Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report

Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag Long Term Report

January 25, 2006

Tester Background:
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the house. My style has evolved and over the last 4 or 5 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions). While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible.

Additional Tester Measurements:
Shoulder Girth: 49 in (124 cm)
Chest: 39 in (97 cm)
Waist: 34 in (86 cm)
Hips: 39 in (99 cm)

Final testing:
The one thing that I really wish I had been able to do with this bag was spend more time in temperatures below 30 F (-1 C).  Since the winter here in Texas did not cooperate with me, this is one area that I feel could have been covered better, but it was out of my control.  

What I will say is that between 45 and 65 F (7 - 18 C) this is one comfortable sleeping bag.  Very few of my  18+ nights in the bag involved a massive amount of clothing.  On some colder nights I slept with pants and a long sleeve shirt on, but when the temperature was above 50 F(10 C), this was unnecessary for me.  Since my climate tends to be on the warmer side, I also like the fact that the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag can be completely unzipped if necessary and used like a quilt.  Other light weight sleeping bags with similar temperature ratings don't always have full length zippers and this means that when it warms up too much, they are useless, but not the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag.  If it gets hot, I just unzip and keep on sleeping. 

I also like the fact that the end of this bag can be folded under and secured in place.   This caused the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag to rest around my chest, which is where I prefer my bags to be when I sleep.  It also made using the bag in  a hammock a great experience.  In my earlier report I stated that I would fold the end of the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag under, secure it, then get into my hammock.  With my feet resting over the entry slot of the hammock, the folded over portion of the sleeping bag provided extra warmth and insulation for my feet and lower legs.  In short, this bag solved my problem of cold feet in my favorite hiking shelter.  I can't ask for much more than than in my opinion.    

Testing :
FIT
1. How well does a fully dressed hiker fit in this bag? How well does a fully dressed hiker fit in this bag with the baffle extended?
2. How do I fit in this bag in my normal sleeping clothes (Skivvies only)? Will I be able to use the regular bag size or will I need to use the baffle?

A fully dressed hiker fit perfectly in the bag.  I wore everything from my skivvies on up to full length epic pants and a long sleeve shirt in this bag and never felt cramped. In fact, I never even utilized the expandable baffle system.  The bag was more than roomy without it, no matter what I was wearing.

3. How roomy is the "chisel cut" footbox?
I found the footbox to be roomy enough for my size 10.5 feet. It wasn't too tight and it didn't have too much room which would allow my feet to get a cold.

4. How does the variable length system affect comfort and fit?
I really like the variable length system. It allows me to use the sleeping bag in a manner that is very comfortable. It also provides extra insulation for my feet when I sleep in my hammock.

USE
1. How easily does the zipper slide?
The zippers work great. I had no trouble using them while inside or outside of the bag. 

2. Does the zipper jam or catch on the sleeping bag? Does not using the baffle cause zipper issues?

3. How easy is it to unzip the bag and then rezip it using the baffle system?
The zippers never caught while I used this bag. I had worried that the extra fabric of the baffle would be an issue, but it never was. Basically, the baffle is there just in case I need the extra space in the bag, but its presence never caused issues with the zippers.

4. How easy is it to use the cord which adjusts the hood/face opening while in the bag? Can this cord and cordlock be adjusted with one hand?
Cordlocks are cordlocks.  The Snugpak versions worked fine for me.  I was able to adjust the cords with one hand inside and outside of the bag. 

5. Can the internal pocket be easily accessed while I am in the bag?
The answer here is yes. I can get to the pocket without any trouble.

6. How much can the internal pocket comfortably hold?
I never really tested how much I can get into the internal pocket, but I did find a great use for it.  Usually I carry my ear plugs in my first aid kit or a jacket pocket.  This means that I usually have a problem finding them at bedtime, but the internal pocket on this sleeping bag gives me a place to put my ear plugs in the morning.  At bed time when I need them, I simply crawl into the bag, zip everything up and pull out my ear plugs.  The internal pocket is just a great idea in my mind. 

7. Can I figure out how to use the variable length system? Am I too tall to shorten the length and still use the bag?
I figured out the variable length system pretty quickly.   Since I prefer to use more of a 'half bag' design, using it made this sleeping bag just the right length. My upper torso and arms stuck out, but that is what I wanted.   As I stated earlier, I also like the fact that when the variable length system is folded under, it provided extra insulation for my feet.

COMFORT
1. What is the lowest temperature that I find this sleeping bag is comfortable to sleep in? How close is this to the stated temperature rating?
I have slept in this bag down to 36 F (2 C).  This is below the comfortable low temperature listed for it, but above the extreme temperature listed.  I think that the temperature range listed is pretty accurate. 

2. What is the highest temperature that this bag is comfortable to sleep in? How comfortable is it to use as a quilt in warmer temperatures?
When I used the bag above 60 F (16 C), I tended to unzip it most of the way. On several occasions the temperature was above 65 F(18 C) and I preferred to use it as a quilt of sorts at this point.  I found that is is a passable quilt (zippers and other pokey parts bugged me when using it this way), but it makes a better sleeping bag.

3. How slippery is the Pertex outer shell? I will be using several different sleeping pads with this sleeping bag to test this issue. I hate to slip and slide the night away.
The outer and inner lining are not over slippery at all. I guess they are just the right amount of slippery for my use.  I had no issues with any sleeping pad or shelter that I used during this test.

4. How moisture repellant/resistant is the outer shell?
6. How sweat repellant/resistant is the inner lining?
I didn't have the chance to deal with too much moisture during this test.  I do know that condensation that dropped on the bag from a tent ceiling beaded up and ran off easily.  I did sweat while inside the bag on a couple of occasions, but I don't think that it was absorbed by the bag lining at all. 

5. How well does the bag retain/regain loft after being compressed?
I never really compressed the bag after its arrival.  I always stuffed it into the bottom of a pack with no compression or stuff sack. When I unpacked my pack, the bag was the last item out, and I simply shook it out to fluff it back up.  Carrying the bag like this didn't seem to affect the loft at all and shaking it out seemed to the trick if any fluffing was necessary.

Final thoughts:
I really like the Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag. It is versatile and easy to use in a wide range of conditions.  It was very adaptable to my hiking/camping conditions and to my personal hiking style.  The listed temperature range seems to be very accurate from my testing and the construction of the bag has held up to all the abuse that I can dish out. 

I would highly recommend this bag to someone who wants a durable and adaptable bag that doesn't weigh too much and can be used in more moderate outdoor temperatures. 

I would like to thank Snugpak and Backpack Gear Testers for allowing me the chance to test this bag.

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Snugpak Softie Chrysalis > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report