The Zpacks Classic Sleeping Bag is a quilt/sleeping bag hybrid with one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios we’ve seen. This hoodless bag packs down super small, weighs next to nothing, and can be cinched tight to keep you cozy when the temperature drops. The Classic comes with a premium price tag, but the high-quality materials and weight savings is worth the cost if you want to go as light as possible.
We have the 20°F version of the Zpacks Classic (it also comes in 10°F and 30°F), so that’s the one we’ll be covering in this review.
Quick Specs
Zpacks Classic Sleeping Bag
Price: $459 (20°F, med. length, reg. width)
Weight: 1 lb. 2.8 oz
Temperature Options: 10°F, 20°F, 30°F
Pros
- Ultralight
- Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
- Highly packable
- High-quality materials
Cons
- Expensive
- Less versatile than some
- Not as warm as a sleeping bag
Pros
ULTRALIGHT
The Classic Sleeping Bag is one of the absolute lightest options on our Best Backpacking Quilts and Best Sleeping Bags lists. Our top quilt pick – the Enlightened Equipment Revelation configured with similar specs – weighs about 4 oz. more (1 lb. 6.5 oz.). That may seem like a small difference, but it all adds up in your backpack.
EXCELLENT WARMTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO
We’ve established that the Classic is ridiculously light, but how does it compare temperature wise? We’d say it’s pretty solid. We find that the 20°F Classic Bag provides comparable warmth to other quilts with similar builds, like the Enlightened Equipment Revelation, but it weighs less than most other options out there. The Classic also has the ability to cinch tight at the top, so it’s very effective at trapping in heat when the temperature takes a big dip.
As is the case with most quilts, we wouldn’t recommend taking this one out when temperatures are consistently below freezing. That said, we’ve used it down to around 30°F many times and stayed comfortable.
HIGHLY PACKABLE
The Classic is stuffed with efficient 900 fill-power down, so it compresses very small. If you like to use a compression sack, it fits in the extra small Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Sack which is just six liters! We typically like to stuff ours into a small Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Pod for easier packing in our backpack.
HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS
The Classic comes with a steep price tag, but you get what you pay for. It’s filled with Responsible Down Standard certified 900-fp water repellent down, which is about as high-quality as you’ll find in the sleeping bag market. The outer shell is also soft and breathable so it dries quickly if it gets damp.
Cons
EXPENSIVE
The Classic Bag is one of the more expensive sleeping bag/quilt options when compared to others from our Best Backpacking Quilts and Best Sleeping Bags lists, but it’s also among the lightest.
A LITTLE LESS VERSATILE THAN SOME QUILTS, NOT AS WARM AS A SLEEPING BAG
Because the Classic has a sewn footbox, it’s not as versatile as some of our favorite quilts – like the Enlightened Equipment Revelation and other custom models – that can be opened up fully like a blanket. And since it doesn’t have a hood, it’s not going to be quite as warm as a more traditional sleeping bag. That said, we usually choose a quilt like the Classic for our 3-season adventures.
Bottom line
The Zpacks Classic Sleeping Bag is an excellent choice for those wanting to build the lightest possible sleep system for backpacking. It’s stuffed with top-quality 900-fill-power down that’s highly packable and delightfully warm for the weight. This sleeping bag/quilt hybrid is more expensive than many other options from our Best Backpacking Quilts and Best Sleeping Bags lists, but few can compare to the incredible specs of the Classic.
