Backpacker Magazine – January/February 2010

Gear Review: Jacks 'R' Better Stealth Sleeping Bag

by: 2010 Reader Test Team

Tags:
• Gear
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• Sleeping bags
|

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Most Innovative |Top Warmth to Weight| Most Verstile | Warmest

 

Most Versatile
“This is the Swiss Army knife of sleeping bags,” says Flowers. He slept in—and wore—the reversible quilt in wet conditions down to 55°F. “But it could easily go 10 degrees colder,” he says (the Stealth does not have an official rating). The 800-fill down and silky, 1.1-ounce ripstop nylon help make it the lightest model here. The rectangular shape is ideal as a throw-over for two on mild nights, but smart features make it much more versatile than an ultralight blanket.

Strategically placed loops at the corners let hammock campers fashion a snug cocoon, and Velcro and drawstring closures at one end create a ventable footbox for ground sleeping. The best part? A head hole midway down lets you wear it like a poncho. “At first I thought it was dorky,” says Flowers. “But I soon became a believer. It’s like a backcountry bathrobe that makes getting out of bed to brew coffee on chilly mornings a much happier affair.” $210; 1 lb.; 2 sizes; jacksrbetter.com.


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