BackpackGearTest
  Guest - Not logged in 

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Exxel Suisse Sport K2 sleeping bag > Test Report by Lori Pontious

Suisse Sport K2 Sleeping Bag
Test Series by Lori Pontious

INITIAL REPORT - August 10, 2012
FIELD REPORT - October 30, 2012
LONG TERM REPORT - January 29, 2013

Tester Information

NAME: Lori Pontious
EMAIL: lori.pontious (at) gmail.com
AGE: 45
LOCATION: Fresno County, California, USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5'7" (1.7 m)
WEIGHT: 165 lb (75 kg)

I've backpacked, camped and fished all over the lower 48 states with my family as a kid, and then life happened. I've restarted these activities about four years ago - I dayhike or backpack 2-6 times a month. I am between light and ultralight. I have a hammock system and own a Tarptent. My base weight depends upon season and where I go.


Product Information


Manufacturer: Exxel Outdoors
Manufacturer URL: www.exxel.com
Listed weight: 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) - fill only
Actual weight: 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms)
Materials:
Shell: Polyester
Liner: Polyester
Insulation:
MicroTekk Z1 Performance Insulation
MSRP:
None listed


Initial Report

Product Description

The Suisse Sport K2 Sleeping Bag (hereafter "the bag" or "the sleeping bag" or "the K2") is rated 5 to 10 F (-15 to -12 C). The bag is gray on top with a zippered pocket near the head end of the bag.

IMAGE 1

The hang tag does not list the weight of the bag, only the insulation. The bag is bulky and does not compress much even with the help of the compression sack. In examining the bag I note that there is already a seam on the underside with a dangling thread. The bag is otherwise in great condition, with no discoloration or other defect.

The fabric of the outer shell is the same as the liner, a shiny polyester fabric. I don't care for the feel of it - it's a bit too slick to be comfortable against my skin. Since I usually wear a base layer at night this should not be a big issue for me.

There are features that are typical of a winter bag. The chest baffle is intended to prevent drafts, and there is a draw cord along it to snug it up to the occupant. There is also a draw cord for the hood to close it down around my head. There is a patch of strong hook and loop to fasten the area where the zipper pull will be when the bag is zipped shut, to keep me from accidently pushing the zipper open while tossing and turning in my sleep. (At least, that's what I think it is for.) The zippered pocket on the front of the bag is a place to keep small things like a watch or headlamp.

The bag is very long for me, also very wide - I have plenty of room to roll around in. Stuffing it in the compression sack is fairly easy to do, however, it does not compress very much.

I will be taking the bag with me for upcoming camping trips, to stay warm at night. It probably will not be as cold as the bag is rated, but it will likely see some use in freezing temperatures.

Field Report

Field Conditions

I took the K2 with me for one night to a Search and Rescue event, using it at our base camp near Shaver Lake, in Sierra National Forest, California. Conditions were clear skies, no wind or other weather events. The night temperature didn't make it below 56 F (13 F).

I went camping in Montana de Oro State Park, near Los Osos, California, for a weekend of fun on the coast for two nights. We had a heavy dew, some mist, and a light breeze each afternoon. Lows were in the 50 to 55 F (10 to 13 C) range.

I spent two nights using the K2 at Sunset State Beach near Watsonville, California. Skies were clear and we again had a lot of dew. It was colder than the other trips, about 45 F (7 C) at night.

Observations

So far, I am having good results with the K2. It's been warm in the conditions I've camped in. I slept well. Or at least the times I am awake it isn't due to the bag (shoe stealing raccoons don't influence the bag performance).

I have been using the bag with a Big Agnes insulated air mattress each trip. The mattress is 20" wide. I usually put a jacket in the hood of the bag to serve as a pillow. When inside the bag I find that the bag is so wide and long that there is a lot of extra space, and the liner material is so smooth I tend to slide around easily. The bag is wider than the mattress, so the edges fall over the sides of the 3.5" (89 mm) mattress.

The only things that have been bothersome about the bag have been the zipper and the large size of the bag relative to me. The zippers snag sometimes, so I have to rearrange the bag and try tugging in a different direction to get it moving again. And then there is so much of the bag that I sometimes feel like I am lost in there. I've awakened to find the zipper under me, or on top of me, thanks to the way I move around in my sleep and the huge, slippery bag. I would be concerned, however, if not for how large the bag is - at least if the zipper jams completely I can always slide out through the opening without restriction!

I have noticed no obvious wear and tear on the bag beyond what is noted in the initial report, however, there are some seams on the stuff sack that are coming apart.

IMAGE 1

I have not been using the compression straps when packing up the bag. It doesn't make much difference and since I am not stuffing it in a backpack, I don't care about the stuffed size of the bag. I have not used the zippered pocket, either. There isn't anything I have car camping that really fits inside. I would also be concerned that I'd roll over on top of the pocket, which would be uncomfortable at best and damage whatever was inside at the worst.

Long Term Report

Field Conditions

I took the K2 on one camping trip (unfortunately two others I had scheduled were canceled) to Mercey Hot Springs Resort in the Panoche Hills region of California. I spent two nights at the Resort in the campground. Our first night was foggy and damp, the temperature hovering at about 59 F (15 C), and the second night clear and colder at 54 F (12 C).

Observations

My impressions from the field report have not changed - the bag continues to be warm enough for my car camping outings. Although I have been somewhat rough with it, stuffing it into the trunk of the car under bins and gear, the bag is pretty much in the same condition as it was in the field report.

I have been leaving the zipper undone most of the way and still been warm, since the bag is so generously sized that it tucks in around me, which is my reaction to the zipper that sticks and jams. This is how I am used to sleeping anyway, since I use quilts while backpacking. Probably the only other frustrating thing about this bag is a minor quibble as it is not the intended use for the hood. The hood is where I stuff a pillow or some clothing to cushion my head. The bag is so long and the hood so large that whatever I put there slides out while I'm sleeping.

In summary, I like so far that the bag has been warm and comfortable. I dislike that the zipper doesn't work smoothly, but this is offset by the fact that the bag is so large I can use it as a quilt.

My thanks to Exxel Outdoors and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test the Suisse Sport K2 Sleeping Bag. This concludes my review.



Read more reviews of Exxel Outdoors gear
Read more gear reviews by Lori Pontious

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Exxel Suisse Sport K2 sleeping bag > Test Report by Lori Pontious



Product tested and reviewed in each Formal Test Report has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer to BackpackGearTest.org. Upon completion of the Test Series the writer is permitted to keep the product. Owner Reviews are based on product owned by the reviewer personally unless otherwise noted.



All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson