Peax vs Chilkoot vs Argali - The Results!
Before I get started, I want to say that I am not affiliated with, compensated by, or provided any of these bags. I did receive a small discount from Argali after reaching out to them about doing this comparison, but the bag was still nearly $500, and I purchased the pillow separately at my local Scheels.
I am a civil engineer by trade and an avid hunter and outdoorsman. I’ve always enjoyed reading and watching gear reviews and wanted to start contributing some of my own. Everything below reflects my honest opinions based on real use, with no outside influence. This review may not cover everything, but I tried to address the things I personally care about when buying a bag. If you have questions, feel free to ask — I’ll answer if I can.
My curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to expand on my original comparison by adding the Argali Alpine 0° to the mix.
I already had experience using the Peax Solace 0° and the Stone Glacier Chilkoot 0°, having used both in sub-10°F temps, closer to 5°F. I’ve now tested the Argali as well, and I can confidently say it is a true 0° bag. I’ll get into that below.
I’ll walk through each bag with specs, pros, cons, and final thoughts.
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Stone Glacier Chilkoot 0°
Specs
• Comfort rating: 14°F
• Limit rating: 0°F
• Weight: 2 lbs 10 oz
• Size: One size only (fits up to 6’5”)
• Down: 850+ FP HyperDRY™ 90/10 Grey Goose Down
• Shell: 15D Pertex® Quantum
Pros
• Extremely lofty. This bag has noticeably more loft than the other two, largely due to its wider vertical pintucked baffles. Paired with the 15D Pertex shell, it allows the down to fully expand — and it shows when placed side-by-side.
• Very comfortable. It genuinely feels like sleeping on a cloud. The Pertex fabric inside and out gives it a high-end, silky feel.
• Warmth has never been an issue. In my experience, it is absolutely capable of 0°F temps for most users.
Cons
• Potential down migration. The vertical baffle design could theoretically allow more down movement than a traditional box-baffled bag. I personally haven’t experienced this, but it’s worth mentioning.
• One-size-only design. If you’re under 6’, the bag can feel huge, leaving extra dead space to heat and potentially creating cold spots.
• Zipper. I wish this bag used an anti-snag zipper. I had it snag badly once around 2 a.m. after getting up to use the bathroom, which resulted in about 20 minutes in the cold trying to fix it. This has only happened once, but it did happen.
• No internal phone pocket.
• Very bulky in hot tents. The extreme loft can become an issue in smaller shelters, especially when running a stove.
Final Thoughts
This was one of my first high-quality 0° backpacking bags, and it has always performed well. I have very few complaints. There are areas that could be improved (zipper, phone pocket), but if you can find this bag at the right price, I don’t think you’d be disappointed.
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Peax Solace 0°
Specs
• Comfort rating: 16°F
• Limit rating: 3°F
Weights
• Regular: 2 lbs 14.5 oz
• Regular Wide: 2 lbs 15.8 oz
• Tall: 3 lbs 3.8 oz
Sizing
• Regular: up to 6’2”
• Regular Wide: up to 6’2”, roomier cut
• Tall: up to 6’6”
• Down: 850+ Hydrophobic Grey Goose Down (IDFL tested at ~870+)
• Shell: Toray Airtastic fabric with DWR
Pros
• Center zip. Despite concerns about heat loss, I experienced no drafts even at ~5°F with a -15°F windchill. The 3-way anti-snag zipper allows venting anywhere along the body.
• Durable-feeling shell. It feels tougher than the other two bags — whether it actually is or not, it inspires confidence.
• Anti-snag zipper. These just work.
• Hot-tent friendly. Waterproof fabric at the hood and footbox helps with condensation.
• Arms-free ports. Fantastic for running a stove or dealing with glasses/contacts without dumping heat.
• Bag-to-quilt option. The hood can be stashed, allowing the bag to convert to a quilt for warmer trips.
• Excellent footbox warmth. I assumed this was marketing fluff — it’s not. My feet stayed warm all night.
Cons
• Price ($745). This is the most expensive bag here. It’s made in China but priced like a USA-made bag. The quality is there, but it’s still hard to ignore.
• Shell fabric weight. More durable, but heavier and doesn’t compress quite as well as Pertex.
• No internal phone pocket.
• Storage sack. In my opinion, it’s far too small for long-term storage. At this price point, Peax should provide a significantly larger storage sack to prevent over-compression.
Final Thoughts
This bag lives up to the hype. It’s comfortable, roomy, and very warm. What stood out most was the innovation. Are all the features necessary? No. But the center zip and arm ports are genuinely useful, especially if you’re not very flexible or are a side sleeper. This bag was clearly designed with hunters in mind, and for side sleepers, it absolutely shines.
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Argali Alpine 0°
Specs
• Comfort rating: Advertised as 0° (no ISO rating found, but based on use, it’s legit)
• Weights
• Regular: 2 lbs 12.5 oz
• Long: 2 lbs 15.8 oz
• Sizing
• Regular: up to 6’1”
• Long: up to 6’7”
• Down: 850+ Argali Dry Loft Down (actual fill closer to 900 FP); untreated down
• Shell: 15D Pertex Quantum exterior / 15D polyester interior
Pros
• Excellent loft. Slightly less than the Chilkoot, but with a much more manageable overall size.
• Shell fabric. Same outer shell as the Chilkoot, but I find the interior more comfortable.
• Pillow system. Excellent design. Buttons into place and allows clothing to be stuffed inside for adjustable firmness.
• Internal phone pocket. This should be standard on all cold-weather bags.
• Anti-snag zipper. Best zipper design of the three, in my opinion.
Cons
• Neck baffle drawcord. Can be a bit long and annoying when cinched tight.
• Neck baffle button. Better than the Chilkoot’s magnet, but it still came undone a few times — likely due to my constant movement.
Final Thoughts
This bag was tested hard: -6°F with a -26°F windchill. I slept in nothing more than merino base layers and Darn Tough socks — no hat, no extra insulation. I stayed warm all night. The pillow system was a standout, especially for a side sleeper. Overall, this bag feels very well thought out and, for me, edges out the Chilkoot due to its size, features, and zipper.
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Conclusions
All three bags performed exceptionally well and could likely push below 0°F with proper layering. Importantly for me, all three kept my toes warm, which is usually my weak point.
I packed each bag into its provided stuff sack for ~8 hours, then laid them out flat. After a couple shakes (as I’d do in the field), all three reached full loft in ~20 minutes.
The anti-snag zippers on the Peax and Argali are the clear winners. They don’t make snags impossible, but they greatly reduce fabric damage and frustration.
Most preferences here are subjective. If you already own one of these bags, I don’t think any outperform the others enough to justify replacing what you have. If you’re buying your first:
• Like creature comforts? Peax Solace
• Prefer minimalist, traditional design? Argali Alpine
• Found a great deal? Buy whichever one you can get cheapest — you won’t go wrong
I’ll also be putting together a YouTube video covering all of this and may add my Western Mountaineering bag for comparison. I’ll link it here once it’s complete.
