When selecting a sleeping bag for your journey, some factors have to come to mind. These factors – like price, quality, waterproof-ness, breathability and so on – should play a large role in what you end up getting.
Bearing these factors in mind, let’s have a look at one of the better choices for sleeping bags; the Snugpak Softie Elite 5 Sleeping Bag.
By the time you finish reading this, you will be able to see if it passes the test for your needs and ticks most of the boxes mentioned earlier.
About Snugpak
Manufactured by renowned UK company Snugpak, the Softie Elite range of bags can be found in the field kit of hunters, soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world.
The Snugpak Elite 5 Sleeping Bag is suitable for a lot of temperatures as a result of its innovative EPS system. This sleeping bag was manufactured to withstand cold temperatures. With the aid of the bag’s premier Reflectatherm lining, the user’s body heat is trapped, which will enable him/her sleep comfortably even during very cold nights.
- TEMPERATURE RATING (Comfort: -15°C / Low: -20°C) - The Softie Elite 1 sleeping bag features our exclusive Softie...
- LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT (Weight: 2400g / Packsize: 32cm x 26cm) - The Softie Elite 1 feature our exclusive Softie...
- BUILT IN EXPANDA PANEL - Equipped with Snugpak's specialised EPS (Expanda Panel System) the Softie Elite Range can...
Due to its Paratex light material, the Snugpak Softie Elite sleeping bag doesn’t weigh a lot, meaning it is ideal for hikes and journeys. The bag’s Expander Panel System (EPS) ensures that it is versatile. With this system, this bag can be able to tackle any adventure. The main thing about this bag is its ability to control comfort and temperature.
With the aid of the jumbo zip baffle, this bag’s fit can be transformed from warm and tight to spacious and cool – and vice versa. This bag has all the features that traditional sleeping bags have, but its jumbo zip baffle can be opened to create much more room when it is needed. This extra space that is created in the bag will allow more air to move around – which will keep the bag cooler.
This temperature management ensures that your bag is flexible, which is a good thing because it ensures that the product can adequately perform in a range of conditions. When the temperature drops, you can conveniently zip the bag tighter and instantly improve its performance.
The Snugpak Softie Elite 5 was manufactured to meet high-quality standards – with a comfort rating of -15°C. This bag can also be used in temperatures that are as low as -20°C. Suitable for cold weather, the Elite 5 can be compressed down to a size of 32cm x 26cm, making it very lightweight.
For increased performance in cold temperature, you can make use of this product with a Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner or a Snugpak Thermalon Liner.
Pros
Cons
- Compression stuff sack helps in reducing the overall volume of the sleeping bag, giving the user extra space when travelling.
- Built-in jumbo zip baffle to make the bag wider on command for extra comfort.
- Tapered at the bottom to reduce wasted space.
- A left-handed bag has its zip on the left side when the user is inside the bag and laying on their back.
- A lot of right-handed people feel more comfortable with left-handed bags because they're easier unzip when they're inside the bag.
- As with many sleeping bags, the zip on the sleeping bag has been known to catch sometimes. Once you get used to properly zipping up the sleeping bag, it gets easier to avoid it happening.
- TEMPERATURE RATING (Comfort: -15°C / Low: -20°C) - The Softie Elite 1 sleeping bag features our exclusive Softie...
- LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT (Weight: 2400g / Packsize: 32cm x 26cm) - The Softie Elite 1 feature our exclusive Softie...
- BUILT IN EXPANDA PANEL - Equipped with Snugpak's specialised EPS (Expanda Panel System) the Softie Elite Range can...
Paratex Micro Outer Fabric (100% Nylon)
Paratex Micro is lightweight, water repellent, tough and highly windproof. Paratex Micro makes use of closely constructed fabric and even though it makes for quite hard-wearing, it still remains soft to the touch.
Paratex Light Inner Fabric (100% Nylon)
Paratex light is made with fabric that is waterproof, lightweight, windproof and exceptionally breathable.
Softie Insulation (100% Polyester)
This is the brand name of Snugpak’s unique synthetic filling. It makes use of superfine yarns that are bound with special resins. The result is a luxurious down-like feel. It is made from staple yarns that mirror the compositions of conventional insulation.
Reflectatherm Inner Fabric (100% Polyester)
Reflectatherm is a metallised fabric that was designed to retain warmth and heat. This material is highly breathable and adds little to the bag’s weight or pack size.
Stuff Sack
All sleeping bags made by Snugpak are supplied with a compression stuff sack. Pack size dimensions (where shown) are for when the bags are fully compressed. This involves making the sleeping bag compact and feeding it into the stuff sack. After this, the compression straps and some physical exertion are applied to ensure it reaches the minimum size.
Washing Your Snugpak Softie Elite 5 Sleeping Bag
Snugpak recommends that you do not use a top loader washing machine with an agitator because the agitator may cause damage to the fabric or its insulation. For washing Snugpak products, it would be appropriate to use a front loading machine or wash it with hands.
Snugpak also recommends that you wash their products using a low-temperature setting with no fabric conditioner and only with non-bio liquid detergent.
Dimensions
- Length: 220cm.
- Width: 80cm (at shoulders) +12.5cm with EPS.
- Width: 65cm (at waist).
- Width: 42cm (at feet).
- Weight: 2.4kg (including stuff sack).
- Rolled: 32cm x 26cm x 26cm.
Key Features
- Manufactured from very lightweight synthetic materials.
- Accompanied by a Compression Stuff Sack that can be used to pack the bag.
- Built-in Expander Panel System™ (EPS).
- Paratex Micro Outer Shell Fabric, treated using DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating.
- Paratex Light inner fabric lining.
- Softie superfine synthetic insulation, trimmed with rip-stop polyester nylon.
- Mummy-style bag with Draw-string hood.
- Adequate size and can fit bivy bags of all sizes.
- TEMPERATURE RATING (Comfort: -15°C / Low: -20°C) - The Softie Elite 1 sleeping bag features our exclusive Softie...
- LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT (Weight: 2400g / Packsize: 32cm x 26cm) - The Softie Elite 1 feature our exclusive Softie...
- BUILT IN EXPANDA PANEL - Equipped with Snugpak's specialised EPS (Expanda Panel System) the Softie Elite Range can...
Final Thoughts
To recap, the Snugpak Softie Elite is equipped with softie insulation. This is a synthetic material that is washable and still retains heat even wet. The outer fabric is designed using Paratex Micro which is lightweight, water-resistant and windproof.
The bag has comfort and extreme rating of -15°C and -20°C respectively. It has a reflect-a-therm layer which was designed to retain warmth and reflects heat, thereby providing at least 15% extra warmth to the product.
This bag is quite suitable for a wide range of adventures. It also comes with a compression spider and stuff bag. The EPS is an innovative feature as it helps to increase the size of the bag when needed. This feature particularly comes in handy in the summer months when the heat rises.
There’s more than enough room for you to slide into the sleeping bag to change your clothes!
