The Great Outdoors - UK (2021-08)

August 2021 The Great Outdoors 75

SierraDesigns
Cloud 800

£ 335 875 g

lightweight, comforter design, foot vent

expensive

Fill: 800fp DriDown
Shell:15D nylon ripstop
Construction: box wall
Zip: no
Length: regular 198cm, long 213cm
Rating: comfort -3C, comfort limit -10C
sierradesigns.com

When I reviewed this bag in a three-season sleeping bag
feature last year I recommended it. I’veused it a fair bit
since and grown to likeit more and more. Now I’d give it
Best Buy. I chose it for this trip because of the comfort and
versatility. In early June I didn’t think night temperatures
would be too warm for a bag with this rating due to its
unique design. There’s no zip but the bag still opens wide at
the top as there’s a wrap-around comforter than runs over
the top half of your body. You can easily wrap this round
you for warmth or open it up to cool down. It gives a feeling
of freedom you just don’t get with a zipped bag. There’s a
vent for yourfeet in the lower part of the bag too so if they
get hot you can just stick them out. On the bottom there’s
a large uninsulated sleevedesigned for a sleeping mat.
I don’t use this as it restricts movement. I find the bag
roomy enough that I can move inside, and it stays under me.
This is one of the most comfortable bags I’ve ever used.
On this trip the overnight lows ranged from 8 to 12C and
the bag was fine.

Klymit

V UltraliteSL

£ 90 293 g ( 420 g insulated)

ultralight, comfort, cost

nothing

Type:airbed

Materials: 20D polyester

Dimensions: 183x51cm

Thickness: 6.4cm

Rating:R-value 1.3

klymit.com

This unusual mat has V-shaped air tubes with side rails

to keep you centred whatever position you sleep in.

Sleeping mostly on my front I find this design more

comfortable than ones with simple straight tubes. For

summer the V Ultralite SL is ideal. It packs really small,

it’s exceptionally light, and it’s thick when inflated.

However, at present it’s not available – I hope Klymit

brings it back. There is a warmer version with exactly

the same design and synthetic insulation inside. This

has an R-value of 4.4 and should be warm enough for

frosty nights. However,it weighs 454 grams: still light

but a fair bit more than the uninsulated version.

I also took an OMM DuoMat (200 grams, £22),

which I intended to use under the Klymit mat if the

latter felt chilly and which would do as an alternative

if the Klymit sprang a leak. Neither of those happened

and I just used it as a sit mat on wet ground.

RECOMMENDED

SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING MAT

trip report Gear