UpNorthica

Too many of us suffer from middle-of-the-road, ‘good deal’ sleeping bags. You know, the semi-comfortable sacks that keep you lukewarm at best. Did I mention the roomy 2 inches of wiggle room they allow you? A significant issue for you side sleepers. And lugging the bulky things into the backcountry can mean having to eliminate taking your rain tarp along or the pack of steaks.

Last year, while planning another remote getaway into the Boundary Waters, we decided it was high time to invest in some well-made sleeping bags. Our wish list consisted of a few make-or-break details. Warmth and good insulation, for the cool (even snowy) nights the Boundary Waters has surprised us with. Size was important, as we didn’t want to fit like sausages into our bags. Finally, weight mattered because, well, weight always matters. Unless you really enjoy double-portaging.

Six months were spent testing out other bags, but the one we really cozied up to was The Crystal 30˚, from Big Agnes. It is nice, light and compact at a mere 2 pounds, 13 ounces. Its semi-rectangular shape offers plenty of room in the foot box and shoulders. With up to 69 inches of hip room you can do the mambo in your dreams. The back has a integrated pad sleeve so you’ll never roll off your pad again. The combination of Primaloft Eco (synthetic) insulation and 650 fill goose down ensures that you will stay warm and comfortable. The bag is hooded, so you can pull it up over your head and tighten the drawstring, to muffle the sound of your neighbors’ snoring.

There were other features we appreciated. You can choose a left- or right-side zipper, making it an option to mate with another Agnes bag (you know… for the mambo). The style comes regular or long. A nice feature for people, like my man, who are six feet tall. An interior pillow pocket, like the interior pad sleeve, holds your camp pillow steady, although the bag fits normal pillows as well. The shell repels water, but I probably wouldn’t want to be caught in a downpour.

After using the bag in the Boundary Waters, the Superior Hiking Trail, and along the North Shore, I was pleased with the Crystal 30˚. I stayed warm in the Boundary Waters when it was 32 degrees. I wouldn’t say toasty, but with my long underwear and cap, I didn’t struggle for warmth. Nighttime temps on Lake Superior were around 42 degrees and I slept comfortably in my t-shirt and undies. If it gets much above 70, you will probably be too warm. Hiking the Superior Trail with nights hovering at this temperature forced us to sleep on top of the bag.

The Crystal has been lightweight to carry on all trips. I would recommend buying a compression sack if space in your pack is essential. Setup with a sleeping pad in the bag’s sleeve goes quickly. And resting well has not been an issue with the added room, making it easy to shift my body around. My happiest moment was seeing the price: Big Agnes’ site offers them at $159.95 (add ten bucks for the long bag). I could not find another bag that offered these features with this kind of price.

Now run on home and burn your bags. It’s time to sleep well again.

bigagnes.com