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Field
Report -
Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro sleeping bag
Name:
Arron Robinson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9.5" (1.77 m)
Weight: 230 lb (104.3 kg)
Email address: mouserar-at-gmail-dot-com
City, State, Country: Dallas, Georgia, USA
Date: 30 December 2005
Backpacking
Background:
Camping and hiking since 11, I've been
in a constant search for the perfect balance between usability,
durability and weight. These days my camping is generally a mix of Boy
Scout style crew camping, kayak or canoe camping or light to mid weight
hiking. I generally carry 20-25 lb (9-11.3 kg) and sleep in a hammock
system.
Product
information:
Manufacturer:
Snugpak
|
Published Specifications: |
Measured Specifications: |
| Weight |
28 oz (800 g) |
29 oz (825 g) |
| Packed
Sized - Uncompressed: |
6 x 6
in (152 x 152 mm) |
6
x 13 in (152 x 330 mm) |
| Packed
Sized - Compressed: |
Not
listed |
6
x 8 in (152 x 200
mm) |
| Fill
Material: |
Softie
Premier Reflectatherm |
| Outer
Material: |
Paratex
Micro |
| Inner
Material: |
Paratex Light |
| Manufacturer's
Temperature Rating: |
Comfort
Range: 60 F to 40 F (15 C to 5 C) - Low: 32 F (0 C) |
| MSRP: |
120.00 USD (59.99 GBP -
199 AUD) |
| URL: |
http://www.snugpakusa.com |
The
Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro sleeping bag is a lightweight bag
designed to pack small and still retain insulation capabilities. The
Chrysalis Micro is a consumer bag in the company's
product line, which is largely made up of military grade
products.
The outer material seems durable and lightweight.
It has a honeycomb pattern to it, which is unlike any rip stop I've seen
in the past. The liner material is very soft to the touch and seems to
me like it would be comfortable to sleep in. The fill is very thin and
light.
Along the foot of the bag are 2 pairs of clips and "D" rings.
These rings allow for the bag to be shortened if the user is not tall
enough to fill the length of the bag.
More information on the product design itself is available in my initial report.
I've used the
Chrysalis Micro on two outings as well as a few days just hanging out
at the house. The first trip was 4 days in conditions of 70 F (21 C)
dropping to 40 F (4 C) overnight with no rainfall. During this trip I
slept in my hammock with a Speer SPE outfitted with a self inflating
pad closed cell foam wings. I slept in shorts and a t-shirt
The second trip was
in mid December with highs in the 50 F (10 C) range and lows the first
night dropping to 15 F(-10 C) and the second to 28 F (-2 C). This trip I
was in the tent along with my wife. We had an inflatable mattress with 2
quilts providing insulation. Along with this I added a fleece liner to
the bag, determined to test the lower limits of the Micro. I was
wearing microfleece long underwear and a stocking cap to round out my
sleeping wear.
During the first trip.
I had no problems staying warm, in fact each night I had to unzip to
vent heat in the middle of the night. There was ample room in the bag
without expanding it with the chrysalis baffle, and the material was
very comfortable. It was soft without feeling slippery.
The second trip was when I decided to test my limits with the bag. The
first night was the coldest, and despite wearing much more in terms of
clothing and getting up to put on a pair of shell pants and another
shirt, I could not say that I was warm. I was not frigid, by any means,
but could not get into a zone that I would consider comfortable. The
second night was warmer, being just below freezing, and while it was still
outside of the bag's rating, with the addition of the fleece liner, I
was able to comfortably sleep through the night with just the
microfleece underwear. I did use the baffle for some additional space
during this trip as I was feeling a bit constricted with the addition
of clothing layers.
I sleep in a few
varied configurations, depending on who I am camping with. Between that
and varied testing locations and a changing season, I am giving the bag
a workout. The specific
issues I am hoping to determine are:
- Convenience: Will I roll around and end up with the zipper
imprinted into my forehead? Not yet. Once I am sleeping in the bag, I tend to stay put. When packing the bag, does it pack as small
as advertised? No. I have not been able to match the manufacturer's size rating, no matter how I stuff the bag.
- Comfort: Is the interior size of the bag sufficient? Yes. At most I've had to use the baffle to get a bit of extra space. This is not a problem for me, though.. Does the
bag regain
loft quickly when unpacked? Yes,
within about 5 minutes the bag was at full loft without intervention.
If I was impatient, I would grab the bag and toss it around, and it
would loft right away. Will it keep me warm in the cold times as
well as allow me to vent enough to keep cool when things warm up? So far, inside of the bags rating, there has not been a problem. I have definitely found my limit with the bag, though. Does
the zipper catch material, or does it move cleanly? I
have had some problems catching the material of the bag in the zipper.
It has not been often enough to be annoying, but it has happened. Is the material
comfortable, or do I need to use a liner? The material is probably the softest I have seen in a bag. Very comfortable without being slippery.
- Adaptability: Can I vent properly when hot? Yes, From the top or bottom, I was able to open the zipper and get cooler air in. Does it perform
as a quilt when desired? Yes, except the hood does get in the way slightly. This is not a fault of the bag, just something I need to adjust to. Does it have a hood? Yes. Can this bag be used in
conjunction with another bag to increase its usable range? I've used it will a fleece liner bag successfully. I may try pairing it up with another bag to camp in colder weather.
- Durability: I don't really want to baby my gear, does the
shell hold up to normal camp life? Yes, so far. Does the cloth hold up to wear? Yes. Does
the bag retain its loft capability through the duration of the test
cycle? So far.
- Overall Design: Does the chisel foot box have enough room?
Yes, room has not been a problem. Does the fill stay put or drift around? Everything has sat exactly where it was place up until this point.
Impressions After Field Testing:[back to top]
The Softie Micro
has proven so far to be a lightweight option for a warmer weather
sleeping system. Pushing the limits of the bag shows that if augmented
with proper clothing and additional insulation it can do the job of a
colder weather bag, if not quite so efficiently.
The materials that
the bag are made of make for a very comfortable feel against the skin.
The bag is lightweight and easy to pack, compressing to a very usable
size. I have had very few problems with the bag and look forward to
further testing.
|
Excitement:
- The bag, while not packing down to the advertised size, is really compact.
- Seems to be well made and durable.
- The chrysalis feature may provide a bit more freedom of movement.
- The bag has performed well within its rating.
|
Concerns:
None at this point.
|
Thanks
to
Backpackgeartest.org and Snugpak for the opportunity to
share my experiences!
Read more reviews of Snugpack gear
Read more gear reviews by arron robinson
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