User Review: MontBell U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger EXP

MontBell U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger EXP
Above: The current U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger EXP, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed January 30, 2005 by Bill S

Rating:
Design: mummy
Fill: 725 down
Temperature Rating: minus 9.6 F
Weight: 3 lbs 14 oz
Price Paid: $490

A very good bag -- lots of room, lots of down (2 lb 12 oz) and lots of loft. About 8 or 10 inches, depending on how you measure it. It is rated to minus 9.6 F - I haven't had it quite that cold yet, but have slept in it at about 3 or 4 below -- deliberately challenging its rating by sleeping in light underclothes and no socks. Was fine, slept solidly for almost 9 hours. I am a cold sleeper, so I think their rating is probably pretty close.

For a winter bag, it is not all that heavy, either, my long size weighs the claimed 3 lb 14 oz. Not bad for a subzero bag -- the stretch construction is really nice, you could layer in there a lot if you needed to be way way below zero. The double draft tube works very well, likewise the shoulder collar. As I said, there is a LOT of down, it takes a lot of stuffing to get it into the factory stuff sack -- it seems almost alive. I don't mind, that's where the warmth comes from.