Therm-a-Rest Ventra Down Comforter

[winter fortress]

Cross a super-warm bag and a weatherproof bivy and you get the Wraith,” says one tester. “The shell on this 800-fill bag was a lifesaver,” said another after spending five weeks on Denali. “It was impervious to the rain-snow mix I subjected it to while sleeping outside my tent, but it dried quickly once I returned to shelter.” Credit Mountain Hardwear’s waterproof and windproof Dry.Q shell fabric, which employs a membrane with superior breathability. The Wraith also has a “hidden baffle” design—a mesh bag-within-the-bag acts as baffle anchor points.

This eliminates top seams (potential cold spots) in the outer shell; our tester stayed toasty down to -20°F. The bag earned praise for livability, even from a claustrophobic tester. Downsides: After 35 days of continuous use, one tester noticed a slight reduction in loft, and the zipper caught routinely on the fat draft tube. Also, it’s on the heavy—and pricey—side. $760; 4 lbs. 15 oz.; reg. and long; mountainhardwear.com

This 40 degree F rated comforter is filled with premium 650-fill European down for comfort and warmth and offers the freedom to move that traditional mummy bags don’t. The comforter can snap to any Therm-a-Rest mattress with a simple Mattress Snap Kit or the recently-introduced Fitted Sheet that snaps onto the mattress itself, providing next-to-skin comfort. The comforter features dual-draft collars that weigh down the sides, keeping the blanket wrapped around the body, plus a footbox that keeps feet easily tucked in while moving during sleep. It is also versatile enough to be used on its own by the campfire, in a backpacking hostel or on a plane. (Mattress Snap Kit and Fitted Sheet sold separately.) Available in two sizes (regular and large) and two colors (chili pepper and canary yellow).