9 minute read
Test af Big Agnes Lost Ranger
from Magasinet Outsite 31
by Outsite.dk
The Big Agnes sleep system
A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL SEASONS
WITH PADRAIG CROKE
Could this be the best sleep system out there? That’s a very strong statement, I know, But for a lightweight and versatile sleeping system, the Big Agnes Lost Ranger 3n1 20F (renamed to 15F if you’re looking for it online) and Rapide SL sleeping pad combo is a solid choice. 3N1 System Bags offer three bag configurations for versatility with a roomy sleeping space that keeps you on your pad throughout the night. Big Agnes says It’s the only bag you need for 3-season camping, backpacking, and everywhere in between. These lightweight, downfill bags deliver comfort and versatility no matter your sleep style or temperature preference. The result is a system that can work for you almost all year round. Let’s take a look at it together, and you’ll understand why I’m so excited about it
I am not a big person. At 171cm and weighing 65kg, my options when it comes to comfort and packability are somewhat limited. Furthermore, I do not drive, and so 90% of my adventures are reached either by boat, train, bicycle, or my own two legs. So as you can imagine, living in Finland, where the winter temps can get down to -25ºC, packing can become quite a challenge after you have factored in your sleeping system, winter jacket, and extra layers. Lately, I have been using my bicycle to get out to the woods and although I can carry more, space on the bike is still an important factor. This is where Big Agnes comes in. I need something that is modular, flexible with the seasons, light and packable, but warm enough to work in the environment I live.
A QUICK SCIENCE RECAP As we know from our science class in school, heat transfers in three ways: conductive, convective, and radiation. When it comes to our outdoor adventures, understanding these terms plays a big role in how we stay warm, but also how we cool off, how we regulate and modulate our clothing, and ultimately have a comfortable experience regardless of the weather. I won’t get into too much detail on all of them here, but the one we can concentrate on when
it comes to sleeping comfortably is conductive heat loss. In my experience, and in talking to others over the years, this is the one that people get wrong, leading to a restless and cold night in the woods. When two objects are in contact with each other, heat will transfer between them. When we are in contact with the cold, hard earth, the ground sucks all the heat from our bodies. This is what we are trying to insulate and protect ourselves from. A sleeping bag’s weight and its insulating properties are only half the story. How you are insulating yourself from the ground is also a major factor. Also, under your back, your sleeping bag filling gets completely squished and becomes useless.
That’s where sleeping mats come in. A good sleeping mat is not just providing a cushy surface for your body, it’s also protecting you from the adverse effects of the cold ground against your body. The air inside it, and the lining (if it has a lining) work by reflecting your own heat back to you and reflecting the cold underneath away. The mat’s ability to do this will be noted in its resistance rating, R rating for short. This goes from 1 being a very lightweight, summer pad, to 5 being a super-insulated winter pad. RAPIDE SL SLEEPING PAD Very thick and very comfortable, The Rapide SL has an R rating of 4.2, meaning it’s going to be great at insulating you from the gound, even in quite cold environments. This is achieved by having a thick layer of air between you and the ground, as well as a PrimaLoft Silver Insulation inside the pad itself. You could boost that insulation by putting a space blanket down first, but so far I have had absolutely no cold spots. A 3.5” thick pad with 4.25” larger outer chambers keep you comfortably cradled in the middle of the pad, and you won’t feel the ground at hot spots like your hips or shoulders like you might with some pads. It’s almost as good as a regular mattress you’d have at home.
Inflating the pad takes a little longer than I’m used to with my Thermarest, but the extra time it takes is definitely worth it, if it means hours of comfortable, restful sleeping. The mat is inflated using a large valve at the top, which can either be inflated with your breath or by using the inflating bag that it comes with. I found the latter was my preference, allowing me to have the mat fully inflated in about 3-4 minutes. The release valve is very fast, and you can have the mat deflated and rolled into its pouch in no time at all.
TOTAL WEIGHT:510G PACKED SIZE:11 X 19CM MAX. THICKNESS:11CM MIN. THICKNESS:9CM R VALUE - TECH:4.2
LOST RANGER OUTER QUILT With the outer bag, BA has removed the bottom layer of the sleeping bag, essentially stripping away half the bulk and weight of an already lightweight down bag. Due to the fact that you are presumably sleeping on an adequate R-rated mat, the bottom layer is unnecessary anyway, as we have seen. Down quilts are nothing new in the outdoor community and have been adopted by ultralight hikers instead of traditional sleeping bags for a while. But what’s great about this setup is that, with the removal of the bottom layer, there is a type of sheet replacing it. This sheet attaches to the sleeping mat with a simple drawstring, securing you to your mat but also creating an enclosed system, helping you to retain heat and removing any potential for a draught or cold spot, were it simply a quilt over you. The bottom sheet also features a pillow flap to keep your pillow under you and secure while you sleep. The pad cinch system is also adjustable to a variety of pad sizes. The self-equalizing drawstring easily connects the bag to the pad and the middle securement feature provides extra stability. This means that you could basically combine your Lost Ranger with any sleeping pad, not just the BA one. The quilt layer has excellent zippers. The main one at the top is quite robust and its design makes it less likely to snag in the material. At the bottom end there is also a zipper, should you need to get a
little ventilation at your feet on hot nights. The 650 down fill is excellent and the nylon outer is extremely soft and comfortable to sleep in. Another thing that I like about the outer quilt is the fact that you are not enclosed like a regular sleeping bag, so I can lie on my side or on my stomach, as is normally my preference at home, without getting smothered in my sleeping bag. INNER BAG The inner bag is working in much the same way as any regular sleeping bag and has a comfort rating of 0 degrees Celsius. It can be used on its own, or in combination with the other layers and when they are stacked together, the stitching and lining are offset from each other, eliminating any potential cold spots and maximizing the insulating properties of both. The great thing about this is the system essentially gives you two summer bags, so you can easily share your sleeping bag with someone if needed.
The inner bag has a center zip, again, eliminating any potential cold spots offsetting it from the side zip on the outer bag. The hood is similar to a down jacket, meaning it fits snugly to your head keeping that heat trapped and close to the body. The construction, they say, is similar to their sidewinder sleeping bag, meaning it’s designed to be a side sleeper too if that is your preference. I have not needed to combine the whole system together yet, so I am interested to get into the winter season with the Lost Ranger setup and see how it fares.
RECOMMENDED PAD SIZE:51 - 76 x 183 - 198cm MAX USER HEIGHT:183cm COMPRESSED BAG SIZE:23 x 20cm STUFF SACK SIZE:14L 20 x 45cm FOOT GIRTH:109cm (Inner) | 140cm (Outer) HIP GIRTH:137cm (Inner) | 155cm (Outer) SHOULDER GIRTH:157cm (Inner) | 175cm (Outer) TOTAL FILL WEIGHT:539g TOTAL WEIGHT:1.28kg INNER BAG WEIGHT:567g OUTER BAG WEIGHT:680gI INNER BAG FILL WEIGHT:283g OUTER BAG FILL WEIGHT:255g FILL TYPE - TECH:650 DownTek™ FINAL THOUGHTS Honestly, this system is the closest thing I have found to the perfect setup for my style of camping. I am really looking forward to the winter season ahead, packing the bicycle and heading into the frozen forest, and the BA system is going to be right there with me. Of course, even if it’s not up to the challenge, I can always simply put my heavier down winter bag into the system, instead of the light inner bag that it comes with. This is truly a modular system, and well worth seeing if it would suit your needs. The only small gripe I have is the sack for the sleeping bags. Rather than be made from the same material as the sleeping bags, I would much rather have a waterproof roll-top or something similar that I can compress and keep my sleeping bag dry on the bike. But of course, this is an easy fix. Extremely good quality and value, in my opinion, I think the BA Lost Ranger will see you through most adventures you throw at it.
YOU CAN WATCH MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE TO SEE THE LOST RANGER IN ACTION.
