Owner Review by Coy Ray Starnes

REI DOWN TIME 0 DEGREE
(SLEEPING BAG)
Owner Review
2/09/2003

TESTER: COY STARNES
GENDER: MALE
AGE: 41
WEIGHT 230 LBS. (104 kg.)
HEIGHT 6 FT. (1.83 m.)
E-MAIL: cstarnes@n...
LOCATION: NORTHEAST ALABAMA

Brief Bio: I am an avid outdoorsman and enjoy hiking, backpacking, hunting, canoeing, caving, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. I live in northeast Alabama where I do most of my backpacking and hiking. My backpacking style could be summed up as "middle-of-the-road". I am still converting to the lightweight style, though I doubt I will ever be considered ultralight. Right now my pack weight is hovering around the 20 lb (9 kg) mark, not counting water. I also do not get into a high mileage contest with myself or anyone else, but rather set a medium pace and stop when, and for as long as, I want. I hike solo and with friends and family. I go hiking throughout the year but sometimes wimp out of actually backpacking in midsummer when the heat and humidity make the trail miserable.

Product: REI Down Time 0 Degree
Manufacture: REI
Web Site: http://www.rei.com

Year of Manufacture: 1999
Temperature Rating: 0 F (-18 C)
Size: Long/Left 86 in X 60 in (220 cm X 155 cm)
Weight Listed: 3 lbs 7 oz (1.55 kg)
Actual Weight as Packed: 3 lbs 6 oz (1.53 kg)
Down Fill: (600 fill power) 1 lb 12 oz (0.79 kg)
MSRP $210 US

Disclaimer: I was asleep during most of the testing of this product.

My reason for purchase: Choosing a sleeping bag is one of the most critical decisions a backpacker has to make. Like most gear purchases, a process of cost, weight, and need are factored in. I wanted a sleeping bag that was reasonable inexpensive and warmer than my current 20 F (- 7 C) sleeping bag. This would be my winter camping bag. I was also looking for a little roomier bag than my present bag. I looked at several synthetic fill bags and was tempted by their prices and claims of "warmer when wet". However I really wanted a down sleeping bag for its weight to warmth advantage, and compressibility. In the end I found the Down Time sleeping bag on sale and decided it would be worth investigating.

Description of the Down Time 0 Degree: This sleeping bag is a classic mummy with a built in hood. It is described as using 600 fill power down which is distributed 60/40, meaning most (60%) of the down is located on the top side of the bag while less (40%) of the down is on the underside where your body weight compresses the down anyway. The shoulder girth is listed at 60 in (155 cm) and the length is 86 in (220 cm) which includes the hood. It is for individuals up to 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall. The outside of the bag is royal blue on top and black on the bottom, while the lining is a dark gray. The shell is standard down-proof nylon while the lining is nylon taffeta, typical in backpacking sleeping bags. It is not water-proof/ breathable as some of the newer shells are. The zipper is nylon and says YKK. The zipper is approximately 62 in (158 cm) long, and starts about 18 in (46 cm) from the foot end of the bag. After zipping the Down Time up, you can open the zipper from the bottom with a zipper tab from that end.

There is a draft tube running down beside the zipper as well as at the hood interface. The hood has a drawstring and cordlock which allows the hood to completely surround my face with only my nose exposed. My sleeping bag came with a stuff sack but I do not use it. I have switched to using turkey-roasting bag instead. I am not sure exactly how to measure its stuffed size but it will stuff smaller than a similar synthetic bag I used for several years.

The web site lists these features for the current Down Time line of bags. The only feature mine is missing is the pad loops at the shoulders and hips. And I quote.

"DownTime provides great warmth for its weight, plus excellent durability and compressibility--an ideal choice for mountaineers and backpackers.

600 fill-power goose down insulation is distributed efficiently to maximize warmth; 60% on top and 40% on the bottom
Stretch box baffle construction allows the goose down to remain fully lofted and keeps it from shifting, preventing cold spots
Relaxed fit from hip to knees increases comfort by providing some move-around-in space
Insulated muffler keeps the cold from penetrating through the top of the sleeping bag; cords are buried for comfort
Contoured hood and roomy foot section provide a comfortable, non-restrictive fit, so you stay warmer
Differentiated drawcords (one round and one flat) enable quick and easy hood and neck adjustments, even in the dark
Ground-level side seams and full-length insulated draft tube prevent heat loss through seams and the anti-snag zipper
Pad loops at shoulders and hips provide an attachment point to keep your bag and sleeping pad together (my Down Time does not have this feature)
Includes nylon stuff sack and cotton storage bag" End of quote.

Field Testing: How do you comment on something when (if it is working properly) you are asleep while testing it? First, if you are sleeping then at least the bag is doing part of its job. So a 0 F (-18 C) bag should allow you to sleep and not shiver down to 0 F (-18 C). I also laid the Down Time and my 20 F (-7 C) bag out side by side to see which one would loft the highest. It was easy to see that the Down Time was in fact, higher than the other bag. I did not try to measure the difference. I only know that loft is a major factor in the warmth of a sleeping bag.

I have only used this sleeping bag down to 16 F (-9 C) temps. To add to the situation, this was while using my Hennessy Hammock. The science of sleeping in a hammock in cold weather is beyond the scope of this review, but it does take careful selection of bottom insulation to make it work. On the 16 F (-9 C) night in question, I did get cold in my 0 F (-18 C) sleeping bag. However, it was my lower side that was cold due to barely adequate insulation under me. In fact when I am using my Hennessy Hammock I do not zip up my sleeping bag at all. Rather, I use a wide pad and then use my sleeping bag as a quilt. So on this particular night I was much like the person standing in front of the fire. One side was freezing while the other was warm. I rotated during the night to manage the sensation. However...

I have another hammock in which I do zip my sleeping bag up in. It is with this Crazy Crib LEX Hammock that I appreciate the roomy feel of my Down Time bag. By roomy feel, I mean I can move around a little inside the sleeping bag. I mentioned my other sleeping bag which is much lighter but is also cut to fit much tighter. The Down Time sleeping bag is only slightly bigger at the shoulders but it has more room at the hips and even the foot area. Speaking of foot room, my feet do not touch the lower end of the Down Time. I am only 6 ft (1.83 m) tall so this is to be expected.

I just recently spent a fairly cold 29 F (-2 C) night using the Down Time in my Crazy Crib LEX. I had very good insulation under me and stayed very warm. In fact I was sweating a little. I know this does not sound impressive, but believe me sweating in a hammock in the winter is a challenge.

I have only found one thing which is annoying about the Down Time. If I get in a hurry to zip it up it is likely to snag on the sleeping bag shell or lining, especially the lining on the inside of the bag. There is a strip of stiff material on the inside which is supposed to keep this from happening but it does not always work. The strip of material is located between the zipper and the draft tube. It needs another strip on the lower side to protect the lining here. I find that if I point my finger down the inside of the zipper area as I pull it up, it is much less likely to catch.

I would point out that so far the Down Time is not losing any feathers. My other down bag has lost a few but not enough to be concerned about.

Last Word: At the time of this report the Down Time 0 degree is no longer listed in the REI inventory. There is now a +15 F (-9 C) and a -10 F (-23 C) Down Time. There are now women's specific size Down Time bags available.

As I stated previously I was looking for a bag with a little more room than my other down bag. I am of a fairly stocky build, so this has been my experience. Sleeping with my arms straight down by my side is not my idea of a good nights rest. The Down Time is just roomy enough to be comfortable but not so large that I waste body heat warming a large area. I am very pleased I was able to get my Down Time the last year it was available from REI.

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