Rab Summit Alpine 500 15*F Sleeping Bag review

    I’ve just received Rab Summit 500 sleeping bag that I’ve bought for review. This is a minimalistic, high quality bag hand packed with down in England. It is rated at 15*F and -10*C
    As you can see here in the PDF file here Summit Alpine line is last “ultralight, all use” product line before serious expedition grade bags made for some extreme temperatures.

First the specs:
Material:[shell] Pertex Endurance; [lining] Pertex Microlight (polyurethane)
Insulation:(top) EU750-fill down (US 850+), (bottom) EU560-fill down (US 750+)
Shape: mummy
Draft Collar :yes
Stuff Size:12 x 6 in
Stuff Sack: yes, compression
Storage Sack: yes
Bag Length:82 in
Degree:15 F
European Norm Comfort Rating:-10C 15F
Weight:2 lb 1 oz
Recommended Use: mountaineering, backpacking, camping
Manufacturer Warranty: lifetime
Price: $235

    The outer shell is one of the best on the market – Pertex Endurance! It allows for water vapors to exit the bag, yet it repels water from the surface. This material ensures that if you have condensation in your tent or if you have slight drizzle while sleeping without a shelter – you will remain dry. This doesn’t mean that the bag will not get wet in a serious rain, but it will repel some water instead of absorbing it.

    The inner and outer shells are also very light – contributing to a pretty light bag all around. The 2lb total weight comes in big part from the down fill instead of the synthetic. Down is lighter and warmer per unit of weight. In this case the bag is filled with 750 fill on top and 560 fill on the bottom. However, these are European ratings which are more conservative to those used in the United States. In US these are equal to 850+ and 750+ fill rating respectively. This kind of high quality down is expensive and is only used in top of the line products by such companies are Marmot, North Face, Western Mounteneering, GoLite, Sea To Summit, MontBell, Exped, Valandre, etc.

    The number associated with this model (Summit 500) denotes the actual weight of the down used for insulation – 500 grams of uncompressed, high grade goose down.

Features:
Lightweight
Water resistant Pertex Endurance outer
Soft Pertex Microlight inner
Narrow box constructions for increased warmth
Lightweight mesh used on baffle walls
Half length, two way YKK zipper
Comes with storage and compression sacks
Hand filled in Derbyshire, UK

I have received a bag in “regular” size which is suitable for anyone up-to 6ft height and somewhat slim/normal complexion. If you are like me – 6’2” or above – you will want a bag in “long” which is good for up-to 6’6”.

When removed from the sack and lightly fluffed with a few quick shakes – down inside the bag regains its natural desire to spread the tentacles and as a result gives great loft to the bag. My bag measured at 7” of loft, measured around the chest area. The footbox in this bag feels to be over-filled with down and should provide plenty of warmth to the feet.

The bag doesn’t have a hood per-se, but due to the shape and the use of the draw-string, the part around the head will take on a shape of the hood once the string is pulled tight. This does a few things – during warm nights – it allows for better ventilation and on colder ones – it gives more space for extra clothing (think hat, pullover with a neck section, etc).

The stuff sack that came with the bag is good, but I would recommend storing these the way I do – fully unfolded (either hanging upside-down in a closet or laid flat on some surface). The compression sack is adequate, but is made from a fairly heavy ripstop material. I highly recommend replacing it with either Sil-nylon or other lightweight compression bag.

Overall I’m very impressed by this product and would recommend Rab to anyone.