Sea To Summit Spark 15 Overview

Backside Line

For those who’re an ultralight backpacker searching for one of many lightest and warmest sleeping baggage on the market, the Sea to Summit Spark 15 is a prime contender. Examined within the altitude of the Colorado Rockies throughout chilly nights and within the distant reaches of the Arizona desert in fall, this bag ranks extremely on our Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Luggage record due to its unimaginable warmth-to-weight ratio and 850 fill goose down. The Spark’s design is a bit wider than aggressive baggage, making it a stellar answer for facet and stomach sleepers with out sacrificing packability. The 360° down collar and substantial draft tubes are glorious for trapping warmth, and the vertical field baffles assist preserve heat by stopping down from shifting – in different phrases, it’s as cozy and light-weight as sleeping baggage get within the backcountry.

Nonetheless, the Spark’s skinny materials isn’t as sturdy as burlier choices, and the zipper tends to snag greater than we’d like. And, as with most ultralight gear, this bag comes with a significantly greater price ticket than a lot of the competitors. However, for folk who desire a minimalist sleeping choice that prioritizes light-weight performance and easy consolation over bells and whistles, the Spark 15 could fire up an ideal night time’s sleep.

Heat

Regardless of its low weight, the Spark is impressively heat – this factor saved us persistently comfortable from head to toe on frigid evenings between 20 and 25°F. The Spark packs 850 fill energy goose down into vertical field baffles, a design that retains feathers in place and requires minimal redistribution over time. Draft tubes alongside the zippers and a 360° down collar work collectively to dam out chilly air.

That mentioned, the ultralight focus of this mannequin means it’s not as strong towards colder circumstances as some heavier alternate options. For instance, the 15°F bag we examined is consolation rated to solely 29°F, and we are able to affirm: it can really feel uncomfortable beneath freezing. We extremely advocate going with the 0°F model should you’ll be tenting in temperatures beneath freezing within the excessive alpine, open desert, or in shoulder seasons.

Fortunately, Sea to Summit affords this bag in a number of different variations. For a similar value, go along with the ladies’s model to get additional down packed by way of the chest and foot space. Or, select between 0°, 30°, and 45°F variations – however bear in mind their consolation limits might be round 10-15°F greater than every quantity. The Spark additionally comes as a double bag should you don’t thoughts sharing house, though double baggage typically really feel colder when temperatures dip as a consequence of extra potential lifeless house.

Consolation

The Sea to Summit Spark 15 is without doubt one of the lightest baggage we examined – however you gained’t have to sacrifice consolation. Its constituted of the identical mushy 10-denier material because the liner that feels extremely clean and mushy towards the pores and skin. The hood is a lot large enough to accommodate the most important backpacking pillows.

We additionally love the roominess of this bag. Whereas it’s nonetheless a real mummy form, the Spark 15 affords more room than opponents by way of the shoulders and hips to maneuver round – which tummy and facet sleepers will love – however nonetheless matches snugly sufficient to reduce chilly spots. The vertical field baffles are efficient at stopping down from settling or shifting when you roll over within the night time, making it an important alternative should you’re an lively sleeper and alter positions regularly. The complete-length draft tube blocks out the nippiness from the zipper, making this bag a cocoon of consolation.

Weight & Packability

The Spark 15 is without doubt one of the lightest and most packable sleeping baggage on the market, so should you’re a long-distance backpacker, ultralight fanatic, or minimalist, it can examine each field for retaining pack weight down. This bag lands within the Goldilocks zone at simply 1 pound, 9.7 ounces for the unisex model and a pair of kilos, 0.8 ounces for girls – it’s a lot heat and simple to hold. The mixture of 10-denier materials is lighter and simpler to pack than many different backpacking baggage that use 15D or 20D materials,  and ultralight down compresses small, excellent for backpackers who desire a streamlined backpack with minimal bulk. The included compression sack smashes the bag into a really moveable measurement, though it can save you just a few extra ounces by leaving the sack at residence.

Like all ultralight gear, the place this bag excels in low weight, it falls a bit brief in sturdiness. The emphasis on minimal weight means this bag typically has a shorter life span than baggage made with heavier-duty supplies. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer realized this the onerous method, so that you’ll wish to preserve a detailed eye out for brambles, sharp rocks, pine needles, and canine claws to keep away from potential injury to the inside and exterior. And take into account bringing alongside a patch equipment in case your bag snags or tears.

Options

The Sea to Summit Spark 15 is a no-frills bag with a sensible characteristic set. The hood is accommodating and broad to suit the backpacking pillow of your alternative and the cinch cords are easy however efficient. The zippers are light-weight and sturdy. However, that’s it so far as options: the Spark 15 stays targeted on weight financial savings. It lacks further conveniences like a stash pocket, additional zippers, and extra air flow – which is likely to be a downside for some. Nonetheless, we like this pared-down method: since simplicity retains  weight down, we don’t count on way more from such high-performance gear.

Ought to You Purchase the Sea To Summit Spark 15?

The Sea to Summit Spark 15 is for weight aware backpackers who depend ounces however nonetheless need an industry-leading warmth-to-weight ratio. This sleeping bag is extremely compressible and ethereal, making it one among our prime selections for backpacking journeys. Sea To Summit’s environment friendly vertical field baffles and premium 850 fill goose down is a recipe for saving weight with out sacrificing heat, and the spacious hood and barely wider design of the bag makes it loopy snug for any type of sleeper.

However, the Spark 15 comes up brief if you would like further consolation and comfort options. Its minimalist design excludes a stash pocket and additional zippers. The skinny materials is likely to be a draw back for folk who’re powerful on their gear, want extra strong sturdiness, or desire a bit of additional  insulation in extraordinarily chilly circumstances. That mentioned, for folk who desire a technical 3-season sleeping bag that’s simple to hold and even simpler to make use of, the Spark 15 could also be your ticket to a comfortable night time of relaxation.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Luggage Ought to You Contemplate?

REI Magma 15 Overview: Each the REI Magma 15 and the Sea to Summit Spark 15 provide ultralight designs, distinctive warmth-to-weight ratios, and provide top-quality down insulation. However, the Magma 15 is a little more sturdy and much more reasonably priced, and weighs fairly a bit extra.

Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 Overview: The UltraLite 20, just like the Spark 15, is a efficiency sleeping bag with comparable fill energy, minimalist design, and comparable consolation score. However, this can be a nice different should you’re searching for even greater high quality and a focus to element for just some ounces extra.

Zpacks Basic 20 Overview: Just like the Spark, the ZPacks Basic 20 additionally emphasizes minimalist design, three-season versatility, and glorious packability. However, the Basic 20 is lighter, prices much less, and has a barely greater fill energy.