Review: Ferrino HL Micro WTS Plus sleeping bag

[ollster]

I've been umming and ahhing about posting this, thinking if I need to give the bag a second or third field run, but I've decided that isn't necessary as it won't change my opinion. So here we go.

Review disclosure: Item provided free of charge on basis of a review being provided.

Reviewer Details:
Forum name: Ollster
Height: Approx 188cms
Weight: Approx 102kgs
Build: Medium-large
Experience: 15+ years experience walking in Tasmania, on and off track, under all conditions.
Sleeping habits: I tend to be a mid-warm sleeper, but also tend to have cold knees and toes.
Sleeping equipment used with bag: Thermarest NeoAir (XL) air mat, Mont silk liner, MSR Hubba HP tent.

Item Details:
Manufacturer: Ferrino
Model Name: HL Micro WTS Plus
Item type: Mummy sleeping bag
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Manufacturer's website: http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-hl-micro-wts-plus/
Price at time of writing: AUD $206.44 (including free shipping)
Listed dimensions: 210x80x55cm
Size: Regular - only comes in one size.
External fabric: Pertex Microlight 30D Nylon Mini Ripstop
Inner fabric: 40D 260T Ripstop Nylon
Filling: 750 g Micro fibre
Listed weight: (1300 g)
"Lowest comfort rating (male)": -2 Celcius
Features: Compression sack, 3 year limited warranty.

Manufacturer Blurb:
The MICRO PLUS is a tough, synthetic sleeping bag which maintains its warmth in damp and humid conditions. Made from high quality materials and weighing just 1300 grams, it's the ideal bag when you expect the temperature to creep close to zero.

The WTS eliminates those cold spots by replacing outer seams with heat welded channels, and the "one touch" zipper allows you to stay warm while you adjust the hood to prevent that chilly dawn air from entering your bag. A combination of 2D and 3D microfibres lower weight without compromising on warmth.

The MICRO PLUS sleeping bag is ideal for those unpredictable autumn and spring nights in the backcountry, or for summer camping in higher alpine environments

Initial Impressions:
The bag arrived packed in it's compression bag, in clear plastic, in a post bag. A couple of tags were attached describing the bag features and construction process. The bag itself looked to be of a high build quality, no dodgy stitching or loose threads, nothing out of alignment. Internal baffles seem to be of a welded design, minimising stitching. As they say though, the proof is in the pudding, and I love pudding.

Testing Strategy:
Not having done a gear test before I thought I'd take a "suck it and see" approach - take the bag out with no preconceptions and see what feelings I developed for it. Kinda like a blind date.

Field Test:
Somewhat ideally the first field test was performed at Mt Field National Park. I spent a night camped at ~1300m in the lea of Florentine Peak, in the long saddle between Florentine and Tyenna Peaks. The forecast was for temperatures between 3-9 degrees for the day, with overcast skies and light winds. These predictions played out correctly and I experienced a dry, cool-but-not-cold, mostly windless night under cloudy skies.

Comfort, Fit and Design:
The bag is overall long enough, even for a slightly taller person such as me. There is a comfortable amount of foot room for a mummy bag. I've got a fairly big chest and shoulders and I found the fit across the shoulders was too squeezy for me. This made it very difficult to operate the zip with my right hand from inside the bag - actually, it was infuriating as I tend to adjust the zip a fair bit overnight. Once the zip gets up to my armpit level, it just won't zip further without some major tugging, rolling around, and some swears. This also causes the zip to catch on the inner material, which was being forced outwards by the squeeze. Incidentally, the zip only reaches down to about knee height, which is no big issue, but for a 3 season bag I'd expect am almost full length zip so it can be more readily used as more of a quilt.

The inner of the bag was quite comfortable, with no annoying velcro or draw cords scratching me or getting in the way and no static.

Here's where things get weird - the bag length means I can get into the bag and get the hood over my head with no problems - I can pull the hood all the way over my head and down to my chin. This is especially weird when compared to the lower part of the opening, where it doesn't quite come up to my chin. The actual position of the opening just seems to be too low on the bag by about 5-10cms. Likewise, the neck baffle for me is way too far down into the bag. It's stitched to the bag at around mid-chest/armpit level, so I can never get the baffle to seal properly because rather than pulling across my neck, it pulls across the top of my shoulders. Where the edge of the baffle actually ends up is basically where it should start. Hopefully that all makes sense.

If the bag was overall too short then I could understand this, but given the overall length provides me plenty of place, I just can't get my head around the position of the opening, and the baffle. Basically it's like the bag was designed for someone who is of average height but has a massive freak head.

Other than that, the bag's draw cords were pretty easy to operate, as were the velcro parts. There is an internal mesh pocket for valuables, and hanging loops on the foot of the bag for storing.

Warmth:
Generally the bag matches it's claimed warmth rating in my opinion. I would estimate the temperature may have hit about 3-4 degrees overnight (certainly not any closer to zero). The bag was nice and warm, with no noticeable uneveness or cold spots. I'd say with improvement to the baffle and opening positions it would be even better, as I'm sure I was losing warmth due to the previously mentioned fit issues.

Packability:
The bag was pretty easy to repack the next morning and fitted well inside it's stuff sack. The stuff sack itself was well made and easy to operate.

Cleaning and Care:
No real comment on this, as I have not had to deal with any spills or cleaning. Care instructions are to hand wash at 30c.

Summary:
All in all, the bag is a nice piece of gear for the money. It's very well constructed and matches it's warmth rating. My only reservations are that the fit seems to be off. With a few small adjustments to the design I would have no problems recommending this as a very nice entry level bag.

Thanks:
I would like to thank Ferrino and Rico in particular for the opportunity to test this bag.

[Rico]

Hi Ollster,

thanks a lot for your review my friend, I can see that you spent lots of time researching and writing it.
I am really wandering what may have caused the annoying inconvenience you are describing. I know that it cannot be just a flaw in the design as this model has been around few years now, but it would be really useful to understand the exact causes of your uncomfortable experience. The only thing I can think of is that your tight shoulder fit may have played a role into it. As you know the main reason to ask to review the gear I sell is to have a honest user experience. I spend lots of time suggesting the right gear to my customers, and it is very important to understand if a product is not suitable for specific situations or body types.

I have a meeting in Italy with Ferrino next month, meeting the head designer for their sleeping bags as well, and I'd like to show him your review. It'd be useful if we can get some more infos, so I am going to ask you something really weird... could you please share your sleeping bag with some of your friends, and see how do they find the experience?

Rico

[ollster]

Hi Rico,

Not a problem - I'll offer it up to some of the other guys. Most of them are probably much closer to the average size than I am, but one is probably fairly close to my size.

If you want I can take some chest/shoulder measurements. It might just be I fall outside the design criteria for the bag!

[Moondog55]

I can't make a comment on the particular Ferrino bag. but as a general comment I get the same problems when I try on a number of bags,
when you get to 185/187 cm and have big wide shoulders the bags do not seem to fit right and I too have trouble adjusting zippers because I find it difficult to reach the puller.
As a design idea i can tell you I really miss the half length centreline zipper

[Ent]

Hi

At 6'3 I get much the same issue with a bag intended for a shorter person. My One Planet Rockledge mummy bag is livable until you have to close off the draft tube and then you understand that it's market is the 6'2 or less person. The bigger you are in the chest the worst the issue becomes.

I have no issue with my 6'6" Western Mountaineering bags.

Maybe the bag is meant for a shorter person?

Cheers

[ollster]

Yeah, I'm probably in the 90+ bag design percentile, being tallish and broad. The thing is I reckon a guy taller and skinnier than me would still fit the total length of the bag (ie: they'd be able to fit the hood over their head). Hence being a little puzzled about the sizing. I guess it must be a shoulder/chest width thing.

I've only used bags that are either roomy regulars, or XL/Long bags so I guess by selection and design I've never had that issue before.

[Lindsay]

The too tight fit across the shoulders and the struggle with the zipper are the main reasons I have moved to a quilt. As a side sleeper this has given a major boost to my comfort.

[POD]

The too tight fit across the shoulders and the struggle with the zipper are the main reasons I have moved to a quilt. As a side sleeper this has given a major boost to my comfort.

How do you work that when its minus 847 degrees? And what gear do you use?

[ollster]

How do you work that when its minus 847 degrees? And what gear do you use?

Mmmm. Horses for courses. A quilt would be borderline for a 3 season "system" wouldn't it - more like 2 season? I can't imagine it being enough when the tent is covered in ice.

[stepbystep]

How do you work that when its minus 847 degrees? And what gear do you use?

Mmmm. Horses for courses. A quilt would be borderline for a 3 season "system" wouldn't it - more like 2 season? I can't imagine it being enough when the tent is covered in ice.

Yeah depends a bit, 80% of the time I dress warm and use my bag as a quilt, more comfortable for a restless sleeper, only needed full bag closure a few times.... yet to experience 847 below though...

[Lindsay]

The too tight fit across the shoulders and the struggle with the zipper are the main reasons I have moved to a quilt. As a side sleeper this has given a major boost to my comfort.

How do you work that when its minus 847 degrees? And what gear do you use?

I've got a Golite Ultra 1+ quilt and Thermarest Neo Air mat. Teamed with thermals I've used it down to around 5 degrees. In the Blue Mountains a couple of weeks ago I found it too warm and had to take the thermals off. I don't intend at this stage to use it at minus 847, but I'm sure I could work something out if pressed.