Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Assessment

Backside Line

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a real powerhouse for frigid situations and one of many warmest backpacking luggage 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 situations. 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 comfy 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 luggage, it has an impressive 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.

Nevertheless, the Phantom 0’s match is slim, which is a bit restrictive if you happen to wish to unfold out. The consolation ranking of 13°F means it is probably not heat sufficient if you happen to’re tenting in temperatures below 15-20°F. And, whereas the bag is well-priced for a 0°F bag, it’s nonetheless a significant 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 essential 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 usually thought of 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 basically 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 essential to remember the fact that the Phantom’s consolation ranking is 13°F, so most individuals in all probability received’t keep comfy 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 situations, or those who aren’t staying heat with a better temperature bag on a decently insulated sleeping pad, will love this distinctive winter sleeping bag.

The one draw back of the unimaginable heat, large loft, and plush really feel of this bag is it’s too heat for many summer time adventures. For those who’ll be tenting repeatedly in temperatures at or above 40°F, we suggest a extra breathable and light-weight bag with a better temperature ranking.

Consolation

Not solely is that this bag one of many warmest choices for backcountry nights, it’s probably the most comfy. The 20D nylon taffeta cloth is so clean and mild towards 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, comfy 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 a bit of slim, 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, however it’s a bit cumbersome and cumbersome on barely hotter evenings once we choose extra air flow.

Weight & Packability

Coming in at 2 kilos, 10.6 ounces, the Phantom 0 is without doubt one of the heavier sleeping luggage on our backpacking information – though in comparison with aggressive winter sleeping luggage, it’s undoubtedly one of many lighter choices we thought of. 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 luggage.

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

Options

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Sleeping Bag is full of options that make it excellent for chilly nights within the backcountry. The sturdy, clean 2-way zippers – together with glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls – present simple air flow and hassle-free entry and exit. The mum minimize effectively maximizes the warmth-to-weight ratio, and the massive, four-chamber hood is large enough 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 luggage collectively, making it a flexible selection 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 house and in your backpack. 

Regardless of its many options, the Phantom 0 has just a few drawbacks. Often, the zipper will slide down when shifting round within the night time, doubtlessly letting in chilly air. We love the contoured foot field for retaining heat, however the backside half of the bag is narrower than some would possibly choose, proscribing foot motion, and broad sizes are usually not accessible. 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 frontrunner in terms of high-performance winter sleeping luggage.

Ought to You Purchase the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0?

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a dream for devoted winter adventurers and people who often camp in chilly situations. 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 nicely under freezing. The beneficiant down collar and draft tube successfully block the coldest chills. You’ll be arduous pressed to discover a lighter, extra sturdy, or efficient down backpacking dag for tenting in harsh, chilly environments. 

Nevertheless, the slim match is probably not as comfy for nighttime tosser-turners, and its excessive worth level – probably the most costly luggage we thought of – could also be a barrier for budget-conscious patrons. 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 climbing climates. That mentioned, the Phantom 0 is the golden egg for hikers who need the very best of the very best for heat and luxury in sub-zero temperatures from the dry, open desert to the snowy alpine.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Baggage Ought to You Take into account?

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

Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 Assessment: In the case of top-of-the-line luggage made by cottage corporations with a watch in the direction of high quality, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is immediately aggressive by worth, fill energy, and heat. The UltraLite 20, nonetheless, is lighter, has a better temperature ranking, and presents a wider minimize, making it extra comfy and versatile for extra customers.

Feathered Mates Swallow YF 20 Assessment: Akin to the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 by way of high-quality down fill, best-of-the-best consolation, and glorious heat. Nevertheless, the Swallow YF 20 is inexpensive, has a better consolation ranking, and weighs considerably much less – and for a barely increased fill energy.