sleepingbag | IAN CORLESS

Choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break an adventure. Whether you’re heading into the mountains, camping under the stars, or tackling a multi-day trek, your sleep system plays a crucial role in comfort, recovery, and overall experience. But with so many options available, making the right choice isn’t always straightforward.

How to choose?

Decide the temperature rating you need.
In most scenarios, a comfort of 0 to 5 deg will be ideal.
Importantly, do you sleep cold or warm? This will influence your choice.
Think about layers to add warmth – wearing vase layers top and bottom and adding a beanie increase warmth considerably.
Some brands offer sleeping bags in different sizes and widths and also, male or female options exist. You can therefore be specific and get a size/ width suitable for you.
Down or synthetic? Down is lighter, packs smaller and if treated, also can resist wet conditions – In most scenarios, down is the best choice.
Construction and features are important – Ripstop fabric, DWR coatings, sewn through construction, and box wall construction are all features that improve a sleeping bag. Choose wisely.
Zips add weight, so, decide if you need a zip, if you do, maybe a half-zip will be preferable to a full zip.
Baffles and hood – key features that ensure comfort and warmth when needed.
Sleeping mat – a good sleeping mat with applicable R rating makes a sleeping bag more efficient and warmer – an essential piece of kit.

Recommended sleeping mats

Rab Ultrasphere 345g HERE and Sea to Summit Ultralight Air 345g HERE

Sleeping Bags to consider:

Light Warmth

MDS (Wilsa) Ultra Light Bag – 440g – 10 deg HERE

Sea to Summit Spark 7C – 363g – 7 deg HERE

Mid Warmth

PHD also make the Desert X – 375g – 4 deg HERE

Western Mountaineering Flylite Down – 408g – 2 deg

Mont Adventure Equipment Zero Superlight – 425g – 2 deg HERE

Rab Mythic Ultra 180 – 450g – 2 deg HERE (This product is now discontinued but still available)

Western Mountaineering Highlite – 455g – 2 deg HERE

Warm

Thermarest Hyperion 32 UL Down – 462g – 0 deg HERE

Pajak Radical 1Z Down – 466g – 0 deg HERE

Extra Warm

Sea to Summit Spark -1C – 498g – 1 deg HERE

Rab Mythic 0C – 519g – 0 deg HERE

Custom Made

UK brand, PHD, custom make sleeping bags. They offer different sizes, different widths, zip or no zip and so on.

Personally, I use the Desert Race Halfbag – 240g – 3 deg combined with a PHD Ultra Down K series jacket at 200g. It’s the perfect option that also provides a down jacket for when in bivouac. HERE and Ultra Down Jacket HERE

By thinking through these factors carefully, you can choose a sleeping bag that not only suits your adventure but helps you rest well and wake ready for whatever comes next.

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Octane 25 fully packed with tent,sleeping bag, apparel and food for a 1-night fastpack.

Streamlined, lightweight, full of features and storage, CamelBak have brought together the best of both the trail running and hiking worlds with Octane 25 LE.

As you would expect, CamelBak has integrated a system to keep the bladder secure and easy to access, with the hydration hose tucked in and out of the way with secure fixings at the front. For many though, the use of the bladder can be a plus or a minus, so, removal is easy. At the front, there is storage for two large bottles or soft-flasks.

Ultimately, this pack with 25L of storage is perfect for fast packing and multi-day stage events. It is optimised for those who want to stay light and move fast. It is full of features and after packing and testing, this is a piece of equipment that is ideal for a race such as Marathon des Sables.

Key features are:

Belt with two zippered pockets for ‘on-the-go’ snacks.
Trekking pole storage via left or right side.
11 exterior pockets one with zipper and two for bottles/ soft flasks.
8 interior pockets one with zipper and key holder
2 chest straps

A large zipper opens up the pack like a suitcase, therefore adding and removing contents is easy. Inside the pack are multiple small stretchy storage pockets, 8 in total. On the rear insides 5, 2 longer pockets on the sides of the inside. In the lid of the pack is a zipper pocket ideal for wallet, passport with an integrated key holder.

Outside there are 11 exterior pockets and a giant compartment that is dedicated to hold the bladder, or, if doing multi-day, this is a great place to put a sleeping mat or even some clothing. Three large mesh pockets are ideal for external storage that may require quick access, for example, waterproof jacket, pants, hat, gloves, additional liquid and so on. Two elastic straps not only will hold poles in place but also help compress the pack smaller.

Pockets help keep things in place, and the dual chest straps keep it all closely attached to the body. The addition of the waist belt and two zippered pockets only adds to a secure feel and the increased pockets are welcome for ‘on-the-go’ snacks.

To provide perspective I removed the bladder and added a sleeping mat in to the bladder compartment (not shown in the video) and the items you see are as follows:

2 large Raidlight bottles
Big Agnes solo backpacking tent with poles and pegs.
Sea to Summit Sp1 sleeping bag.
Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner.
Merino LS top and bottoms.
Waterproof jacket.
Waterproof pants.
Down jacket.
Warm gloves.
Leki poles.
Merino beanie, neck roll and gloves.
MSR solo cook kit.
Sea to Summit spoon
Knife, matches, hot chocolate sachets, tea, earplugs, blindfold, snacks, and cup.
Firepot food and bars.
Osmo Active.
Phone, passport, and credit card.

To wear, the pack hugs the body, is comfortable and if adjusted correctly provides a run with minimal bounce. Made from ultralight sail cloth, the Octane 25 feels very durable. 3D vent mesh helps comfort and breathability.

While not one of the obvious choices for a multi-day or stage race, this pack is proving hard to beat. The features, the storage capacity and the fit against the torso is superb. It really is one of the best, if not the best, we have tried. Coming in one size, smaller or larger individuals would need to try on and make sure fit and comfort works. The side adjustments do compensate for many sizes and the waist belt adds to a secure feel and it helps spread the carry load.

Is there a downside? The only possible problem could be the zip. Zips can break, particularly when under pressure from holding in contents or from harsh environmental conditions, such as sand. However, this is just a thought process that needs considering, there is nothing in testing that would suggest there to be a problem.

Ultimately, one of the best fast packing and multi-day packs I have tried and one that I am using on all adventures for the foreseeable future.

Images below copyright Camelbak.