Hey Matti, so nice to have open, honest and experienced reviews of outdoor gear, instead of useless product placement videos. I also really appreciate the information on animal & child welfare etc.
Definitely need to keep your down bag in a netted expansion bag when not in use to allow the down to breath and expand fully. Only compress it when you will actually about to use it, then stick it back in the expansion bag when you come back. Another trick for more warmth is to use a down sleeping bag with a down quilt with a foot box with the sleeping bag under the quilt. You can have a colder weather sleeping bag, and a warm weather quilt, that together in winter can really help get you down below minus 30c (I use 2 sleeping pads with such a setup, good 5-6r value foam pad on the bottom, and a 4-5r value inflatable). Sleeping bag liners are also great for keeping it clean, with different materials having different properties (some are warmer, some wick moisture, and some are better for not getting too hot). There are also a lot of problems with the synthetic insulation as far as environmental damage, relating to microfiber pollution, production of the fibers, and the fact that synthetic bags don't tend to last very long.
I got got my first down bags in my late thirties(I am 51 now), 3season models from ME and Rab. Before that I only used synthetic bags mostly because of the high cost when buying down bags. I also bought ME Iceline for winter use(-25C). Ok the volume is super important when you carry your stuff, so it was a huge advantage. But after some days out in the cold(-15c to -25c) I felt the down bag was not collapsing but everynight getting thinner because of I guess condensation in the down, so that it took a lot of time for it to regain its volume when unpacked in the evening. That never happened with my synthtic bags. So I feel more safe with them. If it really gets wet, with down your in deep trouble out there.. In spring-summer-fall I nowadays only use 3-season down bags, they weigh about 1kg and are very warm for weight, very comfortable as long as I pack them completely dry. I never take a chance on lighter models so I am secured a warm nights sleep if I am very tired or exhausted and it is really bad weather. A light weight down bag as yours Matti, 400g ? - will not be that secure. But I am talking about more than a couple of days here and not in forest terrain and hot summer weather. Ok, down is super. But I have also tried and use some extremely good synthetics from ME(they don't make them anymore becase of bad sales unfortunately) - called ME Aurora(check them on Google, some shops abroad still have them). I have Aurora V and Aurora III. That is really another level of comfort in synthetic bags with inside elastic compression in the seams so that the bag actually compresses lightly around your body, impressiv stuff I must say. They also made Aurora VI which was an extreme bag for polar use. Expensive though.. Ok, I write too much again. Thank You for a very good You Tube channel Matti and Stina. By the way I live in Norway.
I totally agree... my summer sleeping bag is 400gr...or 450gr... But that's only for the summer! I also have one that's 850gr that actually is better... I maybe should make a video just about summer sleeping bags... to make that more clear... Thanks for sharing your experience. Norway is close. 😀 /Matti
Matti, good advice! I use a sleeping bag liner with either or in various combinations with Carinthia’s Defence 1, Defence 4, and Sarma TST Insulated Thermal Cloak. Another thing is to make sure you are slightly snug, not squeezed into the bag as it compresses the insulation and insulation value is lost, leaving you cold. Another inportant detail is using a good sleeping pad or equivalent underneath the sleeping system used. The ground is an efficent heatsink, moreso as it gets colder. Thank you!
The border collies that always follow Stina is Johnny. He is the brother of Annie who follow me. Johnny is very nice guy (don't tell Stina)but not as nice as Annie (this is okay that you tell Stina)... 😉 /Matti
Western Mountaineering Antelope 5ºF Sleeping bag with the Gore Windstopper outer fabric is my sleeping bag. Lifetime Warranty & ethically sourced Down. You can NOT buy sleeping bags directly from WM. You must buy from a dealer; Moosejaw is the dealer with the largest & most complete inventory of Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags. Gore-Tex is the company that has developed the Gore Windstopper outer fabric for Western Mountaineering sleeping bags. This outer fabric will keep Down from getting wet. Thermarest XTherm is the inflatable air mattress with the highest R6.9 rating. And the bottom side is a bulletproof 70D fabric. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA All Down in WM sleeping bags are ethically sourced DOWN. I will send you specific information on their ethically sourced Down from their website via email. I tried to include it in my reply, but my prior reply was deleted.
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA I, personally, have not experienced or noticed moisture inside my sleeping bag. Remember, Gore-Tex membranes allow moisture to escape from inside but it doesn't allow rain/moisture from outside to get inside.
Good information! I think in recent years, taking down from living birds has become more and more the exception when it comes to outdoor equipment. Most of the big outdoor brands have codes of conduct in place that also cover the use of down, they do not use down that has been taken from living birds.
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA When looking at the brands' websites, one can find such information about ethics and sustainability mostly when looking at the "About us"-information, if they do not have it at a more prominent place.
Love western mountaineering! That -12C bag Verselite from them are my favorit, a nother good one are the windstopper Lynx -23C bag from them. In the summer I prefer a quilt. Love my Katabatic Palisade 30F (-1C) that I use most of the year 😊👍🏻 Great video!
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA The outer fabric that is known as Gore Windstopper is made by Gore-Tex which is internationally known for it's ability to STOP WIND & RAIN from seeping through the fabric. This outer fabric will keep Down from getting wet.
My experience was far from perfect using synthetic as an outer bag, the synthetic bag weight was compressing the down, reducing the loft and insulation. I have not tried it yet, but I suspect down might work better over down, especially if the outer bag has water repellent shell or treated down.
When you started talking about the comfort temperature difference between man and woman my thought was I'm the one that is an exception neither the man nor woman comfort temperature fits me I belong in the little girl's group :-)
Yes...and it's also possible that if you push yourself hard and your body gets tired you need a better sleeping bag than if you save a lots of energy for the night. /Matti
The problem with an "onion" sleeping bag system is that, if you are a bigger individual, you tend to squeeze the layers and you lose all benefit of warmth there. Therefore you have to be careful when you choose sleeping bags for such a system. It is better, that the sleeping bag which is outside is a little bit bigger than the one inside. Carinthia actually does it on purpose for their systems.
Excellent and informative video, Matti :) What would say are good comfort and limit temperatures for winter camping in Northern Sweden? Is the G490x with fleece liner sufficient for most situations? Curious to hear your thoughts!
Great video. Could you tell me please some short review about your sleeping bag Carinthia G490X? What was the lowest temperature in which you slept with Carinthia G490X and if you felt comfortable etc... I am thinking about buying of this bag and therefore I am asking. Thanks!
I will make a review of Crainthia G490X later. ...but I have used is in lower temperature than -40C with a fleece liner. That's not the best nights of my life. I think that down to -20C is totally okay... But it's very individual differences from person to another person. /Matti
Tack! Detta är verkligen intressant. Vi har nu endast 11 från 3100. Det är verkligen som en snöboll som börjar rulla sakta men säkert. Det var helt klart tuffast från början. Man måste bara fortsätta på ett norrländskt envist sätt. 😀 /Matti
Do you have a video on durable very warm jacket in rainy times? I at Netherlands/Germany border area, but haven't slept inside for almost a year (very noisy old small city rental appartment building, where i am exhausted) but now winter time comes... 🌸Would LOVE TO live in a serene town, any ideas welcome!🌸
Hydrophobic down... I really had to check this! I learn a lot from all the comments I get. This is superb!!! The intro...is not really a intro. I just change this all the time from now... 😀 God or bad? At least not boring... 😀 /Matti
You may want to do a little more research. I've determined, in my own mind, to NOT buy anything that contains so-called Hydrophobic down. Western Mountaineering, the company/manufacturer of Down-filled Sleeping bags has a detained explanation on their website as to WHY they don't use Hydrophobic Down in their Sleeping bags. Check out their FAQ section. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.
@@azclaimjumper I've had both hydrophobic and none-hydrophobic down sleeping bags. I've had them in wet climates and in cold, dry climates. For situations where I know it will be wet and high-condense situations in the tent, I'd pick a hydrophobic down sleeping bag any day. I've read their FAQ and I've had down sleeping bags that lasted for 10-15 years and I never wash them (I always use liners). When it comes to how they work during situations with high moisture I strongly prefer the hydrophobic down version. I've been in multiple situations where my down with none-hydrophobic down has become wet due to moisture (and thus lost quite a bit of their isolation) even though I've had them in water-proof bags during transportation. In similar situations I've never had any isolation reduction in the hydrophobic ones. The same goes for down jackets, I'd only have a non-hydrophobic down jacket in a situation where it will always be way below freezing and where I won't be needing to wear it while sweating. My sleeping bags still smell fresh after 10+ years of usage, so I've never needed to wash them. I think the best thing is to evaluate them yourself and you'll see how it fits you.
@@SiMachiavelli Thank you for taking your time & effort to compose such a detailed & informative reply based on your own personal experiences. The only down I've ever had in anything is non -hydrophobic with goes back to my Eddie Bauer Kara Korum sleeping bag back in the mid 60's which I still have & use when car camping in cold weather.
Intressant! Ja funderar själv på att testa att köra dubbla👍 carinthia säckarna är ja riktigt sugen på! Ser fram emot den videon😃 De måste ju vara perfekt när man ligger under tarp framför brasan👍 Ha de gött//Johan
Söker man på Radical16 nu på nätet så verkar ju Comfort temp vara på -30 🤔 Temperatur: T Limit (Mann): -43°C T Comfort (Dame): -31°C T Extreme: -73°C (Temperaturene er basert på EN-standarden 13537 / ISO 23537)
In a prior comment/reply Matti has the belief/concern that a "membrane outer fabric" such as the Gore Windstopper on Western Mountaineering sleeping bags will retain moisture inside the sleeping bag. Have you experienced or noticed that? I have the WM Antelope 5ºF (Gore Windstopper outer fabric) & personally have not noticed any moisture inside my sleeping bag, however, I should add, I'm 5'3" (160cm) & weigh 110# (50kilos) which means I'm much smaller than most people & therefore probably give off a lot less moisture than someone larger than lil ole MEeee. I purposely chose the GWS outer fabric for my WM sleeping bag because I wanted to protect the Down from rain/getting wet. There are numerous youtube videos talking about, evaluating/rating Western Mountaineering Sleeping bags. The overwhelming consensus is FAVORABLE. Check 'em out. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.
I love my WM sleeping bags. But my experience when we talking about clothes it's always less moisture if you avoid membran as outside layer. This special when it's below zero (Celsius). But I also agree it's very good to have a layer that protects the sleeping bag from water from outside... /Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA Matti, if I overnighted in the cold temperatures you do I likely wouldn't want the Gore Windstopper outer fabric on my sleeping pad. The coldest I've slept out in was 5ºF twice & I was comfy warm both times. However, I hasten to add, I was comfy warm possibly because my inflatable air mattress is the Thermarest Xtherm which has the highest insulation rating of R6.9 of any inflatable air mattress presently being manufactured & I was inside my Hilleberg Enan. I'm not overnighting in really COLD temperatures like you have in Sweden. A comfy warm sleep system depends on 3 things, a sleeping bag rated down to the temperature at night you're likely to experience, an air mattress, & reliable shelter.
Halloj! Jag har hört att kvinnor generellt sett har någon grad högre kroppstemperatur än män och fryser därför lättare, en annan förklaring är att kvinnor har lägre ämnesomsättning än män. Så det skulle kunna förklara komforttemperaturerna på sovsäckarna, sen finns det säkert undantag såklart! :)
Matti, thanks for a very informative video. I'm planning to go hiking in Sarek either second half of August or first half of September. What sleeping bag temperature rating would you recommend during that period. I've seen some recommending a limit for men at around 0 deg C while others say -10 deg C. I'm a warm sleeper and normally the lower limit works fine for me. Lars
OMG! They rip the feathers of the animals when they are alive?!!? I need to look into this, I was so proud of my down filled jacket, now I'm a bit horrified.
