New? Patagonia sleeping bags

[Rex Sanders]

http://www.patagonia.com/shop/luggage-sleeping-bags

Some unusual design choices, plus an interesting half-insulated bag.

And, as my VW mechanic used to say, they are very proud ($$$) of their products.

— Rex

[Justin Baker]

I am not impressed by the specs on the 30. Sewn through design on a 30 degree? Why??? Also 25 oz for a 30 degree, seems heavy for a high end bag, I wonder how much down is stuffed in there.

The 19 looks really lofty for it’s weight.

[Jeff McWilliams]

One thing I think I read was that Patagonia designed the colder-rated bags with a differential cut.  The outer shell material has a larger diameter than the inner shell material, so even if you’re pressing against the inner shell, it won’t compress the down in the baffles and create a cold spot.

Several years ago I borrowed a GoLite Z-10 bag for a winter trip into the Adirondacks.  It was not differentially cut, and I slept cold in it.

I wish it were more clear (from online specs) which quilts and sleeping bags were differentially cut and which ones weren’t.

 

[James holden]

most good sleeping bags should have a differential cut … for example most of the WM mummies have it …

as to quilts … who knows …

;)

[Glenn O]

The 19 is interesting. Can’t say I’m ready to sell the farm.

[Jeff McWilliams]

Eric,

Nunatak and Katabatic gear websites say they use differential cuts on some or all of their quilts.

Nowhere can I find information stating that UGQ or Enlightened Equipment uses a differential cut.

Maybe this is the difference between “top tier” and “2nd tier” product lines.  The prices of similarly spec’ed quilts from Nunatak or Katabatic Gear are higher compared to the similarly spec’ed models from UGQ or EE.

 

[nunatak]

You’re right, Jeff. I offer differential cut on everything rated 20° and warmer. For the mummies it is obviously better. For quilts, on the other hand, I don’t know. I’d like to think it makes a difference! It certainly complicates matters when making them. I can see how EE and others would have a hard time keeping their price points with diff cut.

But back to the Patagonia bag. I love how they design stuff. The details on this one are spectacular. There are some similarities to my Alpinist , which again harks back to Chouinard’s original design – although the sculpting and obvious form engineering gone into the Patagonia is far beyond what I can do.

But, for some reason that I can’t quite figure out yet the Alpinist is a lot lighter. And I don’t skimp on the down. Would be nice to have a fill volume for these. The 19° sure is lofting up nicely in that video with the bearded dude fondling it.

[Matt V]

The hood looks really good, and the foot box is interesting. Their website says the fit is “trim”. The overall design reminds me of the Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy, but lighter.

The 19 degree is about 1 (regular) to 2 (long) ounces more than a Feathered Friends Swallow Nano 20, and it’s $70 more.

[bradmacmt]

Yawn.

No draft collar on the 19*… heavier than my WM Superlight, which has a draft collar and overfill.

They don’t even have the sense to list the bag’s interior dimensions or fill weight… Typical Patagagia. We made it, therefore it’s awesome dude. Trust us.

[kevperro .]

Can you wear them around town?

[Matt V]

I just checked my Marmot Hydrogen 30 degree. It uses fully baffled construction, and it appears to be differential cut (but I can’t tell for sure). I can’t imagine a sewn through bag being nearly as warm.

The hood on the 20 degree bag looks like it might almost fit well enough not to need a draft collar. It’s narrower than most sleeping bag hoods, so there’s less space for cold air to get in.

Their “Forty-five Years in the Making” video indicates that the 20 degree bag (at least) has some overfill.

[bradmacmt]

They borrowed “45 years” of others product design and call it their own. Too funny. There’s absolutely nothing “new” about this bag, other than it’s from Patagonia, replete with the usual hype and lack of detail. Bragging about differential cut? Good grief, I haven’t had one down bag in the last 45 years (ok, 42 years to be exact) that wasn’t differential cut. I like some Patagonia products, and have been using many of them since the 1970’s, and a few of them might even be “best in class”, but man do I dislike the general “tone” of the CO., from “cooler than thou” to “greener than thou.”

[Nick Gatel]

They borrowed “45 years” of others product design and call it their own. Too funny. There’s absolutely nothing “new” about this bag, other than it’s from Patagonia, replete with the usual hype and lack of detail. Bragging about differential cut? Good grief, I haven’t had one down bag in the last 45 years (ok, 42 years to be exact) that wasn’t differential cut. I like some of Patagonia products, and have been using many of them since the 1970’s, and a few of them might even be “best in class”, but man do I dislike the general “tone” of the CO., from “cooler than thou” to “greener than thou.”

+1

Same here. Some of their stuff is best in class and I have been using a lot of Patagonia stuff for decades. I’ll stick with my WM Ultralight.

 

[Sean Passanisi]

I contacted Patagonia to get the fill weights for each bag.  Compared to Western Mountaineering, a WM Ultralite weights 820 g with 455 g of down fill in the 6′ configuration.  A Patagonia 19 in regular (assuming this is a 6′ length) weighs 907 g with 558 g of down fill.

 

Item #        Bag Type                            Length      Fill Type     Grams
70000   850 Down Sleeping Bag/19° – Short       850 Goose   513
70015   850 Down Sleeping Bag/19° – Regular   850 Goose   558
70020   850 Down Sleeping Bag/19° – Long        850 Goose   608
70025   850 Down Sleeping Bag/30° – Regular   850 Goose   467
70030   850 Down Sleeping Bag/30° – Long        850 Goose   499
70035   850 Down Sleeping Bag/30° – Short       850 Goose   454

70065   Hybrid Sleeping Bag –             Short       850 Goose   254
70070   Hybrid Sleeping Bag –             Regular   850 Goose   281
70075   Hybrid Sleeping Bag –             Long        850 Goose   308

 

 

[Katherine .]

regarding EE and differential cut: for *underquilts* they do specify that they use it.

[bradmacmt]

“State-of-the-art differential baffle construction.”

Wow, just wow. Didn’t know a method from the 1960’s was “state of the art.”

 

[J C]

Thanks for posting those fill-weights, Shaun. That clears up the confusion about how they managed to make their “cutting-edge” bags heavier than WM bags that have been around for 15 years. 558 vs. 480 grams is a big difference. Looks like Patagonia are genuinely trying to make these bags warm for the specified temperature rather than just barely warm enough.

Of course, just looking at the official numbers you could add 78 grams of down overfill to an Ultralite and get a significantly warmer 900-gram bag. Then again, I find that WM bags are almost always over spec on weight. Remains to be seen whether these Pata bags are as light as they claim.

[Robert Alexander]

For me it may not be impossible but it is very difficult to rate/assess these bags without knowing the girths. So far no one has been able to produce those figures. The girth will affect the down effectiveness, obviously.

Assuming that they are made with “average” shoulder/hip/feet girth then the main draw, besides the fact that the company has outstanding business values, is their iron clad warranty.

All the talk about “years in the making” and “differential cut” just points out their marketing plan. Although they may make themselves an easy target, I don’t think they deserve the all the criticism. They are out to sell bags and need corresponding bullet points. I’m sure they are smartly made, quality bags that he will definitely be worth buying for some, **especially on sale.

 

 

 

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