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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 > Owner Review by Mike Daurio Jr.

ULTRALAMINA 32 BY MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR SLEEPING BAG
BY MIKE DAURIO JR.
OWNER REVIEW
April 15, 2007

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Mike Daurio Jr.
EMAIL: mikejr232323@aol.com
AGE: 30
LOCATION: Wonder Lake, Illinois USA
GENDER: m
HEIGHT: 6' 0" (1.83 m)
WEIGHT: 183 lb (83.00 kg)

I am quite new to backpacking. My experience lies mostly as a canoe guide. My inspiration to get more into this sport/hobby was a backpack trip to Thailand in 2005. Due to my experience I am fond of lightweight, waterproof quality gear. I backpack in mainly hilly forested areas and of course near rivers and streams. I also do a lot of backpack traveling to other countries. I am a 3-season backpacker. Every year I spend time in the Ozarks in Missouri and in Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. I'd love to explore Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Mountain Hardwear
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Manufacturer's Website: www.mountainhardwear.com
MSRP: USD $185.00 size long
Listed Weight: 2 lbs 2oz. (950 g)
Reviewed weight: 2 lbs 1 oz. (936 g)


Other details: After receiving the sleeping bag, I packed it in the included stuff sack. The stuff sack is made of ultralight nylon and has compression straps. The sharp Mountain Hardwear logo is displayed on the cap as well as screen printed on the handle located at the bottom of the stuff sack. Compressed size is approximately 6" x 13" (15 cm x 33 cm). It was pretty easy getting the bag in and out of the small stuff sack. The manufacturer recommends storing the bag hung or in the included mesh storage bag. The storage bag is one color with the logo and bag description printed on the bottom. It has a drawstring top and a woven nylon handle on the side.

I purchased a Sea To Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack - XS - 6 in x 14 in (15 cm x 36 cm) (3.7 oz [105 g]) to replace the included stuff sack. The optional purchase fits the bag like it was made specifically for it. The stock sack and the optional sack both can be strapped on the outside of the pack. However, the optional sack offers added waterproof protection and can stay dry in down pours and wet conditions. It even matches the color.

The bag I purchased is the long version. This bag is also available in the regular size (1 lb 15 oz [870g]) The Men's regular is supposed to house up to a 6 ft (182 cm) person and the long up to 6 ft 6 in (198 cm). After trying both, and being at the max length of the regular, I chose the long. It provided a bit more wiggle room in the foot area. The bag's footbox is cut in a way that allows the foot to be held in its natural position and move freely inside the bag.

Construction of the bag is of Thermic Micro fill that allows high compressibility and maintains loft. The seams are not sewn but glued keeping the fill in place. It also has a lightweight wind resistant shell made of 20 D micro ripstop nylon. By looking at the bag it shines quality.

The bag has two double zippers that come from the "cheeks" of the head opening and run approx 23 in (58 cm) on each side. The double zippers allows me to take my arms out of the bag to sit up and cook, read, write, etc. with ease. Additionally they provide venting without the bag falling off in the night. On the left side is an internal, zippered, pocket perfect for stowing a wallet, pocket knife, small flashlight, etc. The face opening has two cinch cords, one upper and one lower, that block drafts, and help seal in warmth.

FIELD USE

Field conditions:
The bag performed well on multiple camping and backpacking trips this spring already. I've been to small state parks and conservation areas. The bag has been used in Harrison Benwell Conservation Area in Illinois and in county public hunting lands in Southern Wisconsin. The bag has also been used at Chain o' Lakes state park plus on the Current river and Ozark trail in Missouri . The temperatures of the trips ranged from 40-60 degrees F (4.5-15.5 degrees C) per weather forecasts. My schedule allows me to go out without much notice and I try to plan around weather. Terrain consisted of grassy areas and cleared forest floor mainly of dirt and leaves except in the Ozarks and on the Current River where it is a mixture of hard packed dirt, mountainous rock, and gravel. I sleep in a tent and do not use a pad except while on the river where I use an inflatable mattress, dragged along by my canoe.

After researching and purchasing the sleeping bag I couldn't wait to try it. The first use was indoors. I came home one night to my furnace being in need of service. The outside temperature was approximately 20 degrees F. (-7 degrees C) I climbed into the bag after checking the thermostat's reading at 41 degrees F (5 degrees C) I was bundled up in a merino wool base layer and some polyester jogging pants. The bag performed quite well and at one point in the night I opened the side zippers for a taste of a little cooler air.

Wanting to know how this bag would perform in the wet conditions, I put the bag under the kitchen sink faucet. The bag repelled the direct hit of water, and the H2O beads off the outer shell. I put the whole bag in the sink and let the faucet run. The weight of the water setting on the shell caused the bag to become water logged. The bag was easily rung out and when checked an hour later was cool to the touch hinting at the presence of water still. The bag did maintain loft . After the third hour it was almost bone dry. I have not experienced any inclement weather, yet I am confident the bag would dry nice and quick if it did get wet.

My first outdoor trip came as an early spring trip when temps hit 60 degrees F (15.5 degrees C). On a standard car camping trip in a state park, I slept in an airy tent that has three and a half sides of mesh. Even with my rain fly on the tent was quite drafty. Inside the bag I was cozy and warm, proving the shell's resistance to wind. I have also tented this bag in another tent camping trip with cooler temps (approximately 40 degrees F [4 degrees C]). It seems my comfort level within the bag stays consistent in various surrounding temperatures, leading me to believe the bag has an exceptional insulation to breathability ratio.

I finally was able to try the bag in a an overnight hiking situation on the Ozark trail. The straps on my backpack easily wove through the compression straps on the compression sack for a quick external attachment. The bag was a welcomed loss of weight to my pack. My old, bulkier, bag will not be missed. I did not weigh the total pack, but the difference was felt even on a one night load. The extra space saved inside the pack allowed me to put my dog's gear inside my pack deleting a cumbersome pack of hers, that I continually have to adjust. Inside my tent I spent a very warm night and unzipped the side zippers of the bag for a breath of cooler air.



SUMMARY

The Ultralamina 32 is a warm, roomy, and comfortable bag that oozes quality from every welded seam.

THINGS I LIKE


1. Comfort of the material and room in the bag
2. The consistency of comfort with different surrounding temps especially on cooler nights.
3. The stuffed and compressed size and weight is perfect for hauling in my pack.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE



1. I wish the bag was made more for my stature. The fact I was on the threshold of the maximum of the regular size bag and the minimum for the long bag left me without that perfect fit feeling. The choice of long was taken for comfort.
2. Clogged zippers amounted when opening the bag too fast. By taking due care I can easily avoid this. I have had this problem with every bag I've owned.

SIGNATURE




Mike Daurio Jr.

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

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