Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) — one of my favourite outdoor stores — is selling a sleeping bag on clearance, and it’s a good opportunity to tell you about both the product and the store. They’re selling this bag as a “Second-quality” product, and the reality is anything but. The original designation listed this as a -3ºC (26ºF) bag. Due to comments about its effectiveness, they re-labelled it as +3ºC (37ºF), but MEC has always been good about erring on the side of the cautious, so even with the new labelling, they’re selling off their stock at a lower price.
I purchased this sleeping bag well before the clearance, and recently received a letter from the company, inviting me to come in to the store and receive the difference between my original purchase price, and this new clearance price. I happily accepted the credit.
It’s an excellent lightweight down bag, and right around the freezing mark makes it a perfect bag for the ‘sweet spot’ camping that I love to do in the fall.
As with any down product, you need to worry about moisture, so make sure you don’t get it wet (you’re doing something wrong). Even then, however, it can survive a few roof leaks or a mildly damp occupant, since the down has been treated with a water-repellant concoction, and the shell will bead the occasional drop. It won’t save you from abusing your gear, but it’s nice to not have to sweat the wet stuff as much.
I’ve used it in a hammock and on the ground, and both sleep wonderfully warm, as long as you’ve got adequate back insulation, like a Thermarest or closed-cell foam pad. I currently own multiple sleeping bags, from down, to synthetic, and even a few hybrids, and the MEC bags get better with every design and every year. Many of their “house” designs are based on high-end, brand-name products, but often they have improvements — and they’re actually improvements, not just features that seemed like a good idea in a boardroom, or for a package label. Design decisions on MEC products seem to be made by people that actually use this sort of gear.
As with any down product, you need to worry about moisture, so make sure you don’t get it wet (you’re doing something wrong). Even then, however, it can survive a few roof leaks or a mildly damp occupant, since the down has been treated with a water-repellant concoction, and the shell will bead the occasional drop. It won’t save you from abusing your gear, but it’s nice to not have to sweat the wet stuff as much.
Here are the specs from their website:
MEC Merlin DF Sleeping Bag +3C *Seconds*
Weight: 774g (Regular Left Zip)
Our slimmest, most technical down bag blends the magic from our original Merlin and Pharaoh DF lines, and updates it with improved fabrics, fill, and construction. Mountaineers, alpinists, and hikers who prize lightness and performance will find lots to love here. We shaved weight from this bag by dispensing with a neck yoke and rear muff, and overstuffing the first chamber and hood closure to minimize drafts.
- Shell and lining are highly water-resistant DWR-treated Pertex nylon.
- Footbox and hood are protected with Pertex Endurance, an ultra-thin membrane that improves water resistance while allowing breathability.
- Down fill is DWR treated so it resists dampness and dries and relofts quickly if it does become damp.
- Baffles on the front and back of the torso are vertical rather than horizontal to reduce down shift around your core.
- Two-way, ¾-length zip allows heat adjustment without excess weight.
- Hood and shoulder drawcords have different profiles, so you can tell them apart in the dark.
- Small internal pocket holds glasses, headlamp, etc.
- Glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls.
- Roll top stuff sack included.
- Note: This item is considered a second-quality product. Due to comments received from members, we retested these bags and discovered unacceptable variation in the amount of down used. We have adjusted the temperature rating from -3 to +3 and dropped the price accordingly.
I don’t work for MEC, and I don’t receive any benefits from saying this, but I have to point out that they have by far the best returns policy I’ve ever encountered. Unlike other stores that make their customers feel like they’ve done something wrong (*Europe Bound, cough*), MEC employees are always happy to make sure that your experience with their products is rock solid.