Great Walks' Gear Guru Dan Slater reviews Macpac's Epic 600 sleeping bag.
"The first time I lay down in the Epic 600 to briefly check it out, I fell asleep. Sure, it was at the end of a long day at work, but still that’s a good sign. Having spent more time in it now, I’m not particularly inclined to change my mind.
It’s a solid design and well put together. A full-length zip means you can open out most of the bag on warmer nights, while leaving your toes tucked up cosily in the footbox, although you’d want to restrain the urge to whip it closed as the anti-snag protection is not as successful as some.
The Pertex Quantum shell is soft and water-resistant, complementing the HyperDRY down treatment to minimise the dreaded feather collapse should your tent be shredded by a violent storm. The Epic’s stuff sack boasts a waterproof roll-top closure but, strangely, no compression straps.
It still packs down reasonably small, just tipping over the 1kg mark at 1091gm, but since it is one of the warmest bags on test, its rating of -5°C to -12°C pushing the definition of a three-season bag, that should be taken into account.
My main quibble would be, as usual, the double drawcords within and without the hood. In all my years of camping, certainly in Australia, I have rarely needed to tighten a hood, and they always get in my face. Cut them out!"
RRP: $899. macpac.com.au
Dan reviews another seven sleeping bags in the Aug-Sept issue!