Backpacker Magazine – March 2008

2008 Sleeping Bag Review: Summer Sleeping Bags

by: The Backpacker Editors, Photos by Sethhughes.com

Tags:
• Gear
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• Hiking
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• Camping
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• Ultralight
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• Winter Camping
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• Sleeping Bags
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Bargain!
L.L. Bean Katahdin Climashield
Semi-Rectangular 40°
This synthetic-fill bag isn't ultralight or ultra warm–it's just ultra comfortable. "The semi-rectangular shape is luxuriously roomy, but not so floppy that I froze heating up interior space," said our tester. Other creature comforts include a full-length zipper backed by stiff nylon tape for snag-free exits and a well-shaped hood that closes down easily (if a tad wide around the cheeks). For such a roomy bag it's relatively light and packable; it stuffs down to bread-loaf size. Bottom line: For warm sleepers or lowland hikers, this is a bargain summer sack. $99; 2 lbs.; 40°F

Best Buy
MontBell Super Stretch Burrow #4 This well-priced sack easily justified its 35°F temperature rating on Utah nights that hovered just above freezing. Credit thick layers of Exceloft synthetic insulation and stretch baffles that eliminate dead air space around your body while allowing the bag to flex for roll-around comfort. Smart feature: A drawstring at ankle level lets shorter people cinch the bag to a 64-inch internal length, eliminating dead space at the feet. If you're shopping for a synthetic bag–either to save money or because you see a lot of wet weather–this bag delivers no-compromise performance. $130; 2 lbs. 7 oz.; 35°F

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