Slumberjack Talon 40-Degree Rectangular Sleeping Bag Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use this bag all the time...it's compact, light, and warm!I used it just last weekend, the weather was in the low 40's and I was nice and comfy!

Even if you have a little more $$$ to spend, I still recommend this bag.

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Product Description:
Perfect for all expeditioners who want to travel light--from kayakers and fast packers to motor and pedal cyclists--the ultralight Talon sleeping bag has a carry weight of under 2.75 pounds. This rectangular, two-season bag is temperature rated to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a single layer of insulation that is sewn through from the outer to the liner. The half-length insulated draft tube keeps cold air from penetrating through the anti-snag zipper. It also provides easy-grab pull tabs and a stuff sack.
The regular bag has a maximum user height of 5 feet, 11 inches; the long and magnum bags have a maximum height of 6 feet, 5 inches. It's filled with Thermolite Extreme insulation, which features a blend of three synthetic fibers (thin threads, hollow spiral fibers, and thermally bonded fibers) to optimize both loft and compressibility. It provides maximum warmth and lightweight comfort, and maintains much of its insulation value even when wet.
Why a Rectangular Bag?
Rectangular shaped bags offer the greatest flexibility and interior room. Once unzipped, they can be used as comforters, blankets, and for other outdoor or indoor uses. You can even zip two together for even more room.
Specifications--Regular:

Size: 32 by 80 inches
Carry size: 7.5 by 12 inches
Fill weight: 1 pound, 2 ounces
Carry weight: 2 pounds, 9 ounces
Shell: Polyester Diamond Ripstop
Liner: Polyester Taffeta

Specifications--Long:

Size: 34 by 84 inches
Carry size: 7.5 by 12 inches
Fill weight: 1 pound, 10 ounces
Carry weight: 2 pounds, 11 ounces
Shell: Polyester Diamond Ripstop
Liner: Polyester Taffeta

About Slumberjack
Slumberjack has been known as the outdoor sleep expert or for more than 50 years. They have built this reputation for being the best by building the finest quality sleeping systems in the world, while addressing the needs of virtually all market segments from backpacking and trekking to family camping and hunting and fishing. With over five decades of experience in the industry, Slumberjack has taught everyone that "roughing it" doesn't have to mean being uncomfortable. That's why their selection of sleeping bags, self-inflating mats, self-inflating chairs, camp furniture, bivy shelters, and accessories offers a choice for every season and a fit for nearly every size and shape.
Amazon.com Sleeping Bag Guide
Sleep Well: Finding the Right Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag technology has come a long way from the days of cowboy bedrolls. These days, there are a number of high-tech materials and designs available to keep you warm during the coldest outings. Here's a short list of things to keep in mind when you're shopping for a bag:
Buy for Cold
It's a safe bet that on at least one of your adventures, the nighttime temperature will drop unexpectedly. That's why it's smart to buy a bag that's rated for the lowest possible temperature you expect to face on your camping and backpacking trips. For summer trips, a bag rated at +35 degrees or higher will likely do the trick. If you like to camp in higher elevations in the summer, or if spring and fall outings are in your future, consider bags rated from +10 to +35. Winter adventurers should look for bags in the -10 to +10 range, while those on serious winter alpine climbs and expeditions will want a bag rated lower than -10.
Keep in mind that sleeping bag manufacturers' temperature ratings only estimate the minimum temperature at which the bag will provide warmth. Take these numbers with a grain of salt, as different folks generate different amounts of heat when they sleep. If you're the type who likes to pile on the covers even on warmer nights, go for a bag that's rated ten degrees colder. The opposite is true for "warm" sleepers--a 35-degree bag will probably work for you on a 25-degree night.
Goose or No Goose?
The most important component of any sleeping bag is its insulating material. Modern sleeping bags offer two choices: goose down or synthetic. While both materials have advantages and disadvantages, down bags are considered superior because of their phenomenal warmth-to-weight and warmth-to-bulk ratios. While providing great insulation, down is extremely compressible and light. There's a reason why geese can fly and stay warm through the winter! Down also boasts great long-term durability and will typically retain its insulating properties after years of use.
All of that said, there are many high-quality synthetic bags on the market and synthetic materials are getting better all the time. While a synthetic bag will weigh somewhat more than a down bag at an equivalent temperature rating, synthetic bags perform better when wet. (Yes, the Achilles heel of down is that it loses all insulating properties when wet.) If your trips take you to wet climates, you may want to consider a synthetic bag for this reason alone. Keep in mind, too, that many people are allergic to down--synthetic bags are non-allergenic. Finally, down is considerably more expensive than synthetic, which might tip the balance for adventurers on a budget.
Bags for All Shapes
Sleeping bags come in two basic shapes that reflect their intended use. Mummy-shaped bags offer the best warmth because they conform to the body's contours. This minimizes the amount of body heat the body must put out to maintain a constant temperature. Many mummy bags are offered in women-specific shapes and sizes, as well. Rectangular bags, while they do offer more room to toss and turn, are less thermally efficient because they contain more open air space. Also, they are typically heavier than mummy bags, and are generally not offered with down insulation, making them best suited for car camping or short backpacking trips.
Pad Yourself
No matter what kind of bag you choose, a sleeping pad is a required accessory. Not only do they provide much-needed comfort when sleeping on the ground, pads also offer crucial warmth for your backside, as the weight of your body compresses--and renders virtually useless--the sleeping bag insulation that lies beneath you.

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Suisse Sport Yosemite Tent Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was our first tent purchase, and we've found it to be a very good entry level tent.I like the inside height that allows me at 5'8" to stand upright, and the room divider allows for a little privacy, but since it's just a curtain, it's also easy to remove and open up the whole tent.With the double doors and three windows, as well as the mesh top under the rain fly, it's got pretty decent ventilation. I wouldn't say this is a four season tent, as the nylon taffeta is a little thin for cool weather camping, but it handles rain well.I did seam seal and waterproof the rain fly and tent before we camped the first time, as I was told by experienced campers that's the best way to ensure dry camping, and I've no complaints.It's not too difficult for me to put up by myself in 20-30 minutes, but with help, we can get it up in 10 minutes easy.I didn't give it a 5 star rating because it has pole sleeves to thread the poles through (clips are better), the stakes it comes with are pathetic, it has little in the way of gear pouches and no power access.You can fit two queen air mattresses in the tent with a little space at the feet for gear, but it's a tight fit, and heavy rain may condense on the inside of the tent from the pressure against the walls.One queen and a twin air mattress work better, reducing sleeping capacity to three adults, but decreasing tension against the walls and increasing storage and standing space in the tent.Finally, the bag it comes in holds all the parts of the tent plus has room for my mallet and extra stakes, and has a carry handle to make transporting it more easily.I highly recommend this tent for a beginner or occasional camper.

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Product Description:
Enjoy a little extra privacy when camping with friends with the Suisse Sport Yosemite two-room dome tent. Designed to sleep up to four people, the tent includes a removable divider that splits the tent in two. As a result, you can wall off other campers when changing clothes or sleeping, or you can remove the divider to create a single large room. The Yosemite also includes a double D door for easy entry and exit, along with a full four-point rainfly to keep you dry on moist evenings. And ventilation is always a concern in warm, muggy climates, which is why the tent includes three mesh zippered windows and a mesh ceiling. The tent measures 10 by 6 by 8 feet (W x H x D) and weighs roughly 13.65 pounds.

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Suisse Sport Adult Adventurer Mummy Ultra-Compactable Sleeping Bag Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I decided to give this a try even though I could not find any information on the web about them.
The short version is, this is an excellent bag and you would have to spend over $100 to get a better one.

its well made and so far has been very warm in sub 50'F temps. I would not hesitate to use this at its 30' rating. It has all the same features as the rest of the bags on the market. Its comfy and very light, Although I would not really call it ultralight, but since it compresses down so small, it fits my needs just fine.
the guy holding it in the picture must have massive hands! its not quite that small unless you spend an hour compressing it.
But, Its small enough just by stuffing it into the compression sack and synching up the straps, I can fit this, with the rest of my gear into my 3000ci pack. So I really don't care if its half a pound heavier than the $100 bags.

The compression straps are slightly different than the photo. But otherwise, The description on amazon is accurate.

I had no problem getting the bag back into the stuff sack and I was not afraid to pull as hard as possible on the compression straps. Although I found that its not necessary to compress it very much, Its good to know Its built well. If you really wanted to save another ounce or two, you could do away with the compression straps alltogether.
Once in the stuff sack, it only measures 14x7 then it only compresses down to 12x7 (maybe smaller)

UPDATE: (10-4-2010)
I've had this bag over a year now and used it more than a dozen times in various situations and conditions. The more I use it, the more I love it.

The coldest I've used it was lower 30's on a boat. The temp inside the boat was maybe 34. I was fine sleeping in shorts, socks and a long sleeve shirt. I've slept outside in a tent in low to mid 40's with no issues. I would still completely trust it in 30 degree's with a tent (and some wool socks!). I've also slept comfortably in mid-to-upper 60's outside, as well as room temps indoors.
The stuff sack and compression straps have held up just fine, and I don't foresee any problems in the near future.

Still a great bag that should easily last several years.

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Product Description:
The Suisse Sport Adventure extra-small sleeping bag is ideal for long treks when a few inches or pounds can make the difference between a pleasant hike and an unbearable slog. The mummy bag is ultra-compact, compressing down to 12 by 7 by 7 inches when in the stuff sack. How small is that? Well, it's petite enough to hold in the palm of your hand. That means you can easily fit the bag in your hiking pack without using up a third of your pack space. At the same time, the bag is warm and comfortable, with a 100-percent polyester ripstop outer and inner lining, a double-layer construction, and a 700-gram Micro Tekk.7 high-performance microfiber insulation. The construction materials ad up to a 30-degree F temperature rating, making the bag a good choice for summer, spring, and fall camping trips. Other details include a full chest baffle, a draft tube, and a utility pocket. The Adventure sleeping bag measures 29.5 by 84.5 inches (W x L) when open and weighs 2.9 pounds in the stuff sack. The bag is also machine-washable for easy cleaning.

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