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As an outdoor writer and photographer, I spend a lot of time on the trail. Long days with a fully-laden pack is part of my job so I am constantly looking for products which help me lighten the load, without a reduction in performance. A sleeping bag is one of the heaviest items that a backpacker carries and the differences in weights between products can be large. The very lightest sleeping bags are light because they incorporate the lightest products available and these are pared down to the bare minimum. Very light bags normally use goose down as the fill because it offers the most favourable warmth to weight ratio: obviously, the more fill you include, the heavier the bag. However, the outer materials of sleeping bags vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. To keep weight down they tend to be very thin. And very thin material is often not very durable so that is something that I pay close attention to. The holy grail of sleeping bags is therefore one that is very warm, very light and very durable. And I have to say that Zpacks’ Full Zip Sleeping Bag is as close to perfection as I have seen.
However, before we get into that in detail, let’s go over a few basic facts about sleeping bags. Each bag has a ‘comfort rating’: this is the lowest temperature at which the standard woman should enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep. There is also a ‘lower comfort limit’ which is for men. That may sound simple but it is not. Although all reputable sleeping bag manufacturers use the same independent standard, the bags are not tested in the same place so there is a lack of consistency amongst ratings. Also, the ratings are designed with an average man and woman in mind but every person is different: some people get colder than others. The ratings should therefore be used as a guide only and it is wise to choose a bag with a comfort rating which is a few degrees lower than the night temperatures that you will encounter. I have used a lot of sleeping bags over the years but have rarely found that the very lightest bags perform well at the lower end of their intended temperature range. Now it is fair to say that, as I am skinny, I tend to ‘sleep cold’ and am therefore pushing my sleep systems to the limit: I rarely find that I can get a comfortable night’s sleep if outside temperatures drop to the bottom of the sleeping bag’s comfort limit. Accordingly, I think that my body provides science with a sensible guinea pig to test bags in the real world.
Fitting At 183cm tall, I was in the middle between the medium and the long size. I chose the long length and I did not regret this choice. Zpacks’ sizing seems very accurate. Although, it was slightly too long for me, it has no integrated hood so I was able to snuggle down and pull the material up around the side of my head. I hate having my feet wedged against the bottom of a smaller bag. Anybody slightly smaller than me might go for the medium.
The outer is water-repellent and the down is water-resistant so I found that the bag did not lose heat even when the outer was damp with condensation. This is a very important consideration when cold weather camping because condensation is unavoidable. The draft tube along the zip was effective and I did not feel that much heat escaped from there. I found no ‘dead spots’ in the insulation either: it is obvious that this is a premium product. I liked the draw cord which was thin but easily strong enough. It is clear that many manufacturers are over-specing drawcords. I also liked the clip at the top of the zip which stops unintentional unzipping. I was concerned about the lack of an integrated hood but in fact, this has completely changed the way that I look at sleeping bags. The separate goose hood was a revelation for a front/side sleeper like me. You can twist and turn in the sleeping bag without the main body of the bag turning too. This ensures that you stay warm all night. It works so much better than an integrated hood if you do not sleep on your back. My only slight niggle is the zip which seems overly robust and heavy compared to the zips used by some other manufacturers such as Thermarest. Could there be a potential weight-saving here?
Durability: Backpacking in the wild puts a lot of pressure on gear. However, over 7 days I noticed no wear at all on the outer and I found it to be very robust. Of course, there will be bags that have tougher outers but not at this weight. Personally, I would rather carry a very light bag and try to take good care of it. Conclusion The Zpacks’ Full Zip Sleeping Bag 10F is now my ‘go-to’ bag for backpacking in temperatures below zero. It has easily the best ratio of warmth to weight that I have ever experienced and it is the lightest bag I have ever used that actually keeps me warm at -8°C. I expect that those who sleep warm would easily be able to use it down to 10F/-12°C. Unlike many other bags, it has both water-resistant outer and down which is an important and much-overlooked characteristic. It also comes with a waterproof Dyneema bag which is extremely tough and light. The outer seems to be sufficiently robust if you take good care of it. The full zip provides welcome flexibility: if you ever get too warm you can simply stick your feet out the bottom. Bags with ¾ length zips do not allow for that. At $469, it is not cheap but if you like to travel ultralight then it is a price worth paying. Without hesitation, I would honestly say that this is the gold standard for sleeping bags. And it comes in four different colours: see images below. If I had to find a fault, it would be the zip which seems to be a little over-speced. Could Zpacks not save even more weight by using a lighter zip such as the one on the Thermarest Hyperion? But honestly, that is the only fault I can find with this exceptional sleeping bag
Andrew McCluggage is an outdoor writer and photographer. He is also the CEO of Knife Edge Outdoor Guidebooks. He has written a large number of books for walking and trekking including Tour du Mont Blanc, Trekking the Dolomites AV1, Trekking the Corsica GR20, Trekking the West Highland Way, Trekking the Hadrian’s Wall Path and The Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt. Follow Andrew on Facebook and Instagram: @knifeedgeoutdoor Tour du Mont Blanc (2022)
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Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc, the world's most famous trek Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full section on camping: a complete list of camping locations 10 exciting variants to the main route! Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers Trekking the West Highland Way: Two-way guide
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Available Now! The definitive two-way guide to the West Highland Way: both northbound and southbound routes are described in full. Real Maps: Full Ordnance Survey Explorer mapping inside (1:25,000) 17 different itineraries: schedules of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 days for hikers and runners. Includes both southbound and northbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking the Dolomites AV1
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Available Now! The only guidebook exclusively for the AV1. Real maps inside (Tabacco 1:25,000): the finest maps available for the Dolomites. Everything you need to know to plan and walk Italy's most popular long distance route. Also includes: Numbered waypoints linking maps to text Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you 7 Proposed Itineraries of between 6 and 11 days Everything the trekker needs to know to plan the route: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts Section on Camping Exciting variants to the main route Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers Edge to edge colour: the most modern and beautiful guidebooks Walking Chamonix Mont Blanc
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The 20 hikes in the Chamonix Valley that need to be on your Bucket List. No fillers. Only must-do hikes are included. ► Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000 ► Detailed information on public transport, including cable cars ► Our secret tips on how to get away from the crowds ► Numbered waypoints linking the Real Maps to our clear descriptions ► Graded routes to suit all abilities ► Everything the hiker needs to know: route descriptions, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more ► Information on Wildlife and Plants Our walks have been carefully selected to enable easy access by public transport, including the Chamonix Valley’s incredible cable car network. Chamonix is the most famous mountain town in the world. It is where mountaineering began. Its peerless reputation owes everything to the mighty Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe: our hikes will take you to the finest viewpoints of the mountain and its glaciers. Walker's Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt
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Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000/1:50,000. No need to carry a separate map! Also includes:
Trekking the Corsica GR20
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Available now! The only two-way guide to the GR20: both northbound and southbound routes are described in full. Real IGN Maps included (1:25,000): no need to carry separate maps. 15 different itineraries: schedules of 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 days. Includes both northbound and southbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking the Hadrian’s Wall Path
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Available now! Real OS maps 1:25,000 The definitive two-way guide to the Hadrian’s Wall Path: both eastbound and westbound routes are described in full. 14 different itineraries: schedules of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 days for walkers and runners. Includes both northbound and southbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Hadrian’s Wall was one of the Romans’ most ambitious structures. When completed, it ran for 73 miles between the west and east coasts of Northern England. It crossed the crags and hills of some of Britain’s wildest and most beautiful terrain. The Hadrian’s Wall path is one of England’s official ‘National Trails’. It leads you on an unforgettable journey of discovery along the route of the Wall. Discover the incredible surviving sections of the Wall and its forts, milecastles and turrets. Trekking the Mallorca GR221
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Available Now! The definitive two-way guide to the Mallorca GR221 (the Drystone Way): both northbound and southbound routes are described in full. Real Maps: Full mapping inside (1:25,000) by Editorial Alpina. All accommodation is numbered and marked on the maps. 12 different itineraries: schedules of 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 days for hikers and runners. Includes both northbound and southbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain/loss are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking Iceland's Laugavegur Trail (& Fimmvörðuháls Trail)
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Available April 2023: pre-order now to secure one of the first batch
The definitive two-way guide to Iceland's Laugavegur Trail (& Fimmvörðuháls Trail): both southbound and northbound routes are described in full. Real Maps: full mapping inside (1:40,000), made specifically for the treks by Knife Edge Outdoor Guidebooks. All accommodation/campsites are numbered and marked on the maps. 14 different itineraries: schedules of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days for hikers and runners. Includes both southbound and northbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain/loss are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking Map: Iceland's Laugavegur Trail (& Fimmvörðuháls Trail)
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Available May 2023: Preorder now to get one of the first batch. Waterproof sheet map for Iceland's Laugavegur Trail (& Fimmvörðuháls Trail): 1:40,000. Includes free GPX downloads for the trails. The definitive map to Iceland’s two best trails: larger scale and more detail than any other map. Made specifically for the treks by Knife Edge Outdoor Guidebooks.
The Laugavegur Trail is one of the world's most beautiful and aspirational treks. It leads you into the heart of Iceland’s unique ice-capped, volcanic terrain. Experience spectacular and unusual landscapes, the likes of which you will not find anywhere else on the planet. Impressive volcanic peaks are a constant companion and steam gushes from the ground. This is Iceland at its best and it will be an adventure that you will never forget Walking Brittany
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32 epic coastal walks Brittany in France Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000. No ‘fillers’! Only unmissable walks made the cut. Wild coastline: towering cliffs, remote headlands, forgotten islands and stunning beaches which would not be out of place on a Caribbean island. Northern Ireland: the Unmissable Walks
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The definitive guidebook for walking in Northern Ireland: 36 epic walks hand-picked by a County Down local. The only guidebook for Northern Ireland with real OSNI maps inside: this makes navigation easy. The Causeway Coast, the Glens of Antrim, the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins and much more. Also includes:
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Andrew McCluggageblogs about life on the Knife Edge Archives
December 2022
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