Hydrophobic, Absolutely Recyclable Down Sleeping Bag: NEMO Coda Limitless Promise Assessment

There’s something indescribably cozy about being curled up in a heat sleeping bag when it’s chilly out. I used to be doing that at the back of my truck, watching raindrops run down the window outdoors, comfortably swaddled in my NEMO Coda Limitless Promise Mummy Sleeping Bag.

It was 8:00 a.m. Temps have been most likely approaching the mid-40s now, however that evening, it had simply dipped into the 30s at Twin Lakes, Colo. It might have gotten even colder and I’d have been simply effective. My bag was rated right down to 10 levels (20-degree consolation) — overkill for many summer time tenting journeys, however there had been a few chilly snaps the place I’d been glad to have it.

This specific morning was one in all them. However this bag isn’t simply heat; as a part of NEMO’s “Limitless Promise” line of sleeping baggage, the Coda represents NEMO’s first totally recyclable line of down baggage. It makes use of ALLIED Feather + Down’s (AF+D) 100% ethically sourced and traceable down. And, when the bag reaches the tip of its helpful life, AF+D will take away the insulation and reuse it. And NEMO will recycle the remainder of the bag’s mono-polymer parts.

That novel idea was the hook that reeled me into testing this bag. I’ve been utilizing the Coda from late spring via summer time and can proceed utilizing it into fall. It’s nonetheless a few years from being recycled, however recyclability apart, this ultralight sleeping bag is a strong, well-designed piece of drugs.

Briefly: The NEMO Coda Limitless Promise Down Mummy Sleeping Bag is without doubt one of the model’s first totally recyclable ultralight down sleeping baggage. It is available in two temperature rankings — 10-20 and 25-35 levels (limit-comfort) — it packs simply, and the hydrophobic down will retain some insulation properties even when water will get previous the DWR coating of the shell and liner. The Coda additionally represents the primary era of NEMO baggage utilizing AF+D insulation that’s totally traceable and reusable. When this bag reaches the tip of its life, and you’ll ship it again to NEMO, and the model will recycle the whole factor for you.

If you wish to examine the NEMO Coda to different ultralight sleeping baggage, take a look at GearJunkie’s information to the Finest Backpacking Sleeping Luggage.

NEMO Coda Limitless Promise Sleeping Bag Assessment

GearJunkie reviewed NEMO’s first Limitless Promise Sleeping Bag, the Forte, when it was launched in 2023. That bag makes use of artificial insulation and is totally manufactured from recyclable polyester supplies.

Limitless Promise recyclable down sleeping baggage are a brand new lane for NEMO, although. It partnered with AF+D to be the primary model to make use of its revolutionary down recycling program in 2024.

When Limitless Promise down baggage are recycled, AF+D pulls the ethically sourced insulation out and funnels it into its RENU:TRACE program. RENU:TRACE makes use of it to make what it claims is the world’s first totally round and traceable recycled down insulation. 

NEMO can then break down the bag’s different parts and switch them into Repreve polyester yarn to make one thing new.

It’s the primary time folks gained’t have to decide on between “ethically sourced down” or “100% recyclable artificial” insulations. They’ll get each in a single bag. That’s why the Limitless Promise line of down baggage not too long ago gained the Inexperienced GOOD DESIGN award for sustainability in design.

Overview

Some folks don’t like mummy-shaped sleeping baggage. I discover them comfortably confining, and so they’re my choice for backpacking. So I used to be excited to see an ultralight down mummy sleeping bag from NEMO.

Some folks may knock it for being a darker colour, as brighter colours are higher for visibility in an emergency. However I gained’t. I just like the understated “Midnight Grey” NEMO used.

One in every of my favourite options of this bag is the Thermo Gill vent. It has an inside zipper and an outdoor zipper that helps management the temperature. If I used to be overheating, I might open one or each of the zippers all the way in which or simply partially and actually dial the place I used to be most snug.

The middle zipper will also be used for air flow, and I opened it in addition to the Thermo Gill on a few the warmest nights. It solely runs about two-thirds of the way in which down (like most mummy baggage), so don’t count on to make use of the Coda as a quilt. There may be, nonetheless, one other zipper on the very foot of the Coda. That may be opened up for additional air flow or to placed on/take off socks.

The hood is beneficiant, and a comfortable inner draft guard retains chilly air from sneaking in round your neck and shoulders. A hood cinch pulls the hood snugly and evenly round your head and face.

The Coda bag’s shell and liner are coated with DWR for water repellency, and the PFAS-free, RDS-certified 800 FP down is itself hydrophobic. That signifies that water has a tough time attending to the insulation, and even when it does, the down will retain its loft and insulating properties (to some extent).

Within the Discipline

Heat & Weight

I examined the Coda Limitless Promise sleeping bag on a number of in a single day tenting journeys, a 4-day horseback hut-to-hut journey, and a 3-day backpacking tip — all within the Colorado Rockies in spring and summer time. On the chilly finish, temps received right down to the 30s at evening. On the excessive finish, nighttime temps hovered within the 50s.

The ten-20-degree bag was too scorching for many of those circumstances. However in spring and late summer time, it’s been welcomed heat. Stepping into fall and winter, it is going to be even higher suited.

For those who primarily camp in the summertime, the 25-35-degree Coda could be a greater possibility.

Weight-wise, the NEMO Coda is appropriate for backpacking. In comparison with these on our Finest Backpacking Sleeping Luggage, the Coda lands on the heavier finish of the spectrum, with solely 4 baggage weighing extra.

I by no means discovered the Coda’s weight to be a problem, however I’m additionally admittedly not a devoted gram counter.

Vents & Options

The Thermo Gill is a pleasant characteristic that I used often. I nearly by no means had it fully closed. However I fiddled with completely different mixtures, unzipping the outer zipper all the way in which and the internal midway or holding the internal zipper up and having the outer unzipped fully. It did give me nuanced management of how a lot warmth I used to be dumping.

Footbox zippers at all times earn a sleeping bag factors in my e book. They’re additional air flow and can help you stroll round within the morning, nonetheless wrapped up in your bag. I like popping on a pair of slippers with my bag on and ingesting a cup of espresso when it’s nonetheless early sufficient to see my breath. You are able to do that within the Coda.

Nevertheless, the tapered mummy form and comparatively quick zipper opening imply you’ll be shuffling round greater than “strolling.”

The hood on this bag is massive and simple to search out. Between the draft collar and the cinch system NEMO used, you’ll be able to nearly fully encase your self on this bag. For very chilly evenings this fall and winter, I anticipate these might be very welcome options.

Carbon Questions

I’ll preface this part by saying that extra out of doors gear ought to be recyclable. Innovating methods and partnerships to make that occur is the one technique to transfer the business in a extra sustainable path — even when it means balancing carbon prices.

Recycling an infinite promise down sleeping bag undoubtedly generates some stage of carbon. Plus, prospects should ship the bag again, and AF+D has to take away the down. Lastly, NEMO has to ship the opposite parts to a recycler that may make new polyester yarn out of what’s left.

How does all that examine to the carbon value of simply making a brand new sleeping bag?

NEMO has not but gotten again to me with a solution to that query. However when it does, I’ll replace this part of the evaluation.

No matter NEMO’s reply, although, the Limitless Promise line of sleeping baggage from NEMO represents an enormous step towards sustainability. Recycled baggage will maintain some plastics out of landfills and permit for the reuse of down insulation. And, as with all applied sciences, the capital and carbon prices of the recycling course of will come down over time.

Room for Enchancment

I solely had one actual gripe with the NEMO Coda Limitless Promise Down Mummy Sleeping Bag: the zippers. I get it — NEMO is creating an ultralight product that’s totally recyclable. There have been most likely solely so many zipper designs that match the invoice.

However I had nearly fixed points with the zippers (particularly the primary heart zipper) catching on the shell or liner materials. It was nearly each time I zipped or unzipped this bag, I’d get solely a part of the way in which down, and it will get caught.

On just a few events, once I wakened bleary-eyed and nonetheless half asleep to make use of the lavatory, that was a irritating downside.

Finally, I did tear a gap within the sleeping bag due to this challenge. After I requested NEMO about it, the model’s head of customer support stated it had by no means come throughout their desk and that the model hardly ever will get guarantee/restore tickets for the Coda.

Possibly I’m simply arduous on gear. Possibly you gained’t have this challenge. However in case you do, and also you rip your bag, I fastened the outlet in mine fairly simply with some restore patches.

NEMO Coda Sleeping Bag: Who Is It For?

In case you are out there for a backpacking sleeping bag and you might be an eco-conscious one that values sustainability, you need to take a look at the NEMO Coda. It’s a strong sleeping bag designed by a revered model that’s innovating totally recyclable out of doors gear. That’s cool. I want extra manufacturers have been placing that a lot effort into being inexperienced.

Even when sustainability shouldn’t be a precedence for you, and also you simply desire a well-designed backpacking sleeping bag, I nonetheless advocate at the very least contemplating the Coda as a comparability as you store. This bag — minus all of its sustainability — remains to be a really robust product. The water resistance inside and outside, hydrophobic 800 FP down, air flow choices, and heat-trapping functionality make this a robust contender amongst comparable baggage.

I’ve loved utilizing the Coda this summer time. I’d even throw it in my pack for just a few in a single day hut skis this winter. Regardless of my disagreements with the zipper, this recyclable down bag impressed me. It’s earned a spot in my shoulder-season backpacking package.