This is the first review I'm writing here, I hope it's of some use for some people and if some details are missing, I'll obviously be happy to help if possible. I am in no way connected to Alpkit, just a happy user...
I've been looking for a good inexpensive sleeping bag for quite a while and finally decided to go for the long Alpkit SkyeHigh 800.
Specifications from alpkit.com :
Fill: 90/10 goosedown (650+ fill power EU)
Shell: Micro ripstop DWR nylon
Inner: 300l Tactel nylon
Weight*: 1435 grams
Weight + compression bag: 1570 grams
Compressed size: 25 x 27cm
Fill weight: 800 grams
AK Comfort rating**: -10C
Length/Width Short: 190 / 70cm
Length/Width Regular: 210 / 75cm
Length/Width Long: 230 / 80cm
Max 'regular' user height: 6ft 1
The weight of the long version including the compression bag is about 1675 grams according to my old kitchen scale, a difference of 100 grams surprised me but I can live with the extra weight since the long version obviously has more fabric. The compressed size is as stated, even with my longer version. My length is about 190cm and the long bag is very comfy
The bag arrived in a big brown box. It was only packed in the storage bag, together with the compression bag. I personally don't like special, coloured boxes which are thrown in the bin anyway so was happy to see this (eco friendly) simplicity
Sleeping bag inside its storage bag:
A few days after arrival I got the chance to go out testing the bag for 3 days in about half a metre of snow with night temperatures going down to -6°C according to the official weather forcast. This is how our camp looked like during the second night:
We used the tarp to protect our bags from snow during the night and used it to cover ourselves when snow kept on falling and we were using my Trangia, the tent is a Coleman Celcius Compact which probably is designed for summer use only... Beautiful forest and great first winter trip by the way
The bag was thrown on top of my self inflating sleeping mat, the 4cm thick Alpkit Airic, and I was able to sleep very comfortable wearing nothing but my shorts. I'm quite sure the bag can keep me warm down to -10°C as stated by Alpkit. To keep the warm air inside of the bag you're able to tighten the neck baffle and the hood, fits great in my opinion! The zip baffle looks quite alright as well.
Big hood:
Green zip baffle and black neck baffle:
The used materials on both the in- and outside of the bag feel very soft, nice against the skin and appear to be water repellent: when I woke up in the morning many drops of water were sitting on the bag, apparently the tent wasn't able to cope with all the snow on top of it... A quick stroke with my wool shirt and the bag was perfectly dry again
Inside the bag, just passed the neck baffle, there's a small pocket with a zip. It protected my mobile phone from the cold and is hardly noticeable if you don't know it's there...
My hand inside the pocket:
Something else I noticed is the connection between upper and down side of the bag where the zip ends, I think this might add some strength when the bag is fully unzipped and maybe better protection against the cold.
I never saw a foot box at the end of a sleeping bag but this might indeed help to add comfort, my feet didn't suffer any cold and weren't restricted in any annoying way As you can see on the following picture, the bag also gets a nice shape thanks to the side walls.
An other detail I noticed are the washing instructions: sewn inside of the bag in a very apprehensible form, not only in pictogram but also plain, human, english:
I guess the last thing I should mention is the compression bag. It's big enough to stuff the bag easily into it, compacts easily, feels quite strong and has a nice (green) handle to pull the sleeping bag back out of it :
To end, these are the pros and contras in my opinion:
+ comfort
+ size (long, regular and short versions available)
+ bags: good compression bag and big storage bag
+ nice details (fe the pocket)
- weight
- packed volume
Cheers,
Lasse
I've been looking for a good inexpensive sleeping bag for quite a while and finally decided to go for the long Alpkit SkyeHigh 800.
Specifications from alpkit.com :
Fill: 90/10 goosedown (650+ fill power EU)
Shell: Micro ripstop DWR nylon
Inner: 300l Tactel nylon
Weight*: 1435 grams
Weight + compression bag: 1570 grams
Compressed size: 25 x 27cm
Fill weight: 800 grams
AK Comfort rating**: -10C
Length/Width Short: 190 / 70cm
Length/Width Regular: 210 / 75cm
Length/Width Long: 230 / 80cm
Max 'regular' user height: 6ft 1
The weight of the long version including the compression bag is about 1675 grams according to my old kitchen scale, a difference of 100 grams surprised me but I can live with the extra weight since the long version obviously has more fabric. The compressed size is as stated, even with my longer version. My length is about 190cm and the long bag is very comfy
The bag arrived in a big brown box. It was only packed in the storage bag, together with the compression bag. I personally don't like special, coloured boxes which are thrown in the bin anyway so was happy to see this (eco friendly) simplicity
Sleeping bag inside its storage bag:
A few days after arrival I got the chance to go out testing the bag for 3 days in about half a metre of snow with night temperatures going down to -6°C according to the official weather forcast. This is how our camp looked like during the second night:
We used the tarp to protect our bags from snow during the night and used it to cover ourselves when snow kept on falling and we were using my Trangia, the tent is a Coleman Celcius Compact which probably is designed for summer use only... Beautiful forest and great first winter trip by the way
The bag was thrown on top of my self inflating sleeping mat, the 4cm thick Alpkit Airic, and I was able to sleep very comfortable wearing nothing but my shorts. I'm quite sure the bag can keep me warm down to -10°C as stated by Alpkit. To keep the warm air inside of the bag you're able to tighten the neck baffle and the hood, fits great in my opinion! The zip baffle looks quite alright as well.
Big hood:
Green zip baffle and black neck baffle:
The used materials on both the in- and outside of the bag feel very soft, nice against the skin and appear to be water repellent: when I woke up in the morning many drops of water were sitting on the bag, apparently the tent wasn't able to cope with all the snow on top of it... A quick stroke with my wool shirt and the bag was perfectly dry again
Inside the bag, just passed the neck baffle, there's a small pocket with a zip. It protected my mobile phone from the cold and is hardly noticeable if you don't know it's there...
My hand inside the pocket:
Something else I noticed is the connection between upper and down side of the bag where the zip ends, I think this might add some strength when the bag is fully unzipped and maybe better protection against the cold.
I never saw a foot box at the end of a sleeping bag but this might indeed help to add comfort, my feet didn't suffer any cold and weren't restricted in any annoying way
As you can see on the following picture, the bag also gets a nice shape thanks to the side walls.
An other detail I noticed are the washing instructions: sewn inside of the bag in a very apprehensible form, not only in pictogram but also plain, human, english:
I guess the last thing I should mention is the compression bag. It's big enough to stuff the bag easily into it, compacts easily, feels quite strong and has a nice (green) handle to pull the sleeping bag back out of it :
To end, these are the pros and contras in my opinion:
+ comfort
+ size (long, regular and short versions available)
+ bags: good compression bag and big storage bag
+ nice details (fe the pocket)
- weight
- packed volume
Cheers,
Lasse
Last edited:
