![]() I expect my love affair to last for a long, long time. It’s hard to evaluate durability on an item you expect to last for years, but I’m consistently impressed by how sturdy many modern lightweight fabrics are, and Big Agnes is known for putting out tough gear. It bodes well that even cowboy camping on the high plains of eastern New Mexico, I was not just comfortable, but slept (as I often do) “quilt style,” with the bag unzipped and draped over me, so I can kick out a leg or arm to cool down during the night. But I can tell you that it was plenty warm even in the mountains of Colorado, and it was clear that I would have remained snug in considerably colder temperatures. None of that, obviously, tested Big Agnes’ claim that the bag will keep the average guy warm down to 18º F (28º F for women temperatures assume the sleeper is wearing an under layer and hat). ![]() The bag stuffs down to a relatively compact 5.5”x7”, hardly larger than my Igneo. That’s a full 7 ounces weightier than my 1-pound, 13-ounce Igneo, but I think the tradeoff–particularly in leg/knee room–is worth it. The exterior of the bag has several loops for easy hang drying or storage.ĭespite the “UL” in its name, hard-core gram watchers won’t consider the Torchlight “ultralight,” but considering all its features, I think 2 pounds, 4 ounces is pretty light. The lining provides two more small, useful features: a mesh pocket at the shoulder for a phone, AirPods, and what have you and fabric loops to help secure a liner. It’s like having your old childhood blankie back from the dead. Among the many small, well-thought-out details is a zipper “garage” at the hood, so you won’t have to feel the cold bite of steel on your chin while sleeping.īoth inside and out, the Torchlight is extraordinarily silky and comfy. The bumper along the main zipper is made from snag-resistant material, reducing the likelihood of an irritating fact of life in the era of super-lightweight materials. The jacket-style, contoured hood is nifty, too, featuring an adjustable cordlock and insulated bumper to keep out chilly drafts. Here’s the rundown on my newest sleeping accessory. ![]() Then in 2015, after decades of loft-crushing use reduced its insulation capacity, I bought a lightweight REI Igneo 20-degree bag for my first long-distance hike, on the Colorado Trail it’s still going strong (and my wife says I love it so much that it’s akin to infidelity). Years later, after foolishly leaving that bag in the back of my pickup during a rainstorm, I moved on to a North Face Windy Gap bag. ![]() Squishy, silky, warm, and soft what’s not to love? One summer as a boy, I slept outside almost every night in Boulder, Colorado, to see the stars and smell the air, but also to sleep with my first love, a gorgeous, blue Holubar bag bought for my foray into scouting. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and, with a clever system to provide extra room, a little more.Ī confession: I’ve fallen in love with all three sleeping bags I’ve owned. Though not able to road-test it as I might have in the absence of a pandemic, I’ve slept with it every night since receiving it in late April, in conditions ranging from my bed at home to cowboy camping on the high plains of New Mexico and in a tent on the Colorado Trail. In this strange, virus-infected spring, I find myself swooning to a new love, the Big Agnes Torchlight UL 20º, sent to The Trek for review. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |