Featherweight Down Sleeping Bags

Therm-a-Rest has launched what might be the most complete sleeping bag in its price range in the form of the 'Ohm 20' a down sleeping bag that offers a scandalously good balance between low weight, high warmth, extreme compressibility and flexibility of use.

At first glance and carry, one could be forgiven for thinking this is very much a summer sleeping bag thanks to its weight of only 635 grams and its packed dimensions of 20 x 17 cm. However, once you open up it up and allow yourself to be ensconced in its blissfully soft and recycled liner interior, it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary sleeping bag off the rack. Much of this is down to the use of high-loft 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, which boasts insulation properties that allow it to absorb 90 percent less water than conventional down, besides drying three times faster. Considered the world's premier hydrophobic down, the Nikwax has an almost magical ability to dry rapidly and compress into a very compact shape, whilst still offering more than enough insulation for sub-zero nights without your having to don ungodly numbers of clothing layers.

This sleeping bag isn't just marked by innovative materials, however. Therm-a-Rest has also deployed intelligent insulation design in the form of duvet-inspired box baffle construction in concert with carefully selected insulation zones that prioritize warmth in areas that need it the most, such as around the extremities. All of these features combine to enable the bag to withstand temperatures as cold as 20F or -6C. However, should you get too warm, you can always engage the two-way zipper to vent your feet and head areas.

Those who suggest that it might be nice to have a quilt with these properties need look no further, because the Ohm can convert into a two-person quilt. Meanwhile, people looking to augment the bag's insulation with the soothing body warmth of a significant other will appreciate that this bag can be attached to another Ohm sleeping bag to create a two-person version. All of this versatility is available for a price of $459.95.

Ultimately, it's difficult to overstate how scarcely believable this bag's coziness and insulation performance are given its low weight and compressibility. It's the sort of sleeping bag that would be a mind-blower if not for the fact that it's more likely to send you to sleep in rapid time first.

Image Credit: Therm-a-Rest