Rab down sleeping bags at least 60% off

Hey Jeremy,

How much was postage on these?

Rod

I also wanted to get Endurance 400 but they sold out, so i got the Summit 500. However – 1/3 zipper is really not that big for a deal. Yes – you have to make a few extra moves to get in and out, but it's not that hard. As long as the bag is warm and dry – i can live with the shorter zip.

So I've looked at my Summit 500 – yes i see a strip of yellow pertex on the inside at the end of the zipper, but i see no problem with that area.

shipping was free.

My only real concern at this time is the zipper catching the inner shell, but otherwise – i like the bag quite a bit and i think i'll keep it as my late fall, early winter bag.

Yuki – Thanks for all the pictures, but it looks like there are a few typos in your review. It looks like you have the Summit bag (not Summit Alpine) which has 660+ fill on the bottom instead of 560+.

My review:

I picked up the Summit Alpine 400 – EU750 on top and EU560 on bottom, 1/3 2-way zipper, same "no hood" design as what's pictured above. It's a little longer than my regular REI Sub Kilo, but due to how closing the hood shortens the bag a bit I'd say effective length is the same.

Weight (using handheld luggage scale, probably +/- 0.5 oz): 38.8 oz as shipped – 5.9 oz for sacks and tags = 32.9 oz (spec. is 30)

Compare this to my REI Sub Kilo which has 14 oz of US 750 down at 28.2 oz measured (spec. is 29).

Side by side, the Sub Kilo and Summit Alpine have pretty identical loft. I can't help feeling though how the soft thin shell of the REI looks anemic compared to the robust Endurance on the Rab. Lying in each, I get the sense that the Rab maintains a better down buffer than the REI when squirming or sticking out knees/elbows–maybe a more differential cut or just the less soft shell material? (or maybe I'm just drugged by that "new bag smell")

The Rab is certainly a tighter fit than the REI, which people already complain about being too small (I'm 5'8" 145).

Theoretically they should be the same warmth-wise (400 g = 14.1 oz), but the shell on the Rab is definitely a 4-5 oz penalty which isn't really saved by the partial zip. I definitely get the impression that the Rab shell can take some moisture, and I know from experience the REI can't!

Christopher, I was able to find a QE 400. It was listed on Amazon (@ $159, free shipping), though sold by Dept. of Goods. I had several days earlier tried ordering one on DoG, when their listing said 1 was available, but was told it had been sold. So when I was able to order it through Amazon, I kept my fingers crossed, expecting a possible cancellation, but it actually arrived.

It seems very good for a winter bag–comfortable fit, but not too large, light-feeling, fluffy down, excellent liner fabric, no side block baffles (so down can be shifted from bottom to top), and the Endurance will be good in winter.

I think the only difference between the Quantum Endurance series and the Quantum series is the outer fabric. So the Quantum 800 and Quantum 400 are probably great bags–no side block baffles, not as tight-fitting (though perhaps therefore a little less warm) as the Summit Alpine series, and with 850 (US) down throughout, unlike the Summit Alpine series, which have 560 Euro (650 US ?) down on the bottom, and therefore must have side-block baffles.

If I hadn't been able to buy the Quantum Endurance bags, would definitely buy the Quantum bags.

Just checked–Dept of Goods shows two of the QE 400's available, but it won't let you add them to your cart (click add to cart, but item doesn't show up in cart).

I got the Quantum 400 blue color 25 deg seen here
http://www.departmentofgoods.com/rab-quantum-400-sleeping-bag-25-degree-down

very happy with it, i think it would fit a guy up to 6' 2", seem more than enough for a broad shoulder guy maybe 210 lbs and under – very rough estimate as i am not even close to that.) i didnt weigh it, ill have to do that and get back here.

the only issue i have is the zipper does catch, the stuff sack also needs to be replaced if you really want to get it as small as possible, like an XS WM stuff sack.
it does have a full zipper so no worries there.

for $119 (with the $40 coupon – buying two things over $200 – so $20 off each item) i thought this was the best value for my needs as i dont do much winter hiking. a good spring, fall bag… maybe summer zipped all the way out as quilt

"I also wanted to get Endurance 400 but they sold out, so i got the Summit 500. However – 1/3 zipper is really not that big for a deal. Yes – you have to make a few extra moves to get in and out, but it's not that hard. As long as the bag is warm and dry – i can live with the shorter zip."

Getting in the bag is no problem, it's just that when it's warmer it'd be nice to use the bag as a quilt as my previous bag was full zip.

Thanks James. I was also trying to order the QE 400 when DoG said they had 1 left but it was sold, I should've tried Amazon, darn. Is it a full zip?

Brad Walker – it is Summit Alpine. There is no "Summit" bag in 500gm of fill and rated at 15*F. And, only Summit Alpine and Atlas Explorer have the "no hood" design from that model year. The bottom fill was upgraded from 560 to 660 after the release of the original specs for these bags.

The Summit Alpine 500 is labeled only as Summit 500 on the bag itself, maybe that's causing the confusion?

Thanks for the clarification guys. Too bad they didn't upgrade the 400's bottom fill as well :”,brawa”

I ordered the 400 originally off DoG before researching, and returned it for the 500 after researching, but not enough as I would've preferred the QE 400. I'm still kicking myself for not using the $40 off coupon either.

Christopher, the QE 400 and the QE 800 are both full zip. I'm guessing the Q 400 and the Q 800 are also full zip. According to DoG, the QE 400 is 50 grams heavier than the Q 400, which is probably due to the heavier weight of the Endurance fabric.

The Quantum 800 is full length (4/5 to be precise).
James I'm surprised you don't think the QE800 is long.

For those itching for the Quantum Endurance 400, Backcountry has one listed on Gear Trade for $151.80.

http://www.geartrade.com/item/204414

If I wasn't attending a trail maintenance project this week to next week, I would jump on that and return the 500, but it'll be longer than 30 days since I purchased the 500 by the time I've returned. Temporarily going to use the Summit 500 until I save up enough bones for a nice quilt.

I just checked the length of the QE 400, which is, I think, the same as the QE 800. With the hood cinched down, and my head not compressing the top of the hood, there are 2 or 3 inches from the end of my toes to the inside of the bottom of the bag. My toes seem to extend about 2 to 3" further than my height–I'm 2 to 3" longer lying down than standing up.

So someone about 6' 2", whose feet stayed vertical when he was lying down, would just barely fit the bag. If his feet projected forward, he'd be compressing the down at one end or the other, a bit.

From past experience, if I pull the bag up to take out any slack, the bag grows warmer.

In winter, a bit of space below the feet is useful for drying things, or for keeping things (boots) from freezing overnight.

Thanks for getting in the bag again James.
I guess it doesn't seem long to you because you're measuring the bag with your toes :).
I've had the Q800 next to a reg MH Phantom 32 and a reg REI Downtime and it is a good 6 inches longer – pretty much a long by US standards. I have to buy a longer shelter now :).
Good point about pulling the bag shorter, I wouldn't have thought of that.

So I've got the Summit Alpine 500 (15*F). I'm 6'2" 180lbs. When i get into the bag – i can't cinch the top part of the bag around my head. If i try to cinch around the head – i have to get deeper into the bag and then my feet are pressing into the bottom.

I've measured the bag's length INSIDE and it is 71 inches until the edge of the top of the bag.

So for 6'2" people this is short. I also got Marmor arroyo in long and it is perfect size (slightly longer than i am)

Hi Guys,

If any of you missed the date to refund your sleeping bags, I may be interested in taking them off your hands, if you are willing to ship to oz (paid for by me). The reason I would do this rather than simply buy a bag from the store is a.) you may have gotten $40 off which is now no longer valid and more importantly … b.) they do not compress the bags when posting, so the postage on each bag has been over $60 each.

Please PM me if you are in this situation.

Cheers,

Jeremy.

Both the Endurance 400 and Summit Alpine 400 are $150. Both have the water resistant Endurance outer material. Can someone weigh in on which I should get?

Both are rated 25F. The Summit is 100 grams lighter.

Not sure the Quantum Endurance 400 is actually available from DoG, but, would choose it if it were–better hood, all 850 down, slightly less restrictive fit (I'm guessing, based on others' comments here.)

It's available on Gear Trade. The seller is Department of Goods and it looks to be a returned item? I am suspecting it is or maybe it has even been used because why else would they sell it on Gear Trade instead of DoE? They claim it's in excellent shape.

I think you're probably right about it being a return. If the price is good, I'd say go for it. It's a nice bag (I got one from DoG).

Mind me asking what you paid? I want to know how it compares to the returned price (which I expect to be discounted)

I think it was $159, including shipping. And actually, I misremembered–I bought it on Amazon, though the actual sale was from DoG.

Another almost exactly similar bag, without the Endurance outer, which would actually be a better bag in dry conditions, is the Quantum 400, which I'm pretty sure DoG has in stock. Their display pages have lots of confusion, so, for example, they listed the down in the QE as being 850, and the Q as being 750, but I think the QE listing was a US number, and Q listing a Euro number, equal to a US 850.

I thought the advantage of the Endurance coating is to resist nighttime moisture/dew more than actual rain. I don't ever think I would be sleeping outside during a storm. I am from California, so not much rain. Maybe I should go for the 400 (sans Endurance) if you can explain why it'd be better.''

Edit: What about the Summit Alpine 400 compared to the regular Quantum 400?