PATAGONIA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST FULL SLEEPING BAG

Forty-five years ago, Yvon Chouinard built himself a mummy-style sleeping bag. The whole thing was custom — overstuffed down channels for maximum warmth, a zipper straight down the middle to allow for easy belaying and cooking. At the time, it was one of many pieces of revolutionary outdoor gear emerging from Chouinard’s mind. But, curiously, for 44 years, the sleeping bag design gathered dust in Patagonia’s archives — until yesterday.

Patagonia’s first-ever full down sleeping bag (read: non-hybrid) is heavily inspired by Chouinard’s original design, as seen in the mummy shape, chunky baffles and full-length center-front zipper. The down technology is what you’d expect from Patagonia — nothing but the warmest, toughest and lightest. There are two versions: a 19-degree bag with differential baffle construction (basically, no sewn-through areas and a special cut that keeps down secure and lofty), and a 30-degree bag with stitch-through construction (simple, visible stitching). On both bags is a spacious foot compartment, a large drawstring hood, a main shell made of ultralight Y-yarn nylon and a silky-smooth Patagonia Houdini fabric liner. And of course, being Patagonia, a brand deeply dedicated to environmental stewardship, both bags contain premium 850-fill down that’s been traced from farm to factory.

The 850 Down Sleeping Bag is available for purchase right now. Prices range from $379 to $519, depending on size and temperature rating.