The North Face Snow Leopard

[JEandAsGuide]

I was wondering if any of you guys have this sleeping bag or know much about it? Its a good bit cheaper than the marmot, BA and WM bags I was looking at. It's pretty heavy at 4lbs but I think i can handle that weight and still make my benchmark. It also has a synthetic fill instead of down. It's over $250 cheaper than the others so I was wondering if it's that much lesser of a bag or are the others just more expensive because there lighter. Thanks!

 

[Kevin Root]

I don't have the bag but the North Face stuff I've had in the past has held up well.

I've found that one tends to pay more for weight savings on similar rated bags tends to be true. Depending on manufacture, make and model that can vary though. Below is a backpacking guide for sleeping bags that I found on the REI site. I also checked out the reviews for the bag and it shows both positive and negative reviews.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/sleeping-bag-backpacking.html

http://www.rei.com/product/809337/the-north-face-snow-leopard-sleeping-bag

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Thanks KR!

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

JE&A,

DWR treated Down seems to hold a lot of promise for sleeping bags, as it gives you the best of both worlds: Weight, compressibility, and warmth of down; and the warm when wet performance of synthetics. It looks like this is where many are heading.

BA has some available, but I noticed Kelty offers the Ignite bag that is 16 degree EN rated, under three pounds, DWR down, and a retail price of $199.

I will be trying out this bag myself this spring. It might be worth checking out.

 

[Kevin Root]

JE&A,

DWR treated Down seems to hold a lot of promise for sleeping bags, as it gives you the best of both worlds: Weight, compressibility, and warmth of down; and the warm when wet performance of synthetics. It looks like this is where many are heading.

BA has some available, but I noticed Kelty offers the Ignite bag that is 16 degree EN rated, under three pounds, DWR down, and a retail price of $199.

I will be trying out this bag myself this spring. It might be worth checking out.

The water-repellent treatment to down shows promise and does not add all that much costs. I'm looking forward to hear what you think come spring on the bag Bitterroot Bulls. I'm thinking on upgrading one of my kids bags to one of the water-repellent treated down bags soon too. Weight, warmth performance, compress-able and also is said to perhaps help with odor should it get damp.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

JE&A,

DWR treated Down seems to hold a lot of promise for sleeping bags, as it gives you the best of both worlds: Weight, compressibility, and warmth of down; and the warm when wet performance of synthetics. It looks like this is where many are heading.

BA has some available, but I noticed Kelty offers the Ignite bag that is 16 degree EN rated, under three pounds, DWR down, and a retail price of $199.

I will be trying out this bag myself this spring. It might be worth checking out.

Thanks BB! Will look into it

 

[MSUcat61]

I bought the TNF Snow Leopard for my wife last year. It is a great bag (nice extra features, well made, wife claims "it's really cozy," etc.), but it really is very bulky if you're looking to be primarily backpacking with it. In my opinion, it's worth getting a real down bag, simply because of its packability, lighter weight, and the fact that there aren't a ton of situations in which your bag is actually going to get wet. Her bag is great for car camping, but when we took it backpacking in the sierras this summer, it took up so much space in the pack and was so heavy, that it was a real pain; especially compared to the size and weight of some really good down bags. Don't get me wrong, the bag worked out for the trip and she actually stayed warmer than I did, it just wasn't the most ideal bag for situation.