Synthetic sleeping bags won't let dampness get you down

Getting a good night's sleep outdoors means having the right sleeping bag. For local hikers and campers who hit the woods this time of year, that means addressing not just the cool temperatures but also very damp conditions. Even without rain, an autumn camp in the Northwest means heavy dew and significant condensation overnight. While down bags can be used in these trying circumstances, the safer bet for a sound night's sleep is synthetic fill in your bags.

Today's synthetic fills are lighter, more durable and more affordable than ever before, so we borrowed a few new bags to check their "Northwest worthiness." Two stood out from the rest. The new REI Zephyr 15-degree bags utilize a proprietary insulation, which REI designers developed with Primaloft. This fill material provides great insulation while still being very compactable. The long bats of fill are layered into a Z-fold configuration to give maximum insulation with minimal weight. The 15-degree rate proved perfectly accurate for warm-sleepers while testing in the High Sierra, while our female testers — who typically sleep cold — praised REI for making the women's-specific version a bit warmer, giving it a 10-degree rating. They were very comfortable in that bag when temperatures dipped below freezing while hiking through the Goat Rocks, though they needed to add stocking caps and a warm layer of fleece when the temperatures dropped into the teens on Mount Rainier.

The bag fits snugly through the torso, though it wasn't overly constrictive (though folks who want a lot of wiggle room may disagree). I could comfortably move from my back to my side, provided the bag moved with me (as opposed to me moving in the bag) as I turned on my pad. The women, though, said the fit of the women-specific bag was near perfect.

At 2 pounds, 13 ounces for the regular length (men's), the Zephyr is a tad heavy compared to bags using other, more expensive, synthetic fills. But it's also a good $100 less than bags that are just a few ounces lighter.

The Zephyr regular length (men's and women's) sells for $139, while the Longs (also available in men's and women's) tip the scales at 3 pounds and run $149. More information: Visit www.rei.com.

The other standout bag in our testing was the North Face Orion. This new bag utilizes Primaloft One — the textile-maker's premiere insulation. That fill is contained in an ultralight nylon shell. As a result, this 20-degree bag weighs just 1 pound, 12 ounces.

The Orion fit is snug — borderline constrictive — yet that close fit complements the quality materials to create a warm, cozy cocoon that's comfortable right down to its 20-degree rating for warm sleepers and well into freezing temperatures for cool sleepers.

The Orion sells for $209. See www.thenorthface.com.

— Dan A. Nelson, special to The Seattle Times

Freelancer Dan A. Nelson, of Puyallup, is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. For the purpose of review, gear manufacturers lend products, which are returned after a typical use of four to six weeks. There is no payment from manufacturers and they have no control over the content of reviews. Contact Dan with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.