How to Choose Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

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Offering unrivaled packability and a featherweight design, the Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 quilt provides no-frills cold-camp slumber thanks to a box baffled construction that maximizes warmth and comfort.
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View all Therm-a-Rest Backpacking Sleeping BagsBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Temperature Rating (F) | 20 degrees (F) |
Temperature Rating (C) | -6 degrees (C) |
Ultralight | Yes |
Shell | Ripstop nylon |
Insulation Type | Down |
Water-Resistant Down | Yes |
Fill | 900-fill-power Nikwax Hydrophobic down |
Lining | Ripstop nylon |
Sleeping Bag Shape | Semirectangular |
Stuff Sack Size | 5.5 x 8 inches |
Stuff Sack Volume | 2.8 liters |
Compressed Volume | 2.8 liters |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) |
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So i use the quilt in arctic right now with the polar ranger sleeping bag. The quilt is very good Very light. The stuff sack is too small. The only thing is not very good is the bungee cord under the quilt to attach the quilt to the sleeping pad or others. It is not very long and large Large can be very better
I went for the long I'm 5'9" 157lbs and it was the perfect choice. it is very light and packs very small. I never had a quilt. I love the freedom of movement. The foot box on this is plenty big to move your feet around and roll and turn. the sides are big enough to tuck under your mat or tuck under our whole body. the length for my body is perfect. it pulls up to just about the middle of the top of my head. like where a bald spot would be. i don't think the regular would have covered my face all the way. I have the 20degree and it seems it will be perfect mild weather also. plenty warm with many ways to cool down if you get hot. it seems well made. the material is silky plush and very comfy yet durable as well.
Packs well and is light, which is why I bought it. Although it's a couple ounces heavier than listed. When I first got it, the down was pretty poorly distributed, which is to be expected somewhat. But a lot of the quilt had the inner and outer fabric touching. It took a lot of effort and fluffing to get it worked around. I'm a slightly cold sleeper, and from 35-45 degrees I was comfortable with light merino bottoms, socks, t shirt and hooded puffy jacket on a 4.5 R value pad. To get this thing to it's comfort rating of 32 would be a slight stretch for me personally but could be done with the right layering. For early season in the mountains, it's great and most importantly, light.
I'm 6'4" and ordered the long. When the quilt came I jumped in and was surprised at how short the length was. I measured it and it was 72" long and 58 wide which are the specs of the regular (long is supposed to be 78" long and 60" wide). Returned and ordered a second hoping someone accidentally put a regular in a long stuff sack. Second quilt came today. Same exact measurements despite being labeled as a long. Not sure what is going on with Therm-a-rest but tall buyers beware.
I have slept in this quilt on top of the neo air xtherm pad in 50 degree nights in florida cypress swamps(in just my underwear and draped half over me) and nights on glaciers in the PNW down to the teens(had to throw my midlayer on over my base at night). It is the most comfort I have ever experienced while camping and there is nothing lighter. even the lightest 50 degree quilts are heavier. I don't know what sorcery Therm A Rest used to create this but it is literally the best bag I have ever owned. only reason I could see getting something else is for winter in the alpine or something more rugged for car camping. I've had mine for 2 years now and still in great shape, never store it compressed and try not to soak it you'll be good to go!
This is one of the few quilts carried by REI and one of the first made by a mainstream company. The price is good, it’s high quality down, it’s light and water resistant. I’ve enjoyed it so far and the only issue I could foretell was the light weight fabric wearing out quickly. This is just an assumption and I’ve seen no wear yet, it just seems very light. Maybe I’ll be surprised.
Wow, I didn't think I'd ever need something like this quilt, but it has saved me a number of times - both in hot and cold weather! It has served as a critical extra layer when the temperature drops, but I have been using this quilt more and more as my MAIN layer instead of any bag when the weather gets warmer with nights in the 50s. I still can't believe how they fit this thing into such a small package. The SynergyLink Connectors are an awesome addition - being a tall guy that constantly tosses and turns at night, these connectors have made my nights in the backcountry much more comfortable since I actually stay on the pad!
I actually bought this bag twice, the first time from Amazon and the second from REI. I thought perhaps maybe I got a product second because there was inconsistent filling within the baffles and you can see empty spots when you held it up to any kind of light. I took it on a couple of trips where it went down to the 40s and I noticed there was cold spots and yes I have an exotherm $80 liner from REI and an R6 sleeping pad from REI. I returned the one from Amazon and ordered from REI and it was exactly the same. The loft and the touch are beautiful. however when taking 10 nights camping for nights that were in the 30s there was cold spots and even with the liner I was getting cold and the clips that hold the bag to the pad we're not strong enough and Air seeped in that way. My exotherm liner is supposed to add up to 15 to 20° and my R6 pad should be fine on the cold ground however I was at 19 degrees Fahrenheit and I had to go get another sleeping bag to lay on top due to cold spots and air seeping in. It's a beautiful bag I think there are some engineering flaws in it and I don't think it's worth the $380 price point. The down and weight are great but I don't think it's put into the baffles correctly or something else is wrong. I don't recommend this bag.
Have been using this for over a year paired with a Thermarest xtherm and stays warm even when below freezing. For the size it packs down to, and weight, you can’t beat it. I’ve used it backpacking, ski touring, car camping and couldn’t be happier. Also don’t store it compressed and you won’t have the clumping issues others describe.
Used for the first time for one night. It was approx 37 degrees at night while sleeping on a pad with a 2.8 R-Value. I love it. First time using a quilt and I am a permanent convert. I was able to toss and turn (my usual awful sleeping habit) and it moved with me so nicely. I didn't feel any drafts whatsoever. It kept me extremely warm and cozy. It's so buttery soft. I can't believe how this thing puffs up, it's like magic after just shaking it a few times. It did not have any big gaps of missing down or anything like that, I think the older models did, but this one was perfect. I would feel very comfortable taking this thing down to lower temps, I'm glad to experiment in 37 degrees so I now feel more confident in it. It's so light. I just crammed it in my pack without the compression sack and it left a ton of room for my other gear. Finding something with the responsible down sourcing was important to me, glad I found this option.