Sleeping bag rating

[wayno]

when choosing a bag, you need to look at previous bags you've used, what were their ratings and how did they fare for you at given temperatures. that will give you an idea on how temperature ratings relate to you. you must have some idea if you feel the cold more than other people or not.... take that into account when choosing your bag, plus the older you are the lower your resting body temperature will be, but offset that if you have above average body fat. if you do long trips it will be harder to maintain body temp at night as you get tireder as the trip goes on.

[cosmic_couple22]

Well went for the RAB Andes 800 bags and they arrived today from the UK only 5 days after purchasing from Towerridge in Scotland, amazing communication and service, so if anybody is chasing expedition gear I give them a thumbs up.

The Rab bags felt a little roomier than the STS bag and lighter, must say the zip set up on the STS is the best I have seen, don't think you would ever snag that thing.

The Rab bags look to be a very well made product en rated -12 to -21, 800 loft down, Pertex Endurance outer, 3/4 zip. Come with a nice cotton sack and a very nice waterproof stuff sack.

So it's off to Yarraman on the weekend to catch some cold nights at a freinds farm(-4 a couple of nights ago) to test out the new bags before Shivling and test the new Easton TopHat 2P tent.

[nq111]

Well went for the RAB Andes 800 bags

Nice work and good choice. Let us know how it goes. I expect you will get many years of good service from this bag.

[Wolfix]

So the important thing with the EN rating is consistency in testing. It doesn't matter so much that the ratings are accurate for the user than that they're accurate across all bags. E.g. Marmot NeverSummer has lower specs than MD Serac; 850g/600 loft vs 950g/800 loft but the ratings are inverse it seems; -9 to -16 vs -6 to -13. Why such a huge difference? How is the Marmot bag so much warmer with lower loft, less fill? The outer shell and baffle construction are very similar. Makes no sense. I don't trust EN ratings.

[blacksheep]

So the important thing with the EN rating is consistency in testing. It doesn't matter so much that the ratings are accurate for the user than that they're accurate across all bags. E.g. Marmot NeverSummer has lower specs than MD Serac; 850g/600 loft vs 950g/800 loft but the ratings are inverse it seems; -9 to -16 vs -6 to -13. Why such a huge difference? How is the Marmot bag so much warmer with lower loft, less fill? The outer shell and baffle construction are very similar. Makes no sense. I don't trust EN ratings.

Ask the head office at md's for a copy of their en test....

[Wolfix]

Good idea. But wouldn't I then need to compare it to Marmot's test?

[wayno]

are marmot using EN ratings or their own?

[Wolfix]

Both are EN, hence my comparison.

[blacksheep]

Wolfix..marmot sells in eu ..I have no doubt if asked they can show an en test for their bag..

[wayno]

So the important thing with the EN rating is consistency in testing. It doesn't matter so much that the ratings are accurate for the user than that they're accurate across all bags. E.g. Marmot NeverSummer has lower specs than MD Serac; 850g/600 loft vs 950g/800 loft but the ratings are inverse it seems; -9 to -16 vs -6 to -13. Why such a huge difference? How is the Marmot bag so much warmer with lower loft, less fill? The outer shell and baffle construction are very similar. Makes no sense. I don't trust EN ratings.

shape? the less dead air in the bag the warmer..
in baffle construction are you talking about the compartment shape or the baffle design used?
is the nylon denier any different?

[nq111]

I wonder if the MD specs are accurate. 900 gram of 800 loft down should give a bit better than -`13c.

Also, rating of down fill power is certainly not consistent so could be a factor too

[Wolfix]

Yeah I think the MD ratings are conservative. I will ask for a test report. I highly doubt that much difference would come from slightly different baffles or slightly different shell.

[madmacca]

So the important thing with the EN rating is consistency in testing. It doesn't matter so much that the ratings are accurate for the user than that they're accurate across all bags. E.g. Marmot NeverSummer has lower specs than MD Serac; 850g/600 loft vs 950g/800 loft but the ratings are inverse it seems; -9 to -16 vs -6 to -13. Why such a huge difference? How is the Marmot bag so much warmer with lower loft, less fill? The outer shell and baffle construction are very similar. Makes no sense. I don't trust EN ratings.

Design as well as just the specs play into things. A narrower sleeping bag will be lighter/warmer than a wider one, but less comfortable for some people. Length also plays into it, although this is usually more obvious.

What the market thinks it needs is different from what is optimal bag design. People complain of 'cold feet', and want a warmer foot box. But if you want to stay warm for less weight, the down should be concentrated around the torso, rather than the feet. But some manufacturers just give the customer what they think they want.

Also, the 'top bag' concept can save weight without compromising warmth - the down beneath you is crushed flat.

Mad

[Wolfix]

Sea to Summit have taken on the top heavy idea but this actually is the only reason I don't own one of their bags. I am a side sleeper so I am sure I would notice the difference in insulation and magnify it in my sleepy mind.