December 27, 2001


Are all down sleeping bags the same?

I've been researching sleeping bags, and I'm looking for a sturdy down bag rated to around -5 to -10 degrees with a good water-resistant shell for around $350. Are sleeping bags from The North Face any good? And how much more of an advantage is it to have an 800-fill bag then a 600-fill bag?

— Sunny Bae
Davis, California

You should be able to find a decent bag in that price range, Sunny. And as for bags from The North Face, I generally think they're fine. Take a look at TNF's Superlight Endurance ($299). It has a Pertex nylon shell that's treated for water-repellency and 600-fill down. Weight is good for a bag with that rating -- 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Any advantage to 800-fill down? Yes and no. First, keep in mind what those numbers mean. Down is measured by the ability of one ounce of the stuff to fill a specific volume. Higher numbers are generally better -- they have more loft and thus allow bag makers to use less down to achieve a given temperature rating, as more loft is what makes a bag warmer. Higher loft also indicates the goose that supplied the down (bad news: geese do not survive this process, but in most cases already face the chop for food purposes) was more mature, meaning the down clusters had more time to fully develop. So they're sturdier and longer lasting. So, as a general rule, a higher loft number means a bag will be slightly lighter and will last slightly longer than a bag of the same temp rating but with a lower loft number. Oh, higher loft also makes a bag more expensive. To tell you the truth, some people in the industry don't believe 800-fill down exists, at least not in meaningful quantities. More reliable are ratings in the 750-range.

Sub-zero down bags can get expensive, but as the price of the Endurance shows, you can find some. Take a look as well at L.L. Bean's -20 775 Summit bag ($375). Don't be put off by the rating. Once it drops below zero, extra warmth is always appreciated. And with a weight of 3 pounds, 9 ounces, it's not too heavy.