ZPacks tm 900 Fill Power Down Solo 20 Degree Sleeping Bag, Review

ZPacksTM 900 Fill Power Down Solo 20 Degree Sleeping Bag

Basic Description:
This is an ultra light down sleeping bag/quilt hybrid. The reason I say this is it does not have your traditional sleeping bag hood. It is made with the highest quality down available and is the lightest option for a sleeping bag that I have ever tested.

Just the Facts:
– 20 degree rating
– 62 inch girth (wide version)
– Fits up to 6’2” person
– Weighs in at only 20.2 ounces
– $375 (very good price for this quality)

Story:
A year or so ago I started researching sleeping bags and I was trying to decide what I wanted in terms of features and materials and overall weight. I quickly realized that I wanted a high quality down bag that was rated for 15-20 degrees. I realized in my research that bags were going to cost $400+ dollars and weigh 2-2.5lbs for a high quality bag. For some reason I decided that I didn’t like the idea of having a bag weigh that much and started looking for other options.

In my research I came across a company called Z Packs and starting talking with Joe, the owner. First off all of my emails have been responded the same day and many within an hour or so. He has great customer service and is a great guy to deal with. I decided that I would get a 20 degree bag in the long wide version. The reason I got the wide version is Joe comes from an ultra light background and his bag is cut a little smaller than I would like. Me being 5’11” 185 I opted for the wide and long version. This allows me to have a little more room and allows me to cover my head if need be when the temps drop. The bag has a zipper on the bottom of the bag so it eliminates a baffle, not only saving weight but eliminating the very frustrating zipper getting caught on the fabric when opening and closing the bag. The zipper is not noticed at all when sleeping on it. I thought it might be a pain and annoying but it wasn’t at all.

I am just amazed at the weight of this bag. It is 1 lb 4 ounces and some change. The nights I used this bag got down to the low 30’s and I was sleeping under a tarp, I never once got even close to getting cold and I actually woke up sweating a lot of the nights. I would say for me this temp rating is spot on. He also used 900 fill down which most companies do not use. They use 850 down, the only difference between the 2 is that the 900 has fewer spines in the fill, but the feathers are ultimately the same, just better as being more pure down. He also uses pertex quantum as the outer layer which is very durable for its weight and is treated with a durable DWR which has worked well and shed any drips and dew from my tarp. The baffles are also made with Cuben Fiber which weighs .34 ounces per yard. When you take this amount of time and care into making a bag and use these lightweight materials you can make a super light weight bag that excels in the backcountry.

He also has a few options on his bags that allow you to change the length, width; you can add a baffle if you like having the zipper on the side. You can save a little weight and do away with the zipper and use it as an over bag. I would actually recommend this if you were to get a warm weather bag. It is nice to be able to customize a bag to what you want instead of paying the same amount on a bag that may have features you don’t like.

Overall I give this a 10 out of 10 and is one of the best pieces of gear I used this year. This will be going with me on all my scouting and fall hunting trips. I may even use it this winter on some snowshoeing trips with a bivy and really test the temperature rating. Joe is a great guy and for the price and customization options of his bags I don’t think a hunter can go wrong.

What they could do better:

This is a minor issue and one of personal preference, but I would love if he would add a 3d or trapezoidal foot box option to his bags. I understand it may add a little weight, price and may be to complicated but I think for most guys used to this option it would be a good addition.