Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Ralph Ditton > Initial Report

Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag
Initial Report by Ralph Ditton
6th October, 2005

Manufacturer: Snugpak
Manufacturer's Url: http://www.snugpak.com
Made in: China
Range: Softie Chrysalis
Model: Micro (full zip--left hand)
Manufacturer's Weight: 800 g (28 oz)
Packed size: 152 mm x 152 mm (6 in x 6 in) uncompressed
Manufacturer's Temperature Rating: Low 0 C (32 F) to Comfort 5 C (41 F)
Insulation Material: Reflectatherm
Fill: Softie (superfine high thermal)
Outer Material: Paratex Micro
Inner Material: Paratex Lite
Zips: YKK
Length: 2.184 m (86 in)
Chest: 1.5 m (59 in)
MSRP:AUS $199

My Measurements
Weight of Compression Sack: 98 g  (3.5 oz)
Weight of Sleeping Bag: 910 g (32.1 oz)
Total weight: 1008 g  (35.6 oz)
Packed size: 310 mm x 152 mm (12.2 in x 6 in)
Circumference: 510 mm (20.1 in)
Compressed size: 230 mm x 170 mm (9 in x 6.7 in)
(See comment)
Circumference: 510 mm (20.1 in)
Internal Pocket: 180 mm x 170 mm (7.1 in x 6.7 in)

Comment on Packed Size
The sleeping bag arrived in an uncompressed state and by my measurements, the length was 310 mm (12.2 in). When I compressed the sleeping bag using the bag's compression sack, I compressed the bag until the top buckles on the compression straps met the bottom slides on the same straps. It was impossible to go any further. I could only achieve a compressed length of 230 mm (9.1 in) which is approximately 76 mm (3 in) short of the advertised uncompressed length.
I tried various methods of rolling up the sleeping bag and even stuffed the sleeping bag into the stuff sack, then compressed them with no difference in measurement to the end result.

uncompressed stuff sack 

compressed stuff sack
Product Description

The Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag (hereinafter known as "bag") is the lightest of the Softie Chrysalis range. The bag is an unquilted (profiled) mummy style sleeping bag which does not use a 'stitch through' method of construction which eliminates potential cold spots which can occur with quilted sleeping bags.
The drawstring in the hood has a large bulbous spring loaded toggle that is easy to locate by feel in the dark whilst sleeping in the bag. Adjustments are easy to make whether using one or two hands.

hood and brand name
The YKK zipper pull is unlike any other that I have seen. The pull handle slides around a recess on the circumference of the zipper head. This allows me to choose the option of operating the zipper from inside or outside of the bag. A hook and loop tag is present at the top of the zip to protect the zipper and prevent the zipper from moving and unzipping the bag when tossing and turning during sleep.
Inside the bag there is a good sized pocket that is large enough to hold a wallet/passport. I will be using it to hold my little LED light and money. The pocket is held closed by a hook and loop strip.

internal pocket
Still inside the bag, there is an innovative baffle system which opens out to give more room within the bag. To operate the system I undid the zip fully and removed the zip guide rail from the zip housing unit, unfolded the baffle which has elastic ribbon sewn horizontally into it at ten intervals along its length, giving it a stretchy feeling. The baffle has a zipper along its length on one side only as the other side is sewn to the bag. I fed the zipper guide rail into the two zipper units at the foot of the bag and zipped the bag up.

baffle system and elastic ribbon
At full stretch, the baffle system adds 210 mm (8.3 in) at the top of the bag and tapers down to 100 mm (4 in) at the end of the baffle system. The foot of the bag is "chisel" in style which creates extra room and this helps me to prevent getting foot cramp. At the base of the bag there are two swivel clips, one on each side, which have two purposes.

• Hang off a clothes line to air/dry.
• Transform the bag into a children's bag by shortening the length.

The second point is the "variable length" that the Manufacturer advertises. The clips at the base of the bag attach to a "D" loop on either side of the bag 580 mm (22.8 in) away. By folding the foot of the bag over and clipping into place this eliminates unnecessary areas of the bag to be heated, thereby creating maximum efficiency of available body heat.

variable length system

The compression stuff sack  is made from a polyester nylon type material. It has four compression straps equidistant from each other. There is only a maximum of 105 mm (4.1 in) compression available before the top buckle and bottom slide meet preventing any further compression.
There is no stretch in the neck of the compression stuff sack so I have found it difficult to remove and replace the bag when rolled up in various formats. The easiest method to date has been just to stuff the bag in and it pulls out very easily.

Initial Impression
I was surprised at how bulky the whole unit was in its stuff sack uncompressed when I opened the box it came in. I was influenced by the advertisements in our outdoor magazines and the sighting of an actual Snugpak sleeping bag compressed, so I was expecting a compressed sleeping bag. Then it dawned on me that a long compression could possibly damage the fill material and that was probably why the bag was uncompressed. Although I have not found any information on the manufacturer's web site or in any of the literature accompanying the sleeping bag to that effect.
The next aspect that I noticed was the lack of information relating to temperature and comfort ratings on the base of the compression stuff sack. The picture of the same model bag I was looking at for comparison clearly had this information printed on the base and it was expressed in Celsius and Fahrenheit.

base of compression stuff sack
When I pulled the bag out of the compression stuff sack I was immediately taken by the soft feel of the fabric. I then got inside the bag and was impressed by how well the bag followed the contours of my body which meant that there would be no unnecessary areas to heat up with my body heat thereby maximizing all available heat.
An examination of the stitching showed it to be of a good standard with no loose threads visible. I worked the zip a number of times, some when I was inside the bag, and other times outside the bag. I was dismayed to encounter jamming of the zip each time I operated the zip when inside the bag. Material from the bag would get caught up in the zip head and it took a bit of wriggling back and forth and a bit of creative folding of material so the zip could be worked free. When I operated the zip from outside the bag I did not have any jams.
I operated the zip fast and slow when inside the bag and it made no difference to the jamming problem.
Much later: I tried the zip a number of times again whilst inside the bag and I found that if the finger of one hand precedes the zip and deflects the material, the zip has a free run and not get caught. I think this is going to be a problem that I will have to live with.

Home Test
I spent two nights sleeping in the bag. Once with the baffle in operation and the other with the baffle stowed away. I really enjoyed the extra room inside the bag. I did not have to use my Thermolite Reactor bag liner for extra warmth as the air temperature was around 10 C  (50 F) and I was very warm in the bag and had a good night's sleep. Yes the zip did jam when I did get out for a nature call, so I had to use my LED light to free the zip. On the second night the air temperature was around 12 C (54 F) and I started to perspire a little in the bag, so I undid the hood cord to free it from my head and ran the zip down about 100 mm (4 in) to let some excess heat out. I was impressed with the heat retaining ability of the bag and this was especially noticeable when I got back into the bag from a nature call that had me absent for approximately seven minutes and the bag was still slightly warm.

Test Plan

I currently use a Great Outdoors Supermini Down filled sleeping bag rated from a minimum 0 C (32 F) to 7 C (46 F). To cater for the below freezing temperatures, I use a Thermolite Reactor sleeping liner with the sleeping bag to increase my warmth and I am a warm sleeper.

As the test period will be over our spring and summer months,  I will be using the above mentioned liner in the October/November period as the rating on the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro listed on the web site ranges from 0 C (32 F) to 5 C (41 F).

 I will test for any cold spots. 

I will examine the shell fabric to see if there are tuck stitching which pinch the shell fabric thereby creating a stretch baffle. Perhaps the internal construction is a single-layer, loose-lined lining where one side of the fill layer is not sewn to the outer fabric. A gentle tug of the inside and outside of the sleeping bag in  opposite directions would indicate this.

 I am intrigued by the variable length system. I will examine if it is effective and report on this aspect.

The chisel foot construction sounds fine in theory, but I do toss and turn during the night and I wonder if my feet will get a cramp or become uncomfortable if I cannot roll my feet around because of the tapering affect of the foot construction. I will test for foot cramp.

What is the unique rolling system to pack up the sleeping bag? There were no instructions on how to accomplish this task. I will have to try various methods of rolling the sleeping bag to fit inside the compression stuff sack with ease. Test to date prove that I have not got it right as the bag is difficult to put into the compression stuff sack.

Comfort- I will be spending many nights in the bag and I will report on how good I feel inside the bag, if I get too hot and will I need to layer my clothing for warmth. Will layers of clothes constrict me inside the bag?

Is the sleeping bag claustrophobic when the zip is fully drawn and the draw cords fully pulled in tight against my body? 

When the sleeping bag is unrolled, how long does it take to fully loft and is the loft affected by continuous compression? 

How high does the loft sit? The higher the loft, the  more heated air is trapped to keep me warm.

Is the Reflectatherm barrier effective in trapping heat without the bulk of the Softie Premium insulation?

Reading the manufacturer's advertising material in our printed press , they state that one can machine-wash the sleeping bag safely and it dries in the sun in a matter of minutes. I will test this claim but I am dubious about the drying time.

 I will be using this sleeping bag in the three sided hut shelters on the Bibbulmun Track and in my tent  to see how it performs in both locations.

I sleep on a self-inflating mat and this would also be used to give insulation from the ground and/or sleeping platforms.

• Baffle system to allow expansion.
• Follows the contours of my body for heat efficiency.
• Very soft feel of the sleeping bag.
• Very good heat retention by the fill.
• Air escapes easily through the fabric when rolling the bag up.
  

Things I dislike

• Jamming zips.
• No washing instructions.
• No rolling instructions when the manufacturer states a unique rolling system.
• Unable to achieve the advertised compressed status of 152 mm x 152 mm (6 in x 6 in).

It is now the start of our spring and we are still experiencing very cold nights and mornings with a low of 1.6 C (35 F) and a high of 7 C (46 F) till about 8 am, then it gets progressively warmer to an average high of around 21 C (70 F) during the day.

Rain and high winds from westerly fronts originating in the Indian Ocean are still being experienced, but this weather will diminish around mid October, giving way to drier, warmer nights and days in November with very hot night and days in January and February, usually with a night time minimum of around 30 C (86 F). Easterly winds will commence in late November and continue until April and these winds originate in the desert regions and they are dry and hot with a daily wind speed of between 10 to 25 knots.

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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Ralph Ditton > Initial Report