Backcountry Body Bag

I've been using this sleeping bag for several years now, taking it from guiding in Alaska for moose to hunting elk and deer across the western states well into November. At 5'11" and 200 lbs, I find the size spacious enough without constricting my feet. I tend to sleep warm, and this bag keeps me comfortable down to around 30 degrees Fahrenheit with no additional layers. By adding a layer or two, plus puffy pants, a beanie, and maybe a hot water bottle, I've comfortably used it in temperatures dipping into the low teens. It's become one of my favorite pieces of gear.

In the summer, I appreciate its versatility as well. I can fully unzip the foot box to let air circulate around my feet, essentially using it as a quilt. During winter camping, it serves multiple purposes: as a liner inside a larger canvas sleeping bag or as an outer layer over my more delicate down sleeping bag. It's also handy as a blanket while relaxing around camp or when scanning for game on chilly ridges.

Have been suffering through 30 degree nights in the high desert of El Paso for the last year with just a Kifaru woobie and an army issued bivy bag. This was the greatest upgrade I’ve ever made but it isn’t for everyone’s liking. It doesn’t have a good which suits me well, I put my Thermarest pillow in or on the stuff sack and in cold weather synch the body bag around my shoulders. I’m 6’ 1” and broad shoulder, this fits perfect! It upgrades my system in the winter months and is easily left at the bottom of my ruck in the summer months.

Bought this bag back around Christmas when it went on sale. Wanted a lighter bag I could use for Summer then layer with a woobie or quilt for Spring or Fall.

Spring’s coming up so decided it would be a good time to get into the bag and try it out before I needed it.

Impressions:

1) It’s best suited for folks up to 6’, but not over.

I’m 6’3” and this bag barely covered my eyeballs.

And that’s with my feet firmly planted in the bottom against the zipper and the bag pulled up as tight as I can get it.

2) It’s best suited for folks with a slender to medium build. I’m broad through the shoulders and barrel chested. This bag felt like a strait jacket when zipped up. I had my doubts that I’d be able to get it zipped and unzipped. If I had to unzip it in a hurry, for whatever reason, it wasn’t going to happen. Too tight of a bag, felt claustrophobic. It was tight around the legs and in the foot box too. I was just wearing thermals. I couldn’t imagine fitting in this bag whatsoever while wearing your clothes and shoes/boots.

3) Thin insulation. I’m sure the materials are top notch but I have my doubts on this being rated at 25. It’s basically like a woobie with a zipper. If it got down to 35-40 at night you better be dressed warm.

4) Zipper. Had no baffles behind the zipper that I noticed. Could feel cold coming through the zipper and chilling my feet, legs and arms. Zipper kept getting caught.

Conclusion: Doesn’t meet the listed size specs and unusable for…

Very thin and lightweight. Warm, considering the size and portability. A big negative was the zipper. It very easily binds with the material. I used it every night, and every night it would bind a bit with the material as I zipped it up. Eventually, after a few months, it binded too much, got hopelessly stuck and I ended up breaking some teeth on the zipper. Now, without a functioning zipper, the body bag is another Woobie. A high quality woobie.

But, I still need a good sleeping bag.