Argali sleeping bag review in the works

[mtwarden]

The guys at Argali are working on a line of sleeping bags and wanted me to give them a spin. They are offering both a 20° and a 0° bag (regular and long). These are down mummy bags using both premium down and fabrics.

I've got several nights out w/ the 20° bag and looking at the recent weather forecast, a few nights in the 0° bag is probably going to happen soon.

A challenging night in a bivy last week (snowing w/ the bivy almost fully zipped and the accompanying condensation that goes with that) and cold; was impressed with the 20° bag.

Stay tuned.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Country of mfg?

 

[mtwarden]

China with US down and fabrics

 

[LongWayAround]

Left side zipper?

 

[mtwarden]

Left side zipper?

Yes, but should say it’s a prototype.

 

[sndmn11]

China with US down and fabrics

The US down part is surprising.

 

[whiskybiker]

The surprising part will be if they sell at china prices or pull a peax and sell at made in the USA prices. Then claim it's better.

 

[mtwarden]

The US down part is surprising.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

The surprising part will be if they sell at china prices or pull a peax and sell at made in the USA prices. Then claim it's better.

+1. Seems like an influx lately of companies making bags overseas with inferior down/product and charging WM/FF prices. I don’t get the market for it but there must be one…. Argali could hit a sweet spot with the US down and offer the bag at the $400-$500ish mark.

 

[Bubblehide]

I'd love to see vents on their lower temp bag like Nemo does so it has a broader comfort range. But then that does add ounces.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Looks like argali is using non treated down?

 

[fatlander]

Is it 90% or 100% US down?

That tag confuses me.


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[archer1416]

Is it 90% or 100% US down?

That tag confuses me.


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It is 100% sourced in the US. The 90% is referring to the down to feather ratio. Think of it as 90% down clusters, 10% feathers. This is a very common ratio in the industry. Some will have 95/5 down to feather ratio but most are 90/10.

 

[LongWayAround]

Yes, but should say it’s a prototype.

I would personally like to see a center zip. Not that I'm likely to change out my stone glacier, it would just be nicer for "quilt mode."

 

[robby denning]

I would personally like to see a center zip. Not that I'm likely to change out my stone glacier, it would just be nicer for "quilt mode."

Yep, once you stayed in a center zip it’s hard to go back to a side zip

 

[mtwarden]

Yup they decided to go with untreated down. Reasoning was goose down (duck down too) already has prettyvdecent water resistance; but mainly that they think untreated down retains its loft better over time.

If you look at Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering, they both discuss why they've stuck with untreated down.

Yeah after owning (and testing) a few, my preference is center zip.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Yep, once you stayed in a center zip it’s hard to go back to a side zip

Yup I just got the Sitka sleeping bag and it arrived yesterday. wow center zip is so much easier to use and get in and out of.

 

[robby denning]

Yup I just got the Sitka sleeping bag and it arrived yesterday. wow center zip is so much easier to use and get in and out of.

it makes me wonder why most of the industry is side-zipe and what the benefit is?

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

it makes me wonder why most of the industry is side-zipe and what the benefit is?

Robby, I agree. What I have heard in the past was center zip let cold in and heat out. But seems most current designs have perfected it with good baffle/zipper design.

I mean I'm a fan of the Stone Glacier Chilkoot 15 and has been my go-to, but the Sitka is going to get the nod for rest of season and if this goes well, I will use all next year. This is due to how butter smooth the zipper is and center zip design. Also, the hood needs to be mentioned. This design eliminates the need for a neck baffle. Its is more like a hood on your puffy jacket so when you sleep on your side it turns with your head.

the only thing I see that the Chilkoot might have an advantage is the Pertex nylon shell. I think the sitka wets out faster just in my quick test using sink water.

 

[WeiserBucks]

+1. Seems like an influx lately of companies making bags overseas with inferior down/product and charging WM/FF prices. I don’t get the market for it but there must be one…. Argali could hit a sweet spot with the US down and offer the bag at the $400-$500ish mark.

If WM and FF could get hunting influences to promote the products, everything else would die an agonizing death.

I hate what influencers have become, but it's the reality of marketing these days. The big two are better than everything else but they're not marketed to hunters. You'll never see Peax, SG or any other hunting bag on K2 or Everest.