Choosing a sleeping bag: 5 best cocoon bags

Marsupio Giza

Manufacturer: "Marsupio Snc.", Italy

The Marsupio brand appeared in the Italian city of Treviso back in 1976. Initially, the company was engaged in the production of ski bags and bags for ski shoes. The very name of the company in Italian means – bag. But thanks to the arrival of a new, more progressive leadership, by the mid-eighties the company had become one of the leaders in the tourist equipment market in Italy. To date, products under the brand "Marsupio" are sold in 700 branded stores around the world.

In our review of the TOP 5, the Italian manufacturer is represented by a sleeping bag of the "GIZA" model, its main characteristics:

• temperature comfort + 5°C;
• extreme temperature — 5°C;
• external material Polyester 190T;
• insulation HollowFiber 1;
• bag size 230x80x55cm;
• the weight of the sleeping bag is 1.51 kg.

The Italian sleeping bag can be attributed to the seasonal equipment of the spring/ autumn class. First of all, this classification is explained by the type of insulation. The Giza model uses a synthetic insulation HollowFiber 1. The fibre of this insulation is a very long, thinnest tube.

One channel is able to provide thermal insulation with a comfort index of +5 °C. At an air temperature below — 5 °C, a layer of insulation "HollowFiber 1" can retain the heat of the human body for less than 5 hours.

The second reason why the sleeping bag "Marsupio Giza" cannot be attributed to the off-season is the material of the outer fabric. As with most modern sleeping bags, the outer layer of the "Giza" is made of polyester. Lightweight and sufficiently durable material has proven itself well and is used even in the manufacture of professional equipment for high-altitude climbers.

But it is important to understand that polyester can be different. In order to reduce the overall weight of the bag, manufacturers reduce the density of the outer skin. Indeed, the weight is reduced, but at the same time strength characteristics are lost. In other words, the durability of the sleeping bag directly depends on the density of the polyester used.

Polyester 190T is used in the bag of the Marsupio company – it is a low-density material that can ensure the safety of the bag during normal operation. If you sleep in a Giza cocoon on a karemat in a tent, then the wear of the outer fabric will be minimal. Judging by the reviews on the Internet, the sleeping bag will last more than 3 years even without traces of scuffs. But it is not worth using such a sleeping bag as professional equipment for sports tourism.

Terra Incognita Siesta 100 Long Price from 2 122 up to 2 820 ₴ →

Manufacturer: Terra Incognita LLC, Ukraine

The trademark "Terra Incognita" is well known in the Ukrainian market of goods for outdoor activities. Such popularity on the part of professional tourists and simple lovers of outdoor recreation is due to a good indicator of quality / price. Affordable and durable equipment – these are two advantages that you can safely supply products manufactured by Terra Incognita.

Our east european brand participates equally in the "TOP 5: the best sleeping cocoon" with Italian, Czech and German brands. Get acquainted with the characteristics of the sleeping cocoon Terra Incognita SIESTA 100:

• temperature comfort + 7°C;
• extreme temperature — 4°C;
• outer Material Polyester Rip Stop 210T;
• HollowCore 7 insulation;
• bag size 230x80x50cm;
• the weight of the sleeping bag is 0.97 kg.

The main feature of the entire SIESTA line was the use of a dense and fairly light outer layer material. The wear-resistant "Polyester Rip Stop 210T" has been tested in numerous hikes. Reviews of the owners say that the fabric perfectly withstands repeated packaging and unpacking. Even with prolonged use, the bag does not wipe, and it is quite difficult to tear it.

The only thing polyester is very afraid of is fire or red–hot brands. In the case of a candle stub from a campfire or a cigarette butt that has not been extinguished on the sleeping bag, the hole appears instantly.

Also, the insulation used in Terra Incognita SIESTA 100 deserves special attention. Due to the two-layer construction of the filler, when compressed in a compression bag, it is possible to quickly remove air from the insulation. And thanks to the siliconization of the fibers, the insulation very quickly gains air when unpacking.

The question arises why, with such a high-quality insulation, the comfort temperature claimed by the manufacturer is only + 7 °C? The answer lies in the thickness of the insulation itself. A relatively small number of "HollowCore 7" fibers is both a minus and a plus of the SIESTA 100 model. It was due to the insulation that it was possible to significantly reduce the weight and volume of the sleeping bag. The weight of the bag is only 970 grams – the best in the review, this is really an excellent indicator for sleeping bags of this class.

In addition to wear resistance and effective insulation, Terra Incognita has taken care of the comfort of use. The sleeping bag can be paired (connect two cocoons into one large bag), there is a phosphorescent backlight on the zipper, and there is a secret pocket inside.

Deuter Dream Lite 250 L

Manufacturer: "Deuter Hallenbau GmbH", Germany

Among the companies manufacturing camping equipment, the undisputed leaders are German manufacturers. The brand "Deuter" is one of the most famous not only in our country, but all over the world. Traditionally high quality of manufacture, constant improvement of old models and a wide range – that's why tourists love Deuter. Durability and reliability make the purchase of German equipment a good investment.

Two representatives of Deuter participate in the review at once. Consider the characteristics of the first of the Germans, the Deuter Dream Lite 250L sleeping bag:

• temperature comfort + 9°C;
• extreme temperature — 5°C;
• external material Dura-Lite Nylon Taffeta;
• insulation High-Loft HollowFibre;
• bag size 220x75x48cm;
• the weight of the sleeping bag is 1,190 kg.

It is worth noting right away that the model Deuter Dream Lite 250 L and Deuter Dream Lite 250 differ only in the length of the bag. In all other respects, they are identical and can even connect (mate) with each other. Since the Dream Lite 250 model is slightly smaller, it is considered to be the female version of the Dream Lite 250L, which is quite fair. If Deuter Dream Lite sleeping bags are purchased in pairs, it is important to pay attention to the letter designations "L" or "R" on the label. To combine two sleeping bags into one, you need to have left "L" and right "R" bags.

The outer fabric of the Dream Lite sleeping bag is made of nylon and polyester combined 50/50%. Thanks to this combination of synthetic fibers, the material has good strength and water-repellent properties. High wear resistance allows you to use the sleeping bag in mountain hikes, where you often have to spend the night on an abrasive, wet surface. But judging by the reviews, Deuter handles with such tasks perfectly.

The main enemy of the sleeping bag is a strong wind. Unfortunately, the outer layer of Dura-Lite Nylon Taffeta fabric is not dense enough, the heat is quickly blown out of the sleeping bag. Sleeping outdoors in a strong wind is not comfortable, even in thermal underwear it is quite difficult to warm up inside.

This model uses HollowFibre insulation, a simple but quite effective material. Synthetic fibers dry quickly, and do not mold when wet for a long time. One of the advantages of HollowFibre is considered to be good compression. You can compress Dream Lite 250L in a compression bag up to a size of 37x16 cm.

Deuter Starlight EXP

Manufacturer: "Deuter Hallenbau GmbH", Germany

The second representative of the Deuter brand was a sleeping bag for children. The model belongs to the product line "for the pros". The Expert (EXP) series is the highest quality of manufacture and the optimal ratio of the main parameters: weight, volume and temperature regime.

Here are the main characteristics of the Deuter Starlight EXP sleeping bag:

• comfort temperature — 1°C;
• extreme temperature — 16°C;
• outer material Soft Nylon Taffeta;
• insulation High-Loft HollowFibre;
• bag size 170x68x45cm;
• the weight of the sleeping bag is 1.0 kg.

The first thing I want to pay attention to is the ability to change the size of the sleeping bag. For any sleeping bag, the correct ratio of the owner's height and the size of the cocoon is important. By adjusting the length of the bag for a fast-growing child, you increase the service life of the sleeping bag. Due to the high quality of manufacture and variable dimensions, such a sleeping bag can be used for 3 or even 5 years.

Although the comfort temperature, equal to — 1 °C, only conditionally refers this model to the class of off-season sleeping bags, it is often bought "for two". In spring and summer, parents rest in light summer sleeping bags, blankets, and a child sleeps in a warm sleeping bag. When only adults go hiking, in late autumn or winter, then in the place of the child in Starlight EXP turns out to be a mom. With an acceptable height of 170 cm, most of the fair sex can easily fit in a "children's" sleeping bag.

In a sleeping bag for children, everything is arranged the same as in adult models. There is a double-sided zipper lock with a sewn-in tape against jamming. There is a tie cord with a stopper and a Hook-and-loop closure. Loops are provided at the bottom for drying and storage in an expanded form.

But there are also pleasant "children's" little things: a hood with reinforced insulation, a dog for a child's hand, a particularly soft inner Deuter Soft Micro fabric and an internal zip pocket. Even the weight of the sleeping bag is quite capable of a 5-year-old child, although the dimensions in compressed form (44x18cm) could be smaller.

Pinguin Mistral 185 Price from 2 860 up to 4 250 ₴ →

Production: "Pinguin", Czech Republic

The main specialization of the Czech company Pinguin is the production of sleeping bags of all kinds. Having produced the first samples of sleeping bags in 1989, already in 1993 Pinguin down sleeping bags became an invariable part of the assortment of specialty stores in Poland, Austria, Italy, France, Portugal and the Netherlands. The favorable geographical location (the centre of Europe) and the high quality of products allowed the Czechs to occupy the top positions in the list of European companies engaged in the production of tourist equipment.

In our country, this brand is well known and trusted by experienced tourists and climbers. The next model in our review is the Pinguin Mistral 185 sleeping bag, which has the following characteristics:

• comfort temperature — 3°C;
• extreme temperature — 19°C;
• outer material Polyester Rip Stop;
• insulation ThermicFibre 4;
• bag size 195x85x58cm;
• the weight of the sleeping bag is 1.7 kg.

The sleeping bag belongs to the class of off-season equipment. This model can be safely used for high-altitude mountain hiking or winter trekking. Two layers of synthetic insulation of the latest generation "ThermicFibre 4" provide high-quality heat retention. Literally a minute after removing the sleeping bag from the compression bag, the insulation completely restores its working volume. Due to the Polyester Rip Stop fabric, from which the outer layer of the sleeping bag is made, you can quickly warm up inside, even in conditions of high humidity. Effective water protection is one of the main advantages of Pinguin Mistral 185.

The Czech manufacturer was very scrupulous about the little things, the accessories used deserve the highest praise, even the compression bag is made competently, without any flaws. But there were some shortcomings. The model has a insulated collar with a pocket for a mobile phone. However, the pocket size is small, and a modern touchscreen smartphone will not fit there, an annoying flaw.

This sleeping bag has the possibility of coupling, that is, there are left and right zipper locations. If you are right-handed, then you will be more comfortable in the "left" sleeping bag, since it is inconvenient to fasten the "right" zipper with your right hand. Accordingly, for a left-handed person, the "right" option will be preferable. The pairing of the left and right sleeping bags is carried out due to an additional dog located in the legs. It can also be used to provide access to fresh air in the warmer months.