The Best Of...Down Sleeping Bags

The Best Of...Down Sleeping Bags

To be considered for this category I was looking for high-quality down and a good construction technique so that the distribution of down feathers provided good heat retention throughout the bag.  Also I looked for a good foot-box, hood, zipper, adjustment, size, down quality, end-usage, and price.  I was looking at 3 season bags as these allow, in general, for the most usage throughout the year, ideally going to -5C in it's EN 'comfort' category, so that with a liner, it could stretch to four season use. Why down? It's warmer, packs smaller and is the best for the weight, though there have been technological advances in synthetic sleeping bags, down bags are still 'the business'.  Though down bags are, in general, more expensive a good night sleep, in a warm bag that allows your body to recuperate quickly is priceless.  Be aware that US temperature ratings differ to EN ratings, and non-EU measurements of down fill again vary- for example a 700fill power North Face bag, is equivalent to a 600fill EU bag, they measure it differently. There's some stiff competition out there, but Mammut's Ajungilak Shield pipped it.  Why? It's waterproof, breathable, warm (-9C) but light, weighing in at just over 1kg with a good hood and not overly priced at £340, just pipping Crux Torpedo 2-layer eVent to the top spot.  

Top 20*Finalists
Crux: Torpedo 500*Silver Award
Comfort Limit: -6C
Polish Down: 850+: 500g
Weight: 1150g
RRP: £350
Waterproof eVent 2-layer
Construction: V-tube/ slant box
Cumulus: Mysterious Traveller*
Comfort Limit: -7C
Polish Down: 850+:500g
Weight: 870g
RRP: £180
Pertex shell
Construction: Trapezoid
Cumulus: Prime 400*
Comfort Limit: -7C
Polish Down: 850+:400g
Weight: 870g
RRP: £250
Pertex shell
Construction: Trapezoid
Cumulus: Quantum 350*6th Place
Comfort Limit: -6C
Polish Down: 870: 350g
Weight: 770g
RRP: £300
Pertex shell
Construction: Trapezoid
Deuter: Atmosphere 750*
Comfort Limit: -6C
EU down: 650+
Weight: 1280g
RRP: £200
Ripstop
Construction: Trapezoid
The North Face: Green Kazoo
Comfort Limit: -7C
EU Down: 500+: 624g
Weight: 1257g
RRP: £210
Shadowlite SL nylon ripstop
Construction: Trapezoid
Haglofs: Goga 3S*
Comfort Limit: -11C (-6C)
EU Down: 750+:700g
Weight: 1170g
RRP: £350
15Dx2 polyamide with waterproof head and foot
Construction: Trapezoid
Macpac: Sanctuary 600XP*
Comfort Limit: -11C 
EU Down:700+: 600g
Weight: 1250g
RRP: £350
Reflex LoftPro Ripstop DWR + soft shell membrane
Construction: Trapezoid
Macpac: Latitude 500*Bronze Award
Comfort Limit: -6C
EU down: 700+: 500g
Weight: 1100g
RRP: £275
Waterproof hood and foot +30D Vapour-lite
Construction: Trapezoid

Mammut: Ajungilak Altitude 3S*

Comfort Limit: -9C

EU Down: 700+:550g

Weight: 1150g

RRP: £360

Shelter/Performance TX Waterproof membrane

Construction: Advanced baffle

Mammut: Ajungilak Shield 3S*Gold Award

Comfort Limit: -8C

EU Down: 700+: 460g

Weight: 1050g

RRP: £340

Shelter TX Waterproof membrane with closable hood

Construction: Seamless Patented upper- bonded lower

Mammut: Ajungilak Sphere 3S

Comfort Limit: -6C

EU Down: 750+:500g

Weight: 800g

RRP: £342

ProLight XT Ripstop

Construction: Wave Box

Marmot: Helium*8th Place
Comfort Limit: -8C
EU down: 750+ 500g
Weight: 981g
RRP: £290
Ripstop
Construction: Trapezoid
Marmot: Helium EQ*
Comfort Limit: -11C
EU down: 750+:553g
Weight: 1490g
RRP: £350
Ripstop + waterproof membrane
Construction: Trapezoid
Mountain Equipment: Xero 550*5th Place
Comfort Limit: -6C
Polish Down: 700+ 550g
Weight: 950g
RRP: £270
He30 shell
Construction: Box wall
Mountain Equipment: Lightline -5*
Comfort Limit: -5C
Polish Down: 750+:550g
Weight: 1215g
RRP: £280
Drilite Loft shell
Construction: V Baffles
Mountain Equipment: Titan 650
Comfort Limit: -8C
Polish Down: 750+: 650g
Weight: 1275g
RRP: £180
Ripstop DWR + EXL top lining

Mountain Hardwear: Phantom 0

Comfort Limit: -7C

Down: 700+: 794g

Weight: 1200g

RRP: £400

Superlight ripstop 15D

Mountain Hardwear: Clouds Rest 5

Comfort Limit: -7C

Down: 500+: 794g 

Weight: 1530g

RRP: £250

Hifive ripstop 30D

Nanok: Comfort Down -10
Comfort Limit: -7C
EU Down: 550+:800g
Weight: 1580g
RRP: £160
Ripstop fabric
Construction: Slant Wall
Nanok: D:R:Y 860 -10
Comfort Limit: -7C
EU down:750+:600g
Weight: 1060g
RRP: £449
Waterproof but without taped seams
Construction: Slanted wall
Nanok: Performance Down -10*
Comfort Limit: -8C
EU down: 600+: 650g
Weight: 1360g
RRP: £120
Ripstop Fabric
Construction: Trapezoid 3D
PHD: Minim 400*4th Place
Comfort Limit: -5C
EU down: 800+:400g
Weight: 670g
RRP: £240
M1 microfibre /Drishell outer
Construction: minimalist! No zip,  
RAB: Ascent 700
Comfort Limit: -5C
Polish Down: 650+ 700g
Weight: 1330g
RRP: £180
Pertex Quantum Shell
RAB: Neutrino 600*9th Place
Comfort Limit: -5C
Polish Down: 800+: 600g
Weight: 1100g
RRP: £290
Pertex Quantum Shell
Construction: Box wall
RAB: Alpine 600*
Comfort Limit: -7C
Polish Down: 800+:600g
Weight: 1150g
RRP: £300
Pertex Endurance/ Quantum
Construction: Box wall 
Vaude: Ice Peak 1000
Comfort Limit: -6C
Down: 650EU
Weight: 1400g
RRP: £280
Ripstop
Construction type: Mixed
Vaude: Serniga 800
Comfort Limit: -6C
Down: 750+: 800g
Weight: 1400g
RRP: £425
Ripstop 20D
Construction type: Trapezoid
Western Mountaineering: Ultralite Sleeping Bag*10th Place
Comfort Limit: -9C
Down: 850+454g
Weight: 822g
RRP: £315
20D Ripstop Nylon
Construction type: baffle construction
Yeti: Sunrizer 800 Comfort
Comfort Limit: -8C
EU down: 600+:800g
Weight: 1450g
RRP: 
H-chamber construction
ID SoftCell
Yeti: Powerizer 750
Comfort Limit: -9C
EU Down: 700+: 750g
Weight: 1440g
RRP:
S-Chamber construction
AquaPro Plus Ripstop Nylon
Yeti: V.I.B. 600*
Comfort Limit: -6C
EU down: 800+: 600g
Weight: 1000g
RRP: £355
S-Chamber construction
SupCell ripstop nylon
Yeti: Passion 5*7th Place
Comfort Limit: -7C
EU down: 900+: 500g
Weight: 690g
RRP: £444
S-Chamber construction
Lighty gram ripstop nylon