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

Long Term Report - Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro sleeping bag

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-bellsouth-dot-net
City, State, Country: Dallas, Georgia, USA
Date: 7 Feburary 2006

Product information:

Reviewer Info | Product Description | Field Conditions
Field Information | Test Plan | Impressions After Long Term Testing

Product Description:[back to top] 

Snugpak Chrysalis Micro sleeping bag open

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 is very 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.

Field Conditions:[back to top]

I've used the Chrysalis Micro on a total of ten nights as my primary sleeping system. The trips where the bag was used have been getting gradually colder as I get braver and more comfortable with the capabilities of the insulation. The first few nights were mild, bottoming out at around 70 F (21 C) with no rainfall. In these situations, I often found that I could comfortably sleep in shorts and a t-shirt and the bag, waking in the night to vent heat occasionally. As the season progressed nighttime temperatures began dropping to 40 F (4 C) with occasional rain. In these situations I found that I would zip up the bag, but was still comfortable without further insulation. During this portion of the testing I slept in a hammock with a Speer SPE outfitted with a self inflating pad and closed cell foam wings.

As the testing phase moved into December, temperatures started to fall in the evenings, with the overnight range shifting downward to between 28 F (-2 C) and 15 F(-10 C). In these situations, I would have to supplement the bag with additional insulation as well as go to ground to cut down on heat loss. I added a fleece liner to the bag, slept on a combination of a self inflating pad and closed cell foam and would wear microfleece long underwear and a stocking cap to round out my sleeping wear. I found that I was comfortable, if not really warm. At the lower end of these colder temps, I found that I had to add a set of shell pants and a fleece shirt in the night and I never did get comfortable. Since this was outside of the expected (and documented) range of the bag, I don't see this as a failing, but rather honest and accurate assessment on the part of the manufacturer in regards to the capabilities of the product.

Disclaimer: Do not try this at home. These lower temperature tests were done by a man who, while not a professional, was bull headed enough to give it a try. It is not a reflection on the manufacturer's product that he was a cold fool, but a testament to the man's blatant disregard for the advice of the manufacturer.

Field Information:[back to top]

Compressed Micro with keyring as reference

Test Notes:[back to top]

1. Convenience:
   
   • I have a habit of tossing around a lot if I am uncomfortable or feel confined. In the past, this has led to me sleeping with various objects being imprinted into my face and other exposed areas. Will I be comfortable enough in this bag that I will not have an imprint of the zipper on my face for the morning? I have found that the bag, while indeed snug, does not feel confining. This is possibly due to the light weight of the materials used as well as the softness of the material of the liner. Once I am sleeping in the bag, I tend to stay put. 
   • When packing the bag, does it pack as small as advertised? While I have not been able to match the manufacturer's size rating, no matter how I stuff the bag, it is still really small and easy to pack. There were references on the manufacturer's website to a specific method of rolling the bag, but that information did not ship with the Micro. Perhaps that special little bit of information would allow me to achieve the published compressed size.
2. Comfort:
   
   • Is the interior size of the bag sufficient? Yes, although the fit is tighter than I am accustomed to, it doesn't seem to cause a problem. 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 become often enough to be annoying. 
   • 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.
3. 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 have a hood? Yes.
   • Can this bag be used in conjunction with another bag to increase its usable range? I've used it with a fleece liner bag successfully. I may try pairing it up with another bag to camp in colder weather.
   • 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.
4. Durability:
   
   • I don't really want to baby my gear, does the shell hold up to normal camp life? Yes, I tend to be a little careless with my gear, mainly because I am herding younger campers around. The Micro had proven up to the task in this regard.
   • Does the cloth hold up to wear? Yes. It also cleans up well from spills.
   • Does the bag retain its loft capability through the duration of the test cycle? Yes, the bag lofts back up quite well and in short order.
5. Overall Design:
   
   • Does the chisel foot box have enough room? Yes, much to my surprise, room has not been a problem. 
   • Does the fill stay put or drift around? Everything has sat exactly where it was placed up until this point.

Impressions After Long Term 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 I believe that it will continue to be used as a primary bag except in extremely cold situations.

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

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