No love for the REI Halo bags?

I used to have the Montbell SS down bag and spent too many nights in the Sierra cold. I sold it and got the REI Halo 25 bag (the blue one). I wondered if I would like going from the SS to a more restrictive bag. I have no complaints with the change. Yes the REI weighs more but I have not been cold since changing bags. As long as the weight does not bother you, it's hard to beat the price.

the halos are en-rated … unlike some other bags …

note that the womens version actually has MORE down than the mens, because REI, unlike some other companies, rates the bag according to the en-rating for women on their female bags

which means if you are a man, the REI Halo 10 womens, is a 1F bag if you fit in the thing … all for ~$200

i need to get myself down to a REI to see if i can fit into one of those things…

I just got a men's regular Halo 25 for my son during REI's most recent sale. On clearance plus 30% coupon came to $125. We compared it side-by-side with an REI SubKilo 20 and decided on the Halo. It was 4oz heavier (33oz) but quite a bit roomier and the fabric felt more substantial.

It's EN-rated to 24* and comfort rated to 34*.

We'll have it out next week.

I hiked the PCT this year with two guys with the 25* Halo bags any they both loved them and stayed warm throughout the hike with them.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! I might just pick one up, and if I don't like it, back it goes.

I don't pack much when it's cold, so I use a Halo 40-degree more than any other. Works great early spring and late fall; my favorite times to hike. I'm 6'1" tall, 190 lbs, and the long is great for me. Only 25 ounces and packs pretty small. I love it.

Eric,

I just ordered a women's long, shoulder girth was same, hips were larger, fits to 72" tall, more fill then men's version. Will let you know how it fits, could be a good find.

For what it's worth, I use a women's 40* Halo (men's 28) and it is very accurately rated. Was out two nights ago in Central Oregon at 6000' and stayed warm and happy. I think the bag cost me $110 on sale.

Had a sub-kilo that I returned due to "migrating down." In this bag I could feel at least two spots where I was sure the baffles were not completely sewn to the shell: I could physically grab and move the down from one baffle to another though holes big enough to fit a couple fingers. While this solution fixed the often-immediate issue of intermittently-unequal baffles, such experiences are not what I expect when I pay hundreds of dollars for an item from I co-op into which I am invested. So, thinking I had a bum bag, I replaced it with another sub-kilo, which, from the start, also suffered from uneven fill in many of the baffles. I attributed both phenomena to shoddy manufacturing, as by this time I had long known how to properly care for such light gear. When I went to return the second sub-kilo they had already rolled out the halo series, so I was able to compare them side-by-side. While the baffle construction, and indeed, much of the shell construction of the halo 40 seemed to be exactly the same as the sub-kilo, I did notice the halo 40 seemed to have a much more even distribution of down, and it looked to also loft more. Seeing as how I still needed a summer bag, and the halo 40, though a bit heavier, had seemed to correct the problems I experienced previously, I took one home. However, after using it for a few nights, I found myself still wondering why, for the weight, it wasn't warmer.

I then gave up on the halo 40, seeing it as a slightly-better continuation of the sub-kilo that was still a good bit behind the rest of the pack. I replaced it with a Titanium Goat/Jacks-R-Better UL Sierra Sniveller, dropping 4 ounces and gaining 10 degress, and haven't once regretted my decision.

Edited only for grammatical reasons.

I'm guessing the extra weight is due to the change in ratings–going to EN ratings probably meant they had to increase the fill. Just a guess though.

Thanks for the comments on the baffles, I'll be sure to check it out. The difference though between the Sniveller and the Halo is about 200 bucks if you get the Halo on sale. That ain't nothin'.

Just received the women's 10 degree long (men's 1 degree). I am 5'8" 155 pounds and fit good in it, I think if you were six foot tall it would be tight, there will be room on the sides for water bottles and stove canister but not for boots. The draft collar has an elastic drawcord, seems like a nice bag, weighs 3 pounds. Good find on clearance.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm too tall for the womens, and it looks like the 25 sold out online. Maybe there are still some in stores, but I might have waited too long.

thanks for the heads up eric

can i ask how tight it is around the chest? … im around the same size, slightly heavier … and im looking at that bag as well

There is plenty of room in the chest / stomach area, I can roll over inside of it. Lots of little features for 3 pounds, very lofty, I haven't tried packing it yet, the stuff sack is big, but I just plan to shove it in the bottom of my pack.