ALPS Mountaineering Blaze -20 Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag

ALPS Mountaineering Blaze -20 Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag is designed as a basecamp or car camping item for extremely cold conditions. Keep reading.

Key features & benefits

What type of sleeping bag is this

Here you have a typical mummy-style sleeping bag built for extreme conditions. As you would expect from such a renown brand, they built it as a very durable bag so you have a polyester ripstop shell (picture below) with a soft polyester liner. You also have a contoured hood, and chest and zipper baffles that keep the warmth in.

The insulation is synthetic here, this is what they call the TechLoft Silver insulation. It is interesting to note that the same insulation is used also in Browning Denali -30 Sleeping Bag. The structure of the Blaze Bag is shown in the picture:

This TechLoft Silver insulation includes multiple denier staple-length fibers that have a siliconized finish. This provides maximum insulation, loft, and compactness. Such insulation is heavier than down but it preserves its insulating features even if it gets wet. They have added #8 zippers, and you also have a two-layer offset construction.

Who is it for

Seasons-wise & climate-wise, in view of its temperature rating which is -20 F (-29 C), this is obviously a sleeping bag for extreme conditions. Please follow the link to see some more options.

Weight-wise, with 8.38 lb (3.8 kg) of weight (for the size XL), this is certainly not an item to carry in the backpack. Note also that it is bulky when packed, you will see how it compares with some of its competitors, there is a comment box below.

Size-wise, they build it in two sizes R and XL, and it is officially declared by the manufacturer as a unisex sleeping bag. You can see the numbers in the picture below. But if you need something specifically for women, check my separate list of sleeping bags for women.

Note also that this bag is quite wide in the shoulder area, at least for a mummy-type sleeping bag. This is because they assume you will have to use several layers if you use the bag in such extreme conditions, so you will need more space. But the foot box is quite narrow as you would expect from a mummy-bag, and this is better so for thermal efficiency.

ALPS shows confidence in its products by offering a limited lifetime warranty, and this is what you have with this sleeping bag. They claim that it will be free of any defects.

ALPS Mountaineering was established in 1993 and this is a part of ALPS Brands that include also ALPS OutdoorZ, Delta Waterfowl Gear, Browning Camping, and Cedar Ridge.

Specifications

• Gender: unisex.
• Temperature rating: -20 F (-29 C).
• Sizes: R & XL.
• Dimensions (L x W):
  – XL: 86 x 36 in (218 x 91 cm).
  – R: 80 x 32 in (203 x 81 cm).
• Weight:
  – XL: 8 lb 6 oz (3.8 kg).
  – R: 6 lb 12 oz (3.06).
• Fill weight:
  – XL: 106 oz (3 kg).
  – R: 84 oz (2.38 kg).
• Stuff sack:
  – XL: 27.5 x 14.5 in (70 x 37 cm).
  – R: 23 x 14 in (58 x 36 cm).

ALPS Mountaineering Blaze Negative 20 Degree Sleeping Bag vs Competitors

It may be interesting to see how this Blaze -20 Bag compares with some other bags built for extremes, this may help in making an informed choice. So I give the mummy-shaped Browning Denali -30 Bag and Teton Sports Celsius -25 which is a rectangular bag. I use the XL version of the Blaze Bag and you realize it is lighter than the other two, but it is bulkier when packed. All of them are very affordable.

Note that the Browning Bag gives around 7 negative degrees per kilogram of the weight while the Blaze and Teton Sports bags give 5.3 and 5.8, respectively. So the Browning Bag is a bit more thermally efficient.

Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons

As of the moment of writing this text there are some reports by customers on Amazon and the rating is very high. My own rating is based on my standard set of criteria which I apply to all the bags here in the site so you can compare easily. Please have a look:

ALPS Mountaineering Blaze -20 Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag

6.6

Weight

3.6/10

Packed size

4.8/10

Temperature rating

10.0/10

Comfort & features

8.1/10

Pros

• Great price.
• Great temperature rating.
• Durable materials.

Cons

• Bulky when packed.
• Heavy.

Please check in our page with Sleeping bags if you need more options. If you need something to carry in the pack, check these lightweight winter sleeping bags. But if you need a bag for a warmer part of the year, you have from the same brand this unique Alps Mountaineering Fusion 40 sleeping bag built without zippers.

Note that this is not a sponsored text, and I am not paid by the brand. Please use the comment box below in case of questions or comments.