How to Choose Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

More comfy than a mummy bag, but still very light and compact, the women's NEMO Riff 15 Endless Promise down sleeping bag is cut wider at the elbows and knees so you can easily shift positions.
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Imported.
Best Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Tested Lower Limit | 5 degrees (F) - ISO |
Tested Comfort | 18 degrees (F) - ISO |
Temperature Rating (F) | 15 degrees (F) |
Temperature Rating (C) | -9 degrees (C) |
Weight | Regular - Right Zip: 3 lbs. 4 oz. Long - Right Zip: 3 lbs. 8 oz. |
Shell | Recycled polyester ripstop with C0 durable water repellent (DWR) |
Zipper Location | Right |
Insulation Type | Down |
Water-Resistant Down | Yes |
Fill | 800-fill-power duck down |
Fill Weight | Regular - Right Zip: 1 lb. 14 oz. Long - Right Zip: 2 lbs. 1 oz. |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Lining | Recycled polyester ripstop with C0 DWR |
Sleeping Bag Shape | Semirectangular |
Fits Up To (in.) | Regular - Right Zip: 66 inches Long - Right Zip: 72 inches |
Shoulder Girth (in.) | 60 inches |
Hip Girth (in.) | Regular - Right Zip: 53 inches Long - Right Zip: 54 inches |
Stuff Sack Size | Regular - Right Zip: 9 x 12 inches Long - Right Zip: 9 x 12.5 inches |
Stuff Sack Volume | 19.7 liters |
Compressed Volume | Regular - Right Zip: 9.5 liters Long - Right Zip: 10.2 liters |
Gender | Women's |
Sustainability | Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Contains recycled materials |
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This sleeping back in very lightweight and warm. I spend a lot of time in the Sierra Mountains in California and I have been on the hunt for a sleeping bag that would help keep me warm, especially my feet and head. I like to camp before it’s considered warm enough to do so and this bag has been a game changer for snow camping and truly one of the best bags that I have used. Opposed to most “mummy type” bags this one feels like it is cut wider, which allows you to move easier when shifting positions. I also loved the draft collar on the top of the back to help keep your neck and upper body warm. There are two vents on the front allowing you to customize your temperature at any given time. I have never been warmer and more comfortable. I am so excited to take it everywhere with me!
This is an exceptionally well designed sleeping bag. I do not buy sleeping bags that frequently- the last one I purchased was 15 years ago. Here is what I love: the bag. I don’t have to express every dollop of air from this sleeping bag to get it into the stuff bag. It just goes in and it is easy. I also really like the bag. It is not the cylindrical compressed bag of yesteryear, it is a cube with a handle. I love it. Next: there are vents in this sleeping bag. Yes! Vents! There is a handy little pocket to put a little pillow in. Like I said- there are some nice research and development embellishments that sets this sleeping bag apart. It is warm and cozy too.
I received this product for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. I took this sleeping bag on an overnight in early spring in New England. It got down into the 20s at night but I didn't notice a thing. It kept me so warm that I needed to vent it a bit throughout the night. I tend to sleep on my side and stomach. The sleeping bag didn't limit my movement too much. Normally with a mummy bag, I wake up with a crick in my neck but I felt great in the morning. Would highly recommend this product. It's even 100% recyclable. You can ship it back to NEMO at the end of it's life.
As a long time user and lover of the Nemo Disco, I was excited to try this different bag by Nemo. The Nemo Riff incorporates everything I’ve loved of my disco: great loft that restores very quickly after being compressed, light weight, and a built in pillow pocket. Something I feel the riff does better than my disco has to do with the down fill rating. The riff is an 800 fill bag which results in a plusher feel and loftier feeling, which adds a nice level of comfort on the ground. More on the pillow pocket: this has made my backpacking sleeping experience soooo much better. I always struggled with keeping my pillow under my head as I rolled in my sleep, the pocket being built into the hood makes sure that no matter how much I toss and turn, my pillow is where my head is. It has been a total game changer. Overall, I love this sleeping bag. My favorite thing about the riff sleeping bag is the spoon shape. If you’re like me, a slightly restless sleeper that struggled in a more confining type of bag, such as a mummy shaped bag, this is an amazing, durable, and lightweight option that will go with you everywhere. I’ve tried this bag in multiple conditions, the most challenging of which was a 45°F night. This is 30° warmer than the rated temp of this bag. I was apprehensive thinking I might be too warm, HOWEVER I was so pleasantly surprised. The riff bag has an adjustable vent systems on the front help this out, I think Nemo calls these specifically the thermo gills. Additionally, bi-directional zipper that can be opened by the toe box to cool feet while still keeping your core area warm. It’s safe to say that my disco bag has been retired and replaced with the riff.
For years I've only used mummy bags and always felt like my legs were getting strangle. The spoon shape gives you plenty of room to shift and adjust. You can go from starfish to tucked knees and roll like a hotdog in this bag. It was perfect for night lows in the low 40s and has extra vents to tweak the temp at your chest. Packs down pretty small and is lightweight. I'm not sure about the draft collar as it can feel a little in the way, but if the temps dip, I'm sure I will be glad I had that extra protection.
This sleeping bag is a dream. Yes, it’s a bit bigger and weighs slightly more than other sleeping bags, but it’s worth it. As someone who runs cold, I have not woken up cold in this bag with temperatures in the 30s. I love the spoon shape which allows you to move around in the bag and doesn’t make you feel constrained. My favorite feature is the neck ruffle. It tucks right under your chin to keep your neck warm, or you can turn it under the main part of the sleeping bag to add a bit of ventilation on your neck. Overall this bag is a phenomenal product and one I’m glad to have purchased.
Nemo never fails to impress! This sleeping bag encompasses everything a camper could dream of. As someone who invests in gear meant for extended use, certain criteria are non-negotiable for me: 1. Ethical Sourcing and Production 2. Non-toxic Materials (PFAS free water repellant, RDS certified!) 3. Recyclability 4. Easy Repairs 5. Lightweight (3lbs 4oz) 6. Durability Nemo checks all these boxes with flying colors – it's a definite win! I'm particularly enamored with the interior pillow pocket, the quality YKK zippers, and the draft collar designed to retain heat efficiently. Unlike other sleeping bags that snagged my hair with Velcro draft collars, Nemo cleverly omitted Velcro, ensuring my hair remains intact! Although the rating suggests suitability for 15°F, I believe it could handle even colder temperatures, though I've yet to test it in such conditions. The side zips provide convenient ventilation if things heat up, and the color options, like the charming green I opted for, add a delightful touch. Furthermore, offering both Regular and Long sizes is a thoughtful touch – why lug around unnecessary weight when you have options? And to top it off, a stuff sack included? Bravo, Nemo, for exceeding expectations yet again!
I have no complaints, though it may be because this is the first high quality down bag I've owned, upgrading from a 15 year old synthetic bag. So far I have no real complaints. I have not used the bag in extreme conditions, so I can't comment on the bag's limits. The thermo gills are nice, though they don't release as much heat as I expected.
I love how cozy and warm my bag is and that I can open gills to adjust heat level inside. When sleeping in cold, I stay warm by wrapping around head with just enough space for breathing cool air. Only complaint is it’s hard to leave on cold mornings!
Nemo continues to impress! This sleeping bag is everything a camper could want/need. One of the most important things to me when I'm buying a piece of gear I plan to use for months on end, is that it is: 1. Ethically sourced and made 2. Doesn't introduce my body to harmful chemicals (PFAS free water repelant, RDS certified!) 3. Recyclable 4. Easily Repairable 5. Light Weight (3lbs 4oz) 6. Is made to last VICTORY! I'm obsessed with the pillow pocket on the interior, YKK zippers, and the draft collar to keep the heat in! In the past, my hair would get caught in the Velcro of the draft collar on other sleeping bags but NEMO chose to go sans Velcro leaving all my hair in tact! The rating is for 15F but I believe it could be used even colder, though I haven't tested that yet! The side zips offer the perfect way to cool off if it gets too warm and the color is extremely cute (I have the green). I love that there is a Regular and Long option. Why carry around that extra weight if you don't have to? Stuff sack too?! THANK YOU NEMO!