power Vs. Weight

Generally the higher the Fill Power (cubic inches of down per ounce) the lighter the sleeping bag (See Graph Above).  

Sleeping Bag Comparison Chart

(download pdf, 635 kB)

Manufacturer/
model		PriceTemp.
rating
(F)		fill
weight
(oz.)		liner
weight
(oz.)		overall
weight
(oz.)		Fill
type 
 Mountain Hardware Phantom $400  15  20  11  31  Down 800
 Marmot Helium $ 369  15  19.1  11.9  31  Down 850
 The North Face High Tail  $389  15  20  12  32  Down 850
 Sierra Design Nitro  $379  15  20  14  34  Down 800
 Marmot Pinnacle  $329  15  22.5  17.5  40  Down 800
 The North Face Blue Kazoo  $249  15  23  21  44  Down 600
 The North Face Green Kazoo  $279  15  23  21  44  Down 600
 Kelty Foraker  $300  15  20  25  45  Down 750
 Marmot Sawtooth  $209  15  22  24  46  Down 600
 Sierra Design Arrow Rock  $249  15  24  22  46  Down 600
 Sierra Design Trade Winds  $279  15  24  25  49  Down 600
 Mountain Hardware Ultralamina  $205  15  33  13  46  Synthetic
 Marmot Eco Pro  $169  15  37.5  14.5  52  Synthetic
 Sierra Design Cochise  $159  15  27  25  52  Synthetic
 Marmot Trestles  $109  15  36  26  62  Synthetic
 Sierra Design Fission  $249  20  23  13  36  Synthetic
 The North Face Orion  $189  20  25  15  40  Synthetic
 The North Face Cats Meow  $159  20  25  17  42  Synthetic
 The North Face RE Meow  $199  20  25  18  43  Synthetic
 Kelty Light Year XP  $130  20  28  18  46  Synthetic
 Mountain Hardware Switch  $140  20  32  16  48  Synthetic
 Sierra Design Wild Bill  $119  20  28  21  49  Synthetic
 Sierra Design Verde  $189  20  27  23  50  Synthetic
 The North Face Big Horn  $99  20  40  23  63  Synthetic
 REI Halo  $259  25  17.2  13.8  31  Down 750
 REI Radiant  $179  25  19.2  17.8  37  Down 650
 REI Auro  $219  25  34  12  46  Synthetic
 REI Zen  $159  25  36  16  52  Synthetic
 REI Pod  $99  25  33  27  60  Synthetic
 Marmot Hydrogen  $239  30  11  14  25  Down 850
 Marmot Never Winter  $179  30  12  19  31  Down 600
 Sierra Design Arrow Rock  $219  30  16  21  37  Down 600
 The North Face Kilo  $199  30  14  27  41  Down 600
 Mountain Hardware Phantom  $290  32  10  13  23  Down 800
 Mountain Hardware Ultralamina  $190  32  18  13  31  Synthetic
 The North Face Equinox  $149  35  16  18  34  Synthetic
 Mountain Hardware Switch  $130  35  23  30  53  Synthetic
 Marmot Arete  $199  40  8.4  10.6  19  Down 800
 REI Radiant  $149  40  10.4  16.6  27  Down 650
 Kelty Forecast  $130  40  21  19  40  Synthetic

 The sleeping bags listed above represent a small sample of the available sleeping bags.

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