Snugpak Special Forces 1 Sleeping Bag

The Snugpak Special Forces 1 is a suitable sleeping bag from early to late summer in moderate climates. It uses state-of-the-art fabrics to keep you dry, comfortable, and warm.

• Comfort 5 °C / 41 °F
• Water-resistant and windproof shell
• Weight: 1200 g / 42 oz

Made in the UK.

Features

The Snugpak Special Forces series sleeping bags have a central non-locking zipper for rapid exits from the bag and a durable lining to withstand sleeping with combat boots on. The secondary inner fabric is Reflectatherm that is designed to reflect heat and retain warmth. The construction of the fabrics ensures that any water from the body will be moved to the outside of the bag.

Special Forces models can also be layered, SF2 inside the SF1, to gain effectively "three bags in one," the combination being comfortable to -15 ºC (5 F) with an extreme limit of -20 ºC (-4 F). There's a separate Zip Baffle for joining the bags together, but you can just tie the outer SF2 puller to the inner SF1 puller to operate them with a single motion.

You'll need a bigger compression bag for the combination. In fact, consider one in any case: the included compression bag is big enough for packing in controlled indoor environments but out in the bush, you will appreciate clearance for ease of stuffing.

• No stitch-through construction to reduce the risk of cold spots
• The internally reinforced foot box allows you to keep your boots on
• Elasticated drawcord-adjustable hood
• Two-way YKK side zips with insulated baffle behind
• Anti-snag zipper webbing tape
• Hanging tabs at the foot end

The cut is suitable for Medium-sized persons and smaller. Trimming excess size makes the bag easier to warm up and reduces the weight on your shoulders during the day. If this sounds constricting, check out the more roomy Carinthia Defence 1 or Tropen instead.

Materials and care

Snugpak sleeping bags can be washed in a front-loading washing machine at 30 °C with the delicate program. Snugpak recommends low or fragrance-free powders or special cleaners for waterproof textiles, such as Nikwax Tech Wash. Do not tumble dry and do not store compressed.

The performance of a sleeping bag degrades when it's dirty but also with each wash: consider using a sleeping bag liner to avoid washing for as long as possible.

Outer Fabric: Paratex Steelplate

Paratex Steelplate is used on the premium Snugpak models. It's a tough and lightweight 100% Nylon fabric with a breathability of 12 liters / 1 m² / 24 hours. Being windproof and Durable Water Repellent, it shields your body from the elements when you are not using a tent.

Inner Fabric: Paratex Light

Like above, but even lighter. Slick surface for low-drag operators.

Inner Fabric 2: Reflectatherm

Reflectatherm is a metallized 100% Polyester fabric. It is specially coated with metallic dots to retain and reflect heat with an excellent weight-to-warmth ratio. The coating does not affect breathability and is undetectable by touch.

Insulation: Softie Premier

Softie Premier is created from staple yarns that mirror the compositions of natural insulation as opposed to continuously extruded as in most synthetic fills. A variety of yarn processes are applied to give a more random effect i.e. some are curled, some crimped, and some are just left as they are. This randomness creates extra voids and loft to trap more warm air whilst keeping the same weight as a standard insulation. Made in Switzerland!

Specifications

Compression bag included.

The temperature ratings are Snugpak's own and may not be comparable to other brands. The Comfort figures seem conservative, which means you don't need to buy "warmer than you need" with Snugpak. The Extreme ratings are temperatures in which the sleeping bags have been used by fit individuals with the minimum of discomfort. When in doubt, use the comfort figure as guidance.