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 further 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 snug 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 excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, and options just like the no-snag zipper, included compression sack, and ethically sourced down are simply the cherry on prime.

Nevertheless, the Phantom 0’s match is slender, which is a bit restrictive should you wish to unfold out. The consolation score of 13°F means it will not be heat sufficient should you’re tenting in temperatures below 15-20°F. And, whereas the bag is well-priced for a 0°F bag, it’s nonetheless a serious 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 vital issues to take a look at when deciding if a sleeping bag goes to be as heat as its temperature score suggests are fill energy and fill weight. The Phantom is filled with 30 ounces of 850-fp down – something above 800-fp is mostly thought-about 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 actually 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 possibility. It’s vital to needless to say the Phantom’s consolation score is 13°F, so most individuals most likely received’t keep snug 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 people who aren’t staying heat with the next temperature bag on a decently insulated sleeping pad, will love this distinctive winter sleeping bag.

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

Consolation

Not solely is that this bag one of many warmest choices for backcountry nights, it’s one of the vital snug. The 20D nylon taffeta material is so clean and delicate in opposition to the pores and skin that we at all times stay up for slipping into the Phantom 0 after a protracted day of snowshoeing, skinning, and trudging by 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, snug entry from inside or exterior 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 slender, which feels restrictive for folk 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 after we favor 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 positively one of many lighter choices we thought-about. 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 can be 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 components that make it one of many heavier luggage.

However, this weight is definitely 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 straightforward air flow and hassle-free entry and exit. The mother minimize effectively maximizes the warmth-to-weight ratio, and the big, four-chamber hood is large enough to accommodate a backpacking pillow and retains the heat wrapped round your head. The Gore-Tex exterior supplies glorious climate resistance, and this mannequin additionally comes with left-hand and right-hand zippers so you’ll be able to 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 straightforward to pack and retailer the bag at house and in your backpack. 

Regardless of its many options, the Phantom 0 has a number of drawbacks. Sometimes, the zipper will slide down when transferring round within the night time, probably 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 favor, proscribing foot motion, and huge sizes should not out there. 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 pacesetter in relation to 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 regularly 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 laborious pressed to discover a lighter, extra sturdy, or efficient down backpacking dag for tenting in harsh, chilly environments. 

Nevertheless, the slender match will not be as snug for nighttime tosser-turners, and its excessive worth level – one of the vital costly luggage we thought-about – could also be a barrier for budget-conscious consumers. It’s additionally particularly designed for sub-zero temperatures, so the Phantom could also be too heavy, heat, and hulking for many backpackers and most mountain climbing climates. That stated, 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 Contemplate?

Sea to Summit Spark 15 Assessment: Much 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 way more compact, making it higher suited to ultralight backpacking at colder temperatures.

Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 Assessment: Relating to top-of-the-line luggage made by cottage firms with a watch in direction of high quality, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is instantly aggressive by worth, fill energy, and heat. The UltraLite 20, nevertheless, is lighter, has the next temperature score, and presents a wider minimize, making it extra snug and versatile for extra customers.

Feathered Pals 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 cheaper, has the next consolation score, and weighs considerably much less – and for a barely increased fill energy.