Backpacker Magazine – April 2009

Gear Guide 2009: Big Agnes Pitchpine SL 40 Sleeping Bag Review

This lightweight summer bag is great for big guys or active sleepers.

by: Steve Howe

Tags:
• Camping
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• Gear
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• Sleeping Bags
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Top Ultralight
To understand why this bag is so good, you need to start with what it doesn't have: no hood and no bottom-side insulation. These key omissions drop the weight significantly. Add premium 800-fill down, and the resulting bag is so light that Big Agnes designers were able to give the Pitchpine a roomier-than-average cut (67.5-inch chest girth) and still keep it within a zipper tab of a pound. After using it on an Escalante trip, with lows in the 40s, our tester pronounced it a great choice for big guys and anyone who wants an ultralight summer sack that allows unimpeded warm-weather tossing and turning.

A pad sleeve accommodates a 72-by-20-inch mattress (we found the bag/pad junction sealed best with 2.5-inch thick air mats, although thinner pads sufficed in the mildest conditions). Caveat: Its temp rating is accurate, but with the hoodless design it's not the best choice for alpine nights that can turn colder and windier than expected. $280; 1 lb. 1 oz.; 40°F Bigagnes.com

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