Lightwave's Firelight sleeping bags offer amazing warmth for weight, there's no mystery though, they use the very best quality ethically sourced down in a box wall constructed bag.
Lightwave says:
The Firelight 750 is a high quality, lightweight down sleeping bag that is ideal for use in temperatures down to -15°C. Manufactured wholly in Poland, the Firelight 750 is filled with the famed Polish white Goose down that is 100% ethically recovered. The down has a fill-power of 900 cubic inches as measured by the EU norm (and is equivalent to 970 cubic inches using the US standard).
The Firelight 750 has a full length zip that lies on the top of the bag. The zip is protected by a double baffle. There is a full neck collar that can be adjusted to close completely around the neck to provide a complete seal.
The Firelight 750 comes in three sizes and is supplied with a compact stuff sack and a large storage bag.
Typical use: The Firelight 750 is an excellent all-round bag for those who are adventurous, travelling to colder places or trekking at higher altitudes. It is warm enough for summer alpine climbing up to 5000 metres. Its versatility is similar to that of the lighter Firelight 450 model, but more for those who want to err on the side of always being warm rather than risk the chance of the occasional cold night.
Both the quality of construction and the quality of down in Lightwave's Firelight range of sleeping bags ensure that these bags achieve superior ratings when tested to the European EN 13537 standard.
Aside from this obvious quality we like some of the design features, for example the full length zip is on the top of the bag rather than the side - this seems easier to use somehow - when testing a Firelight 450 I could find the zipper much more quickly, and because it starts at the top of the bag I was less likely to turn over leaving it underneath me.
Another curious point was the lack of zip snag, every bag I have ever used snagged at some point, but the Firelight never did. I could quite work this out - but I note the zip is a smaller gauge than usual - which could be it.
The construction describes how the down is held in place (otherwise all the down would fall to the bottom) and what features are incorporated to maximise heat retention or, conversely, regulate your temperature. The Firelight 750 has sufficient down fill to warrant more sophisticated features such as a full-length side baffle, double zip baffles and an insulated neck baffle.
Baffles: Slant box wall throughout
Hood: Fully adjustable cowl
Neck: Fully adjustable baffle
Zip: Full length #5 YKK
Zip baffle: Double
Fabrics
Lightweight fabrics allow the down to loft and reduce the weight of the bag. Although there are lighter-weight versions of the Pertex Quantum fabric we are using, they offer a negligible saving in overall weight and, having a lower tear strength, are easier to damage.
Shell: 29 g/m² 15 denier nylon (Pertex Quantum)
Lining: 29 g/m² 15 denier nylon (Pertex Quantum)
UOG Weights
Small bag weighs: 1066g
Regular bag weighs: 1094g
Large bag weighs: 1232g
The total weight does not include the stuff sack or storage bag
Lightwave Specs
Left hand zip only
Packed size: 35cm x 24cm, 15.8L
EN13537 Comfort rating: -7°C;
EN13537 Lower Limit rating: -14°C;
Fill weight: 750 g (size M)
Fill power: 900 EU (970 US) white Polish Goose down
Lightwave specifications:
User Height
Fill Weight
Total Weight
Zip Length
Internal Width
Internal Length
Short
<170cm
< 5'7"
720g
1000g
135cm
80cm
175cm
Regular
170-183cm
5'7" - 6'
750g
1050g
150cm
80cm
190cm
Long
183-200cm
6' - 6'6"
815g
1125g
175cm
80cm
215cm
EN13537:
Although there are four different measurements, the two most useful (and in our experience reasonably accurate) ones are:
EN13537 Comfort Rating: Temperature at which a standard adult female can have a comfortable night’s sleep.
EN13537 Comfort Rating: The lowest temperature at which a standard adult male is deemed able to have a comfortable night’s sleep.
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