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Gear Review: Montbell Down Hugger #5
It’s no secret that Montbell has become one of my favorite UL gear manufacturers. You can see this is evident by reading my other gear reviews: Torrent Flyer Rain jacket, Anorak Down Puffy, Convertible Rain pants. I completed my entire through hike carrying all of those items in my pack. They were all amazing in their own right and will continue with me on all of my hiking in the future. I carried the Montbell Down Hugger from Virginia through Massachussetts. I decided to make the switch from my 20 degree down quilt because it had gotten too warm for that much insulation and would be able to save almost a pound of weight in my back.
Circumstances of review
I used this sleeping bag from Virginia to Massachusetts during my 2016 AT Thru hike. I will also say that I used it both in a tent as well as my Eno hammock. I carried my hammock for several hundred miles during the summer. Needless to say, I spent a lot of nights using this bag!
Features
Super Spiral Stretch System (US. Patent NO. 7,900,301)
Multi-Tube Construction with Flow Gate technology
Draw cord for face hole adjustment
Single insulated zipper draft tubes
Auto Locking Zipper to limit zipper ”slip” during the night
2-way, 67 in.(170cm) mating right hand zipper ONLY
Tapered, bias stretch stuff sack for easier packing included
Cotton storage sack included
Description
By adopting a classic tailor’s trick and pairing it with only the best materials available MontBell has brought extreme comfort and thermal efficiency to the ultralight world. We found that integrating a woven fabric “cut on the bias” and orienting the fabric’s warp and weft threads at 45 degrees to most major seam lines the sleeping bag becomes more fluid in nature. To create an even more comfortable system we utilize an elasticized thread in the stitch to create small “gathers” in the quilting. Through the combination of strategic seam orientation and the stretch provided by gathered quilting we offer unrivaled fit and comfort. These innovations allow the sleeping bag to move with you as you change positions throughout the night, drawing the premium 900 fill goose down closer to your body and eliminating drafty dead spaces. Keep body heat inside your sleeping bag, where it belongs.
Specs
Weight 1lb. oz. (461 g)
Fill weight 7 oz. (200 g)
Insulation 900 Fill Power Down
Fabric 8-denier Ballistic Airlight Nylon
DWR Polkatex® DWR treatment
Compressed size 4.7 x 9.4 in. (12 x 24 cm), 2.2 L
Other 46℉/8℃ (Comfort), 38℉/3℃ (Lower Limit), 13℉/-10℃ (Extreme)
* We do not advise consumers to reference the extreme rating for general
use.
Max User Height 6′
Shoulder Girth 53″-75″
Knee Girth 44″-62″
Pros
The weight and volume of this sleeping bag are a huge selling point. Just about the size of a water bottle and only 1 pound of weight. The shell is treated with Polkatex to protect the insulation from light moisture. 900 FP down is used for insulation. The bag was surprisingly warm for the rating. I was very comfortable in this bag below the 46 degree comfort rating. I know we had nights in the middle and upper 30’s and I slept perfectly. I move around a lot in my sleep and never had issues with the bag limiting my movements. My knees never hit a stopping point of stretch like most mummy bags have. I simply loved this bag.
Montbell uses what they named the Super Spiral Stretch System to build this bag. Which they do the best job of describing as seen below. I would just explain it as incredibly comfortable because of science.
Super Spiral-Stretch System (US.Patent No.7,900,301)
Offering sweet dreams with superior stretch and comfort for all shapes and sizes
Montbell has adapted a classic tailor’s trick by integrating a woven fabric “cut on the bias”. By orienting the fabric’s warp and weft threads at 45 degrees to most major seam lines the sleeping bag becomes more fluid or elastic in nature. Additionally, to create an even more comfortable system we utilize an elastic stitch technique to create small “gathers” in the quilting. By combining the strategic seam orientation and the elasticized gathers we offer unrivaled fit and comfort.
Our sewing lines utilize an elasticized thread to create gathers in the quilting that draw insulation closer to your body and minimize drafty dead spaces.
The greatest benefit to using elasticized sewing lines would be the “stretchy” nature of the baffles. These flexible baffles allow our sleeping bags to move with you as you change positions throughout the night.
BIAS STRETCH
Woven fabrics typically do not stretch vertically or horizontally without the utilization of heavy elastic materials. However, when stressed along the diagonal the same fabric will show stretch characteristics.
Cons
Well it’s only available in one color, I guess that’s a con.
Value
Montbell provides the Ultralight community with an amazing product for the right price. The weight, volume, quality and comfort of this mummy bag make it a great value for any ultralight hiker. I highly recommend this as a late spring to early fall component in your sleep system.
Disclosure: this product was donated for the purpose of review. Photos and description courtesy of Montbell.us
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