NEW! Outside TV show

Alex Honnold explores Nevada’s wild side

Watch now

NEW! Outside TV show

Alex Honnold explores Nevada’s wild side

Watch now

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Lumen 40F women's

Winter camping becomes budget friendly with this 0° bag.

Brand: Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)

Model: Lumen 40F women's


[ killer deal]

Yes, you can go winter camping without breaking your gear budget. For temps above 0°F—typical of many moderate winter destinations—this bag delivers reliable warmth for the price of a three-season bag. The 650-fill down Radiant is a tad heavy and bulky compared to more expensive models, but that didn’t bother our cold-sleeping tester. She wouldn’t part with it on a chillier-than-expected, six-day trip through Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, even when offered an ultralight 15°F substitute.

She cherished the warmth, as well as the roomy cut (62-inch girth), which accommodated the extra layers she always wears to bed. The 360-degree insulated neck gaiter provides a total heat seal, and the voluminous hood converts to a plush pillow when stuffed with a puffy jacket. Plus, the construction and 40-denier ripstop nylon shell are bomber: When temps dipped into the low teens, our human Popsicle dragged the Radiant all over camp, from sandstone slabs for dinner to the tent and then back for early-morning coffee. $249; 3 lbs. 13 oz.; 0°F

Popular on Backpacker