User Review: Big Agnes Encampment 15°

The Big Agnes sleeping system is surprisingly great. Reasons for buying it were advertised no slipping of the pad and extra shoulder room.

My biggest fear was that there is no insulation in the bottom so you really have to rely on a good pad. So what did I do? I took a very methodical approach to researching and ultimately deciding on this bag.

The bag wraps so tightly against the insulated air core pad you get no exposure to the ground. When used properly it will not dissappoint and feels like a splurge for comfort, but the weight is not significant, it all packs up tight, and provides for one of the most comfortable sleeps I've had out in the bush (read on).

Suspicious of being properly insulated with this Big Agnes sleep system, I first bought the dual-air core insulated pad and backpacked with it first to test its insulating properties. My review is under that product, but it's an awesome performer and well worth the money. It kept me warmer underneath than I was in my old sleeping bag on top at the time.

So I hit the store to try out the Encampment. The "roomy-ness" is quick since you can lay down and zip up in the stores nowadays. Tons of room to stretch out, flip over, etc. The zipper did not snag once after a ton of aggressively zipping and unzipping the demo model in the store. So I took the plunge and slept in my backyard one night (32F). In longjohns I was HOT!

The bag wraps so tightly against the insulated air core pad you get no exposure to the ground. Slept a couple more nights over several weekends coldest being 26F. It performed like a charm, though at 15F I would most likely throw some heating packs inside just to make sure I'm cozy. Took it on several trips and works great. After 1 year and 12 trips it's kept its loft just fine. I store it hung up in my closet when home.

Along these lines, one of the advertised pluses is that you don't slip since the pad is inside the bag. Well I slept several nights on inclines and declines on the trails to test this. It works! Pad does not slip, you really do feel like you are "one" with your bag and pad.

I packed it tight in my borther's 80L pack. Then I packed it in my 70L pack. The bag compresses great. Currently I keep the bag and pad in the bottom pocket of my Gregory Baltoro 70 when I'm out there. It's super tight fit, but they fit. This was shocking for a 15 degree bag.

I highly recommend it for anyone who will use it in conjunction with one of the Big Agnes air core pads.

I do not recommend it for anyone who sleeps without any kind of insulated padding underneath or for hammock campers since you will always need an under quilt.

Again this is a SLEEPING SYSTEM. Don't rate this bad on its bottom insulating properties without a pad as it is not designed by any means to do this. But rest assured with the pad you sleep hot and it's actually better than a conventional sleeping bag and foam pad.