Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 Assessment

Backside Line

The Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 and ladies’s Egret YF 20 are among the highest-quality down sleeping luggage anyplace. Their professional mix of light-weight design, inside softness, and excessive fill-power goose down makes for an expensive and heat mummy bag constructed for the backcountry. 

We’ve put these luggage via the wringer they usually proceed to carry out extremely nicely. We’ve taken them on robust journeys in chilly and moist circumstances together with 20-degree nights and snowy hikes within the Cascades, Rockies, and Sonoran Desert. They characteristic a beneficiant draft tube, draft collar, and a fitted reduce that eliminates lifeless area so that you’ll keep as heat as a glowing ember all evening lengthy.

Regardless of the excessive worth, these luggage are value each penny in case your precedence is heat, consolation, and low weight on path. High quality like this undoubtedly doesn’t come low cost, however a heat evening’s sleep within the backcountry when temperatures drop is priceless.

Heat

The Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 is likely one of the few examples of a very correct producer temperature ranking. In different phrases, we’ve trusted this bag on under freezing nights within the Nevada desert and snowy circumstances in Colorado excessive nation, and these luggage saved us very heat. It options 900+ fill-power goose down, one of many highest high quality down fills accessible, that makes for an exceptionally heat and cozy evening of sleep. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer’s favourite characteristic of the YF 20 is the large outsized draft tube, mainly a down-filled barrier that blocks chilly air from seeping via the zipper. It’s larger and extra stuffed than most different premium luggage, and the distinction in heat is noticeable. Plus, the passive collar across the neck – mainly, an space on the opening of the bag that’s overfilled with down – mixed with the mother hood and cushty (however comfortable) match – all however remove lifeless area to entice as a lot physique warmth as potential contained in the bag.

Our solely criticism on the subject of heat? The Swallow YF can really be too sizzling for summer time hikes and hotter climates. Nevertheless, if the temps in your in a single day adventures don’t dip under 40°F to 45°F, Feathered Buddies additionally gives this bag in a 30°F model that makes it much more versatile for hotter climates and sizzling summer time hikes. That stated, we nonetheless extremely suggest the 20°F mannequin. The decrease temp ranking is best for early spring to late fall temperature fluctuations, and even delicate winter journeys. 

Consolation

In case your high precedence is consolation, then your search would possibly finish with the Swallow YF 20. This bag is among the many softest and coziest luggage we examined, and we usually look ahead to the Swallow YF after a protracted day of mountain climbing. We have been impressed with the outsized draft tube alongside the zipper that nearly utterly blocks out chilly air. Its plush loft is finest in school – we discover it loses construction a lot slower than rivals, even after dozens of occasions packing and unpacking on the path. Its clean, easy-to-use zipper makes getting out and in of the bag a breeze, even at nighttime. The massive hood simply accommodates a high quality backpacking pillow. 

And, regardless of being a mummy bag, we discover the Swallow YF is spacious sufficient to maneuver round with out feeling confined – though it’s nonetheless a mummy bag, so it matches extra snugly than quilt-style choices. This mannequin additionally packs small and is simple to hold, which is essential for protecting weight down within the backcountry.

The draw back is the fabric may be loud, particularly when it’s new, which is a little bit of a trouble for gentle sleepers. We additionally discover the cinch twine on the hood – whereas helpful for sealing in heat – may be annoying to entry and regulate throughout the evening as a result of it’s small dimension and exterior entry. And, mummy luggage aren’t essentially an incredible match for everybody – they’re unimaginable for warmth retention, however they’ll really feel restrictive to these used to the liberty of a quilt or if you happen to toss and switch or change positions typically within the evening.

Weight & Packability

Lengthy-distance backpackers and ultralight aficionados will love this bag. At just one pound, 12.7 ounces for males and 1 pound, 13 ounces for girls, the Swallow YF ranks solidly in the course of the pack in comparison with different backpacking sleeping luggage we examined. Because of responsibly sourced 900+ fill-power goose down – among the many very best quality accessible – and ripstop artificial materials, this bag boasts the most effective warmth-to-weight ratios we’ve seen. This mixture of supplies retains the burden down whereas guaranteeing the bag packs small for simple carrying over enormous distances. And we discover that when unpacked, the Swallow YF fluffs up properly in comparison with rivals, even after dozens of occasions taking it out and placing it away, making it an superior alternative for folk who’re spending lots of time on path.

For folk who need a good lighter and barely extra packable bag, the Swallow and Egret additionally are available ultralight variations, though they’re dearer. If funds isn’t a priority, these are our high suggestions for knocking your base weight down with out sacrificing efficiency or heat. Plus, they arrive in alternate colorways that can higher match your fashion. That stated, the YF model gives superior worth: it’s simply 1.7 ounces heavier, however fairly a bit much less spendy.

The draw back of ultralight supplies is that they aren’t as sturdy as luggage made with heavier shells or heartier fills, so they could put on out quicker over prolonged use. We’ve discovered that often, feathers can poke via the surface shell – which takes a little bit of time to reinsert them into the bag – and the light-weight shell is general extra susceptible to rips and tears than thicker luggage. You’ll need to watch out particularly on floor with pine needles, brambles, and rocks. And, the high-quality down requires a bit extra care and a spotlight to take care of versus lower-grade down or artificial choices, though with minimal effort, this bag will final for years and years.

Options

The Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 units the usual for what we count on in a top-tier mummy bag. It has a big, contoured, 3D hood vast sufficient to accommodate a pillow and open vast to dump warmth and improve airflow on heat nights, however cinches tight when temperatures drop, making it versatile for eight months out of the 12 months. The passive collar – which provides additional fill across the neck, however not a completely separate piece of fabric like an everyday draft collar – helps entice warmth and keep heat.

Likewise, the trapezoidal footbox doesn’t compress the perimeters, and offers a bit of additional room in your ft to relaxation naturally. Steady baffles let you manually reposition insulation the place wanted to make sure a tailor-made heat distribution. We just like the snag-free zipper with locking sliders for simple use, and a big, beneficiant draft tube retains chilly air on the zipper, sustaining a comfortable inside. Feathered Buddies additionally features a storage bag and stuff sack for comfort.

The cons of the Swallow YF is that customized ordering can take a number of weeks, so that you’ll need to plan forward – though which means you’ll get precisely the product you need. This mannequin doesn’t have an inner or exterior stash pocket for small gadgets like a chapstick or keys, which is a bit inconvenient. Nonetheless, the Swallow YF 20 stays a feature-rich possibility for backcountry adventurers searching for consolation and performance.

Ought to You Purchase the Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20?

The Feathered Buddies Swallow YF 20 is ideal for long-distance backpackers and ultralight lovers who want a excessive warmth-to-weight ratio and wonderful packability. At 1 pound, 12.7 ounces for males and 1 pound, 13 ounces for girls, it gives a light-weight design perfect for backcountry adventures. Options like the massive hood, snag-free zipper, passive collar, and trapezoidal footbox improve consolation and value. 

Nevertheless, it is probably not appropriate for many who dislike the restrictive mummy bag fashion or want instant availability, as customized orders can take weeks. The dearth of a stash pocket for small gadgets and the cosy match may also be drawbacks for some customers. Total, the Swallow YF 20 is finest for ultralight hikers searching for excessive efficiency and are prepared to attend for a customized product.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Luggage Ought to You Think about?

Zpacks Traditional 20 Assessment: Just like the Swallow YF 20, the Traditional 20 incorporates a excessive fill energy, low weight, and an analogous temperature ranking. However, it’s an incredible different because it’s extra packable – round 10 ounces lighter – and extra reasonably priced, plus it gives extra versatility throughout seasons as a quilt / sleeping bag hybrid.

NEMO Disco 15 Countless Promise Assessment: The Disco 15 is a mummy bag just like the Swallow YF 20, with comparable consolation and options like a hod, draft tube, and full-length zipper. Though it’s fairly a bit heavier, the Disco is a greater possibility if you happen to’re on a funds because it’s extra reasonably priced, plus it gives extra room within the shoulders and footbox.

Sea To Summit Spark 15 Assessment: The Spark 15 goes face to face with the Swallow YF 20 on the subject of consolation, options, and weight. However, it is a little more snug and heat due to its  wider center part and extra slim hood, however you’ll pay extra for it.