How to Choose Sleeping Bags for Backpacking
Therm-a-Rest Questar 0 Sleeping Bag
This product is not available.
Packed with features needed for cold-weather camping, the Therm-a-Rest Questar 0 sleeping bag offers supreme comfort and versatility on the chilliest of nights.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Fill
650-fill-power Nikwax Hydrophobic Down
Compressed Volume
6.9 liters
Temperature Rating (F)
0 degrees (F)
- 650-fill-power Nikwax Hydrophobic Downâ„¢ absorbs 90% less water and dries 3 times faster without using dangerous PFCs
- With additional room for multiple sleeping positions (W.A.R.M. Fit), means this bag allows for various natural sleep positions while maintaining thermal efficiency
- SynergyLinkâ„¢ Connectors let you integrate the bag with a pad (not included) for optimal efficiency and comfort; removable for versatility
- Zoned down insulation maximizes warmth and saves weight by intentionally placing fill where you need it most
- Responsible Down Standard certification ensures the down does not come from animals that have been subject to any unnecessary harm, such as force-feeding or live-plucking
- Shell fabric has a durable water repellent (DWR) to help moisture bead up on the surface
- Box-baffled construction uses mesh walls to maximize loft and minimize cold spots
- Toe-asisâ„¢ ergonomic toe box rapidly warms cold feet in a pocket of warm down
- Draft collar, full-length zipper draft tube and cinchable hood help trap heat inside
- Snag-free zipper; external zip pocket
- Quilt and blanket loops let you customize your sleep system by layering quilts or tech blankets (not included) for increased warmth
- Compression sack and storage sack included
Imported.
Temperature ratings are intended as a guideline to help you compare products, rather than a guarantee of warmth, since many different factors contribute to your comfort while you sleep. Backpacking bags are typically rated for temperature according to an independent testing protocol—currently International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 23537, though some older items followed European Norm (EN) 13537. Testing is based on a person wearing one base layer and a pair of socks, sleeping on an insulated surface with a minimum R-value of 5.38.
Each bag then gets 2 ratings: the Comfort rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "cold sleeper" comfortable, and the Lower Limit rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "warm sleeper" comfortable. Some brands determine their own temperature rating by aligning to the Comfort rating for women’s bags, to the Lower Limit rating for men’s bags, or somewhere in the middle for nongendered bags.
View all Therm-a-Rest Backpacking Sleeping BagsEach bag then gets 2 ratings: the Comfort rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "cold sleeper" comfortable, and the Lower Limit rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "warm sleeper" comfortable. Some brands determine their own temperature rating by aligning to the Comfort rating for women’s bags, to the Lower Limit rating for men’s bags, or somewhere in the middle for nongendered bags.
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Tested Lower Limit | 0 degrees (F) - ISO |
| Tested Comfort | 14 degrees (F) - ISO |
| Temperature Rating (F) | 0 degrees (F) |
| Temperature Rating (C) | -18 degrees (C) |
| Shell | 20-denier ripstop polyester |
| Zipper Location | Left |
| Insulation Type | Down |
| Water-Resistant Down | Yes |
| Fill | 650-fill-power Nikwax Hydrophobic Down |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Lining | 20-denier polyester taffeta |
| Sleeping Bag Shape | Mummy |
| Stuff Sack Size | 10 x 8 inches |
| Compressed Volume | 6.9 liters |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Sustainability | Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) |
Buying Advice
Review this Product
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Very warm and lightweight
AaronK5 years ago
Overall a high quality bag, but could use a few things to make it truly 5 star worthy. My biggest gripe with the bag is the lack of integration with the, albeit separate, liner from Therm-a-rest. The two together are extremely slippery, and even slight movement while sleeping causes the liner to entangle me in ways I wouldn't think physically possible. Some hooks or small straps at the feet + hips would probably do wonders and I *really* wish they were included in the design.
My only other minor issue is the external pocket is not insulated, so phones or other battery powered devices will lose power faster than if inside the bag or insulated. Not a huge deal, but would be nice if the pocket was insulated.
Otherwise, the bag is of high quality, the down stays put, and it's WARM. I have the long version and at 6'4" and 235 lbs it is very comfortable. With temps in the low-mid teens I don't need to wear thermals or socks once the bag has warmed up, and usually pull them off after 20-30 min or so. The DWR is effective and my bag has stayed dry despite a cracked water bottle that dripped everywhere.
AaronK
Bothell, WA
27 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Fancy Bag, Just not Warm Enough
coyotesamigo2 years ago
I thought this bag looked great when I was shopping to replace my 25 year old bag. Lots of cool features and so on, and the low temperature rating would be perfect for shoulder-season camping in Minnesota.
I've now used this bag on a handful of trips with temps ranging down to about 28. My experience is this bag simply isn't warm enough -- and the temperature rating is a joke. While I wasn't cold at 28, a 0-rated bag should be almost TOO warm at 28. Instead, I felt on the verge of chilly. There is no way this bag would keep me warm in the teens. I was wearing wool long underwear.
I found the variable insulation to be more annoying than useful and the zipper baffle simply did not keep cold air out. I was feeling chilly on a damp 40 degree evening in the Boundary Waters! I also found that the hydrophobic down resulted in as significant amount of water beading on the outside of the bag which I thought was weird.
With a daughter heading into Scouts BSA next year, I need a bag that will keep me warm well into November in Minnesota. This one is not it.
For the expense and number of features, I expected this to be a bag I would use and love for decades. However, I have no choice but to return it and try a different brand.
Overall, incredibly disappointing.
coyotesamigo
``Minneapolis, MN
13 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Atomson
Amazing for winter camping!
7 years ago
This bag is an amazing bang for your buck, especially for a winter bag. I took it on a 3-day, 2-night backcountry snow camping trip. First of all, it packed down into a 20L compression sack just fine and it got down to around to just under the size of two Nalgenes side-by-side. Impressive for a 0 degree bag! After being out in non-stop snow, this bag held up in keeping me dry at night, even while drying some wet gear inside of it. Every morning I woke up warm toasty. The lining is also super soft and comfortable too. I'm not a seasoned winter camper so I was happy to have this bag with me for sure, it performed above and beyond my expectations.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Anonymous
Mid twenties
4 years ago
So far I’ve taken this bag down to the mid twenties. It performed great and I was warm all night. The little pocket for your feet in the toe box is fantastic.
Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product
AaronK
Bothell, WA
Very warm and lightweight
5 years ago
Overall a high quality bag, but could use a few things to make it truly 5 star worthy. My biggest gripe with the bag is the lack of integration with the, albeit separate, liner from Therm-a-rest. The two together are extremely slippery, and even slight movement while sleeping causes the liner to entangle me in ways I wouldn't think physically possible. Some hooks or small straps at the feet + hips would probably do wonders and I *really* wish they were included in the design. My only other minor issue is the external pocket is not insulated, so phones or other battery powered devices will lose power faster than if inside the bag or insulated. Not a huge deal, but would be nice if the pocket was insulated. Otherwise, the bag is of high quality, the down stays put, and it's WARM. I have the long version and at 6'4" and 235 lbs it is very comfortable. With temps in the low-mid teens I don't need to wear thermals or socks once the bag has warmed up, and usually pull them off after 20-30 min or so. The DWR is effective and my bag has stayed dry despite a cracked water bottle that dripped everywhere.
Yes , I recommend this product
Carissa
Like sleeping in a warm cloud!
4 years ago
This sleeping bag exceeded my expectations. I am a cold sleeper and I have stayed warm and toasty on both of my overnight camping trips in 20-30 degree weather. The footbox and neck baffles are a feature I never knew I needed but will never do without again! The loft is great and its amazingly lightweight. Paired with the Thermarest x-therm sleeping pad I now have a sleep system for winter camping that leaves me feeling warm and rested.
Age:35–44
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'5"
Greg F.
Wild & Scenic Questar
7 years ago
This bag was built for versatility and comfort. Each year I spend over 50 nights sleeping outdoors - mostly under the stars, on a cot, in a bag next to a wild and scenic river. The Questar was the bag I took on my recent 100 mile river trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. We started high on the river - with morning temps in the low 30's that brought us a heavy layer of frost.... a week later in lower altitude, mornings were in the high 40's and the frost was replaced with dew. The bag performed as well as the wood boat I rowed the length of the Middle Fork. I'm a fan. It will be with me on all my Wild and Scenic River adventures this year - including the Eleven Point, the Rogue, and the Colorado in the Grand Canyon.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Leonie
Canada
Not warm enough for its rating
3 years ago
I purchased this bag to upgrade from a -7 synthetic bag, since I was in the market for something warmer than -7. I also purchased the NeoAir XTherm. I have taken it on numerous hiking trips and have found that If the temperature drops below 0C, I am uncomfortably cold. I have tried using it with liners but I would not consider this bag to have a comfort rating of -10C. Overall, the sleeping bag packs down to a small size, the material feels nice against the skin, and its light weight.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'8"
Yes , I recommend this product
theeagleflysalone
Frederickburg, VA
Chilly Nights
4 years ago
I wanted to add a 0 degree sleeping bag to my kit for those extra cold backpacking trips. Unfortunately this bag didn't keep me warm. Once the temperatures dropped below 30 degrees it was cold, you can feel the cold being conducted from the zipper area. On a multi day section hike of the Appalachian Trail the nigh temperatures were 22 - 36 degrees, anything below 30 degrees I was clod and I'm normally a warm sleeper. I was using a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress.
Age:45–54
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:5'10"
No, I do not recommend this product
Blake
Lightweight, packable, warm
2 years ago
Packs down small and expands to be very puffy. Very light, but the Parsec is even lighter (not sure how warmth compares). I used it from September through November in the Cascade Mountains in temperatures ranging from around 45F to 20F. It was far too warm at the upper temps, and only comfortable at the lower temps with all my additional clothing stuffed inside for extra insulation. The goldy locks temp is about freezing for me. Overall I am very happy with this bag. I get cold feet, and this bag has a built-in feature I really like which is an extra piece of fabric with insulation sewed in at the footbox. I definitely noticed that it helps keep my feet warmer. When it drops below freezing, I start stuffing all my extra clothes in with me, and that got me down to 20F with that, I'm still comfortable but it feels cold on the periphery, feeling. I'm sure I could sleep uncomfortably in it down to 10F with all my extra clothes inside, below that I don't think I would be doing much sleeping. I would definitely recommend, but wish I could have gotten the Parsec for even more weight savings (REI has been out of stock for months).
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'9"
Yes , I recommend this product
Anonymous
California
Haven't used it yet...
5 years ago
I have not used my sleeping bag yet because of Covid19. I have spent a lot of time laying in it in my living room, it is very fluffy. But I have not had a chance to take it to low temps in the wilderness... Hope summer happens this year...
Yes , I recommend this product
ckauf
Lots of room, not great for side sleepers.
3 years ago
I love the weight of this bag and the semi-quilt like design with the baffles underneath you being less full of down. At 6' tall I feel like the length is about perfect. There is plenty of room for my shoulders, hips, and even just enough room to bend my knees to my chest with a slight bit of effort. The added draft baffles around the neck and zipper are amazingly full and I've had no issues with them whatsoever. When sleeping on my back this bag is toasty warm down to single digits, and I'm a cold sleeper. My issue with the bag is when I am sleeping on my side, which I do about half the time. The issue so far as I can tell stems from the less filled baffles on the underside, which normally I would consider a good thing. When I roll over to my side the bag will roll ever so slightly with me (the pad straps help with this but don't solve it completely) and the furthest baffle on the underside ends up just slightly exposed to air. This creates a very cold area on my backside in cold temps. I feel like one more baffle filled on the non-zipper side would have been good for side sleepers. The upside is that there is plenty of room in this bag, so stuffing my down jacket along that back side of the bag works solves this issue. Another minor issue I have is the wide hood shape, and again is only an issue when I'm sleeping on my side. Pulling the hood tight around my face works fine when I'm sleeping with my face towards the zipper, not so much when my face is towards the backside of the bag. The cord for tightening the hood routes around the back side of the bag so when you pull the hood taught it is difficult to keep your mouth/nose outside of the bag on the non-zippered side. I've woken up numerous times with the inside of my bag wet on that side because my mouth slipped inside the bag while I was asleep. Overall I very much like the bag, but I will be switching back to a quilt so that I can tuck the sides of the quilt tight against me in cold weather when I am on my side.
Age:25–34
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
1 - 10 of 26 Reviews