Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Assessment

Backside Line

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a real powerhouse for frigid circumstances and one of many warmest backpacking baggage we’ve examined. With 850-fill-power down, a full-length draft tube to seal in warmth, and a beneficiant down collar to bolster the fluffy insulation, you’ll keep additional cozy in chilly circumstances. That is Gear Analyst Ian Krammer’s go-to bag for tenting from November till April within the Utah desert and the Colorado excessive nation, the place he’s stayed snug from sundown til dawn on the longest, coldest nights of the 12 months. Regardless of being lighter and extra affordably priced in comparison with many winter baggage, it has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, and options just like the no-snag zipper, included compression sack, and ethically sourced down are simply the cherry on high.

Nonetheless, the Phantom 0’s match is slender, which is a bit restrictive should you wish to unfold out. The consolation ranking of 13°F means it might not be heat sufficient should you’re tenting in temperatures beneath 15-20°F. And, whereas the bag is well-priced for a 0°F bag, it’s nonetheless a serious funding in comparison with different choices.

Heat

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a no brainer for all-season adventurers. It’s particularly made  for tenting in frigid shoulder season climate and winter, or for chilly sleepers who’ve a tough time staying heat at night time.  Two necessary issues to take a look at when deciding if a sleeping bag goes to be as heat as its temperature ranking suggests are fill energy and fill weight. The Phantom is full of 30 ounces of 850-fp down – something above 800-fp is mostly thought-about very high-quality down, so this bag leads the pack for heat.

The Phantom additionally has a full-length draft tube and a wraparound draft collar that actually seal within the warmth on chilly nights. This bag additionally makes use of Gore-Tex to shed water on journeys when moist down merely isn’t an choice. It’s necessary to remember that the Phantom’s consolation ranking is 13°F, so most individuals in all probability gained’t keep snug all the way in which right down to 0°F, however that’s not what most individuals want more often than not. Hikers heading into the backcountry in sub-freezing circumstances, or those who aren’t staying heat with the next temperature bag on a decently insulated sleeping pad, will love this distinctive winter sleeping bag.

The one draw back of the unbelievable heat, large loft, and plush really feel of this bag is it’s too heat for many summer time adventures. In case you’ll be tenting recurrently in temperatures at or above 40°F, we advocate a extra breathable and light-weight bag with the next temperature ranking.

Consolation

Not solely is that this bag one of many warmest choices for backcountry nights, it’s some of the snug. The 20D nylon taffeta material is so easy and delicate in opposition to the pores and skin that we at all times stay up for slipping into the Phantom 0 after an extended day of snowshoeing, skinning, and trudging by way of snow and ice. The beneficiant down collar and draft tube lock in heat, and the no-snag zipper and lengthy zipper pulls make for straightforward, snug entry from inside or outdoors the bag. We additionally just like the easy-to-use cinch cords for the hood, and the compression sack is a bit stretchy for straightforward packing on chilly mornings earlier than hours of backcountry journey.

Our solely complaints are that the bag’s match is just a little slender, which feels restrictive for people who sleep on their abdomen or unfold out like a starfish whereas sleeping. And, the overstuffed draft collar is superior for locking in warmth on very chilly nights, nevertheless it’s a bit cumbersome and cumbersome on barely hotter evenings once we desire extra air flow.

Weight & Packability

Coming in at 2 kilos, 10.6 ounces, the Phantom 0 is among the heavier sleeping baggage on our backpacking information – though in comparison with aggressive winter sleeping baggage, it’s positively one of many lighter choices we thought-about. Mountain Hardwear successfully retains the burden down with tons of compressible and ethereal 850-fill down insulation and a light-weight 10D recycled shell, with out skimping on options which are important to maintain you heat within the snow and ice, like a sturdy Gore-Tex shell, overstuffed draft tubes, and a big, closely baffled hood. However, these are the identical parts that make it one of many heavier baggage.

However, this weight is actually not a dealbreaker. The Phantom 0 is available in at a decrease weight and value in comparison with most winter sleeping baggage, so it’s our favourite suggestion for chilly sleepers and year-round explorers.

Options

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Sleeping Bag is full of options that make it good for chilly nights within the backcountry. The sturdy, easy 2-way zippers – together with glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls – present simple air flow and hassle-free entry and exit. The mother lower effectively maximizes the warmth-to-weight ratio, and the big, four-chamber hood is sufficiently big to accommodate a backpacking pillow and retains the heat wrapped round your head. The Gore-Tex exterior offers glorious climate resistance, and this mannequin additionally comes with left-hand and right-hand zippers so you may zip two baggage collectively, making it a flexible alternative for {couples} and teams to share heat whereas tenting. Mountain Hardwear additionally features a light-weight nylon compression sack and a mesh storage sack, so it’s simple to pack and retailer the bag at dwelling and in your backpack. 

Regardless of its many options, the Phantom 0 has a couple of drawbacks. Sometimes, the zipper will slide down when shifting round within the night time, probably letting in chilly air. We love the contoured foot field for retaining heat, however the backside half of the bag is narrower than some may desire, limiting foot motion, and extensive sizes usually are not out there. And the Gore-Tex exterior, whereas including sturdiness and climate resistance, can sound a bit noisy and make the bag stiff and fewer compressible in comparison with different supplies. Nonetheless, these are minor points. The Phantom 0 is the boss of cold-weather options and a pacesetter in terms of high-performance winter sleeping baggage.

Ought to You Purchase the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0?

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a dream for devoted winter adventurers and those that continuously camp in chilly circumstances. With its spectacular warmth-to-weight ratio and high-quality 850-fill-power down, this one is ideal for hikers and campers who want dependable insulation in temperatures properly beneath freezing. The beneficiant down collar and draft tube successfully block the coldest chills. You’ll be exhausting pressed to discover a lighter, extra sturdy, or efficient down backpacking dag for tenting in harsh, chilly environments. 

Nonetheless, the slender match might not be as snug for nighttime tosser-turners, and its excessive value level – some of the costly baggage we thought-about – could also be a barrier for budget-conscious consumers. It’s additionally particularly designed for sub-zero temperatures, so the Phantom could also be too heavy, heat, and ponderous for many backpackers and most mountain climbing climates. That mentioned, the Phantom 0 is the golden egg for hikers who need the most effective of the most effective for heat and luxury in sub-zero temperatures from the dry, open desert to the snowy alpine.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Luggage Ought to You Think about?

Sea to Summit Spark 15 Assessment: Just like the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0, the Sea to Summit Spark 15 provides glorious warmth-to-weight ratio in a wise, mummy-style design with high-quality down fill. Nonetheless, the Spark 15 is a full pound lighter and way more compact, making it higher suited to ultralight backpacking at colder temperatures.

Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 Assessment: In terms of top-of-the-line baggage made by cottage firms with an eye fixed in direction of high quality, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is immediately aggressive by value, fill energy, and heat. The UltraLite 20, nevertheless, is lighter, has the next temperature ranking, and provides a wider lower, making it extra snug and versatile for extra customers.

Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 Assessment: Corresponding to the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 by way of high-quality down fill, best-of-the-best consolation, and glorious heat. Nonetheless, the Swallow YF 20 is cheaper, has the next consolation ranking, and weighs considerably much less – and for a barely greater fill energy.