Thermarest Haven

[Ironbyron1]

Anyone have a Thermarest Haven sleeping bag? The large is $249 and rated for 20 degrees (I think). It has no zipper or bottom. It appears to be elasticised at the bottom. Just slip your pad in the foot section, slide your legs in. Pull the top of the bag over the shoulders. While sitting up slide the other end of the pad between you and your back and lie down. 1lb 8oz for the large. 60" shoulder and waist room.
If anyone has used one please let me know if you liked it, how well or poorly it worked!

Thanks,
Byron

[bogiesan]

You can search the whole 'net for reviews and opinions about "sleeping quilts" to get an idea of how well these pad and top-only bags work together. You might find references to Thermarest's products.
I first heard about this idea teinty-five years ago when researching ultralight backpacking techniques. It is sound and it works: there's no reason to carry and then to compress to uselessness the insulation on the bottom of your sleeping bag. There is only drawback I've heard about. If you are a restless sleeper, you cannot curl your legs up, especially if you are trying to reduce every possible gram and have opted for a mummy configuration.

Give the forum a couple of days for folks to drop by and offer up additional experiences. Meantime, ultrlight backpacking sites may give you some practical recommendations.

david boise ID

[TomMignon]

Look at the Big Agnes way of doing it. they put a pocket in the bottom of the bag for the pad and don't put the down under you.  It works real well.  I just used one of their Park series for larger people. (I weigh in at 240)  and it worked better than my previous bag.  I didn't slip off the pad in the night even when my tent was on a slope.  I haven't tried the Thermarest but it probably work well. 

Did this help or just confuse the issue?

Tom