Snow lovers across British Columbia are scrambling to find anything skiable right now, but if you’re motivated and willing to get up high, there are soft turns to be had in some places, or at least great mountaineering objectives. Getting to them, though, might be more than a day’s trip, which makes it the perfect time to test a sleeping bag. Whether bivying, tenting or sleeping in a hut, good turns are always that much more rewarding when you wake up right where you want to be. Mountain Hardwear’s Men’s Lamina 0 sleeping bag is a great tool to get you right where you want to be at a super accessible price.

KMC Associate Editor Matt Coté left and Mike Cattie right. Getting ready for a warm night’s sleep.
KMC Associate Editor Matt Coté left and Mike Cattie right. Getting ready for a warm night’s sleep.

The first thing to consider when getting a winter bag is whether to go synthetic or down. Down is lighter, warmer and more packable, but it’s also more fragile, and useless when wet. Synthetic bags have come a long way over the years, and though they’re still not as packable as down, they’re getting close to the weight, and they still keep you warm when wet.

Being that I often attach my sleeping bag to the outside of my pack, and do a lot of skiing from huts that are sled-accessed, I elect to use a synthetic bag that works when wet. Rated to -18 C, the Men’s Lamina bag is really quite light despite being synthetic, and has some clever design features to help seal in the heat and keep you comfy: namely a gasket that isolates your head from the rest of your body so you don’t lose heat through the hood, and allows the chest area to be roomier.

I immediately felt less constricted in this bag than I do in most mummy-style sleeping quarters, and was amazed at how quickly it warmed itself up. The next thing I noticed is that the inner material is a softer nylon; it doesn’t conduct cold as much as the slicker stuff. You know that feeling when you first slip into your frozen bag and wait for it to warm up? It’s quite minimal here.

So this is a synthetic bag, but it does still pack down really nicely. Using a compression sack you can get it down to a pretty manageable size, only a bit bulkier than down.

Lamina fully lofted.
Lamina fully lofted.
Lamina in its stock stuff sack.
Lamina in its stock stuff sack.
Lamina in a size-medium compression sack.
Lamina in a size-medium compression sack.

Other than sacrificing a bit of packability, the only thing I could pick on for this bag is that the draw string for the gasket at your neck is somewhat annoying until you figure out that it has its own sleeve to tuck it away, which pretty much takes care of it. It also comes with a little pocket to store your alarm or earplugs.

gasket-tucked-away
The little secret compartment that makes all the difference for tucking away the neck gasket’s draw string.

Bottom line is that Mountain Hardwear’s strength has long been expedition and camping gear, so if anyone was going to deliver this functional of a bag at this price, it had to be them. For $220 you can get a four-seasoner that’ll keep you warm through the winter night just as well as bags worth three times as much from competitors.

Well done MH, well done.

MSRP: $220 CDN

www.mountainhardwear.com

Materials

  • Insulation: Thermal.Q™
  • Bag Shell: Nylon 40D Micro Ripstop
  • Bag Fill Type: SYNTHETIC

Measurements

  • Apparel Fit: Regular-Sleep Bags
  • Weight: 3 lb. 10 oz. / 1.64 kg.
  • Bag Shape: Comfort Mummy Cut
  • Bag Loft: 6 in / 15 cm
  • Bag Stuff Size: 8 in / 20 cm
  • Bag Fill Weight: 1.20 kg. / 1.23 kg. / 1.47 kg. / 2 lb. 10 oz. / 2 lb. 11 oz. / 3 lb. 04 oz.
  • Inside Length Short: 72 in / 183 cm
  • Inside Length Regular: 78 in / 198 cm
  • Inside Length Long: 84 in / 213 cm
  • Hip Girth Regular: 59 in / 150 cm
  • Hip Girth Long: 64 in / 163 cm
  • Foot Girth Short: 39 in / 99 cm
  • Foot Girth Regular: 41 in / 104 cm
  • Foot Girth Long: 43 in / 109 cm
  • Shoulder Girth Regular: 63 in / 160 cm
  • Shoulder Girth Long: 65 in / 165 cm

Details

  • Comfort mummy cut efficiently maximizes weight without constriction
  • Proprietary, welded Lamina™ construction enhances loft and eliminates cold spots
  • Q™ fill is soft, lofty, compressible, and durable
  • Durable, lightweight nylon shell with DWR treatment repels water
  • Soft polyester lining wicks away moisture
  • Full length #8 zipper with double sliders for versatile ventilation
  • Comfort Footbox follows natural foot position for maximum warmth and comfort
  • Face gasket and tailored hood comfortably block drafts at the hood opening and seal in warmth
  • Internal zippered pocket at shoulder for storage
  • Stuff sack and mesh storage bag included
  • Imported