Mountain Hardwear Ratio 32 Sleeping Bag Review
This down bag deftly handled both near-freezing and humid, sweltering nights, making it the pick of campers seeking affordable versatility.
Brand: Mountain Hardwear
Model: Ratio 32
[all-purpose bargain]
Why we like it This down bag deftly handled both near-freezing and humid, sweltering nights, making it the pick of campers seeking affordable versatility.
Warmth “We holed up during a cataclysmic storm in the North Cascades, and even with the wind howling and the temperature near freezing, I was comfortable cocooned inside the Ratio,” says one tester.
Construction The bag’s new box baffles are (on average) 40 percent smaller than is typical (so there are more of them). Their narrower size forces the down to loft higher rather than spreading out horizontally, and keeps it in place—translating into better overall coverage. “I’m a side sleeper, and although I constantly swap positions throughout the night, I never felt cold spots,” says one tester. The catch? More baffles require more material, which adds ounces and bulk.
Water resistance The budget-friendly, 650-fill Q.Shield down and DWR-treated nylon shell excelled in wet conditions. “We had a condensation-prone tent on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,” says one tester. “Every time we bumped a wall, we’d cause a miniature rainstorm. But I never felt chilled or noticed a loss of loft, even after a week of use.”
$230; 1 lb. 13 oz.; 32°F; mountainhardwear.com