Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Patagonia Sleeping Bag: 45 Years Was Worth the Wait

Hendrik Broekelschen
By

Patagonia sleeping bag,sleeping bag,climbing,camping,hiking,sleep,camp,tent,down
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A Patagonia sleeping bag? I’m down with that. In fact, the bag is too — filled with 850-fill-power Traceable Down, that is.

The new Patagonia sleeping bag can be celebrated by all outdoorsman, from the weekend backpacker to the alpine rock climber to the ultimate adventurer. True to form, Patagonia is adding another tool to your adventure kit that just makes sense: it’s warm, water-repellent, light-weight, ultracompressable, designed thoughtfully, and, of course, environmentally conscious.

Patagonia-850-Down-Sleeping-Bags-Layout-2
Left Bags: 30°F/-1°C Right Bags: 19°F/-7°C Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although the Patagonia sleeping bag is new to the market, it is by no means new to the field. “After years and years of making one-off sleeping bags for ourselves and people heading out on select trips, we wanted to share what we’ve learned with the greater outdoor community,” said Jenna Johnson, Patagonia’s sr. director, technical outdoor. “Our team built on a deep knowledge of insulation design and thought through every aspect of these sleeping bags, offering our customers a highly crafted, super functional bag option. Sleeping bags are such a crux part of our kit, and they become like a partner as we go out to explore and see new places. I’m very proud of our work and excited to offer these products to our customers.”

Recommended Videos

And how did they do it? They looked at their field-tested product line, chose their best materials, and built a rock-solid bag. Since Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard built his first sleeping bag 45 years ago, the company has mastered the craft of down insulation and is celebrating that craft with these bags. Building on other successes, they borrowed from their beloved Houdini styles to add a featherweight 100% nylon rip-stop liner that dries quickly and offers superior next-to-skin comfort. To wrap it all up, the shell fabric is an ultralight 100% nylon ripstop fabric, built to provide maximum down loft, durability in any terrain, and to enhance the performance of the DWR (durable water repellent) finish.

Forty-five Years in the Making

If Patagonia is new to you or you wonder why all of your friends wear some variety of a Patagonia puff jacket, let me tell you why I personally appreciate this company. The gear is good. It’s tough, it works, it’s reliable. Equally important, though, is that the company is good. Patagonia is an advocate for our natural spaces, they donate 10% of their profit to environmental groups, and they show accountability and care with the materials they use. For example, all of the down Patagonia uses is Traceable Down, traced from farm to factory to help ensure the birds are not force-fed or live-plucked.

Related

The Patagonia sleeping bag is available in two models — a 19°F / -7°C and 30°F / -1°C — both of which are EN tested and rated. Both models are available now in short, regular and long sizes. 

Available for purchase at Patagonia retail stores and at Patagonia.com.

Editors' Recommendations

Hendrik Broekelschen
Hendrik Broekelschen
When not leading active travel adventures around the world -- believe it or not, it's his job -- Hendrik strives to be…
Ditch the GPS: How to navigate using a map and compass
Don't worry, it's really not that difficult to find your way or location the old-school way
Fingers holding a map and compass in the outdoors

GPS devices and GPS apps for your phone and even navigation watches with GPX files are nearly foolproof today. But what about when you run out of battery or your waterproof device isn't as waterproof as you had hoped? Even worse, what if you spend your entire trip with your head buried in your GPS without taking the time to get to know your surroundings?

Here at The Manual, our number-one backpacking essential for every outdoor adventure is the humble map and compass. It's no use just buying these items and stuffing them into your backpack. First, you need to learn how to read a topographic map and know what all the twisting bits do and what the numbers mean on your compass. It can all look quite confusing, so we're going to demystify the art of how to navigate using a map and compass and let you go old school, ditch the GPS, and get to know your surroundings intimately.
Know the parts of the compass

Read more
A beginner’s guide on how to read a topographic map
Learn how to read and navigate with a topographical map from an expert
Reading a topographic map

Before you’ve packed your bags and before you’ve gassed up the wagon, there’s the little issue of figuring out where you’re actually going to go and -- more importantly, if you're going to be outdoors -- the type of terrain that's there.

One of the best ways to do that is to peruse a map of the region that goes a little further than just showing you a layout of the park. A topographic map introduces you to the peaks and valleys and gives you an understanding of how difficult the terrain might be in the area where you’re headed. It was originally developed as a way to depict counties and cities before the U.S. military used it in World War I.
Where to begin

Read more
These are the essential outdoor knots every outdoorsman should know
A well-versed arsenal of knots is a must-have for any outdoorsman
A reef knot is tied against a tree

There's almost no end to what you can achieve armed with a length of rope and an arsenal of outdoor knots to tie it together. If heading into the backcountry, you should always be prepared for survival. While part of that is carrying the right gear, you must know how to use it effectively. You wouldn't take your woodcutting axe without giving it a few practice swings at home, so why would you expect to tie the right knot without practice?

There is an adage among those who don't know what to do with rope: if you can't tie knots, tie lots. If you don't know what you're doing, keep tying until your rope feels secure. It works, sometimes. But in a significant way, these people are missing out. Knots, like backcountry navigation skills or making a fire, are part of being an outdoorsman. Outdoor knots come in different shapes and perform various tasks; some are quick, some secure, and others are designed to be untied quickly. These eight are the essential outdoor knots to learn first, so grab a rope and upskill your outdoor self.
Bowline knot

Read more