Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Arron Robinson > Initial Report

Initial Report - Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro sleeping bag

Arron Robinson - 21 September 2005

Product information:

Product Description | Manufacturer's Website | Field Information
Test Plan | Initial Impressions | Reviewer Info

Product Description:[back to top] 

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 bag was shipped with hang tags attached which described the basic specifications of the bag (listed above) as well as a number of catalogs of the Snugpak product line.

After unpacking the bag and looking through the catalogs, I pulled the bag out of the stuff sack. 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 was very thin and light and not being accustomed to lightweight bags, and being uneasy about how it will keep me warm, I slipped into the bag while going through the mail and talking to my wife , who at this point is certain I'm crazy. The bag heated up quickly and after 5 minutes I needed to vent to let out some heat. I guess I will have to give this a try outside and see if it is as effective.

While opening the bag I noticed a flap of  stretchy material with a number of zippers attached to it. This would be the actual "chrysalis" part of the bag. It is designed to allow for the bag to stretch, allowing a bit more freedom of movement to move around, or to just allow for a bit more room in the bag. If is not needed, it can be zipped in upon itself, creating a zipper baffle to keep drafts out

While in the bag, I noticed that the Chrysalis Micro had many of the features that I've become accustomed to in a mummy bag, including a full hood with drawstring and a hook and loop tab to help the zipper stay in place. The bag was reasonably roomy and I did not feel overly restricted, even with the chrysalis baffle zipped away. Having finished the mail and needing to get out of the heat, I got out of the bag and continued my inspection.

In looking as the stitching and workmanship, I could not find any flaws. The stitching is even and there doesn't appear to be any points in the bag where the seams are under stress. The zippers mesh well and work smoothly. The drawstring draws.

I did notice that along the foot of the bag there were 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. This would eliminate cold spots in the foot of the bag.

Manufacturer's Website:[back to top]

The Snugpak UK website was a little thin on technical information. It did, however, offer links to forum sites and further reading regarding the materials used to manufacture the products . In general, the site was easy to navigate and locate the information about their product line.

Field Information:[back to top]

• A number of 2-3 day trips into the Dahlonega Uplands in North Georgia. Temperatures will range from 40 F (4  C) to 95 F (35  C) and will most likely include some rain.
• A 3 day trip to Jekyll Island to Kayak. This trip will be a blast. We will take out a group of sea kayaks for the weekend and give them a run for their money. Salt water will be abundant. Size will be a concern, as will water repellent properties of the Paratex materials.
• 3 or 4 weekend shake-down trips along the southern terminus of the AT in preparation for a 70 mile (113 km) section hike. One thing about these trips is that I'm sure there will be rainfall. I am a wimp. I will tell you that right out. There is no way that I want to carry my big heavy bag on these outings. Size and weight are the critical issues here, as well as durability. The material used in the outer shell (Paratex Micro) is a rip stop material which should be able to hold up to the abuses of the trail. Weather will get steadily colder throughout the test period, starting around 90 F (32  C) and dipping to around 35 F (2  C) by end of testing.
• A weekend caving/climbing trip in Alabama. Ahh, dark and damp treks through the bowels of some mountain. What a way to spend time. It’s dark down there. Perhaps the yellow material will provide some visibility and if I get lost, I can find my way back to our gear.

Test Plan:[back to top]

1. Convenience: Will I roll around and end up with the zipper imprinted into my forehead? When packing the bag, does it pack as small as advertised?
2. Comfort: Is the interior size of the bag sufficient? 87 in (221 cm) in length by 65 in (165 cm) in girth sounds good. Does the bag regain loft quickly when unpacked? Will it keep me warm in the cold times as well as allow me to vent enough to keep cool when things warm up? Does the zipper catch material, or does it move cleanly? Is the material comfortable, or do I need to use a liner?
3. Adaptability: Can I vent properly when hot? Does it perform as a quilt when desired? Does it have a hood? Can this bag be used in conjunction with another bag to increase its usable range?
4. Durability: I don't really want to baby my gear, does the shell hold up to normal camp life? Does the cloth hold up to wear? Does the bag retain its loft capability through the duration of the test cycle?
5. Overall Design: Does the chisel foot box have enough room? Does the fill stay put or drift around?
   

Initial Impressions:[back to top]

The Softie Micro looks to be a lightweight option for a warmer weather sleeping system. I am looking forward to pushing its limits as cooler weather arrives.

Thanks to Backpackgeartest.org and Snugpak for the opportunity to share my experiences!

Reviewer Info:[back to top]

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: 21 September 2005

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Arron Robinson > Initial Report