Outdoor Gear Reviews | ub Outdoors

September 10, 2009 in Backpacking & Camping, Featured by Carl H. Martens

The Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 ultralight synthetic sleeping bag is an ideal choice for backpacking, climbing or camping in cool, damp conditions.  With its welded-insulation the bag offers outstanding compressibility and durability.  The sack checks in at 870 grams (2.1 pounds), comes in two sizes, and retails for right around $200.  The bag comes with an ultra-light compression sack as well as a large mesh storage sack. 

The Ultralamina uses Thermic Micro insulation which compresses tighter and springs back faster.  The benefit of welded insulation: With glued rather than sewn seams, fill doesn’t get pinched together to create cold spots. As a result, the UltraLamina squeezes even more warmth out of less insulation than traditional sacks. Welded construction also helps improve the shell’s water resistance.  Even when our bag got damp on a backpacking trip it still maintained its loft and provided enough insulation to keep me warm.

The shell fabric is a light, tear resistant, DWR-coated ripstop nylon.  Face gasket and tailored hood seal in warmth.  I especially liked the UltraLamina’s dual-entry half zips shave weight and allow you to stick your arms out of the bag without losing lower body heat.  It has a reinforced material along the zippers which makes for an almost snag free bag (only on a few occasions did it snag).  The stash pocket is generous enough for a headlamp, cell phone, or iPod.  Its mummy cut is intended for those with athletic builds, so if you’re a bit on the festively plump side you might want to consider a slightly larger bag.

Most bags are optimistically rated—and this one’s no different. If you’re a cold sleeper, consider the UltraLamina 15. When temps get too cold I simply add more layers to my dress or use my Cocoon silk liner in combination with the UltraLamina 32.  The internal temp really climbs as you raise the zippers to full mast, leaving me wishing the bag had full zips or a vent system at the base of the bag enabling me to stick a leg or foot out at night.

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MSRP (Long): $200.00
MSRP (Reg): $190.00

Temp. rating: 32 F / 0 C

Bag shape: Performance Mummy Cut

Weight: 1 lb. 15 oz. / 870 g.

EN Rating:  T-Comfort: 46 F / 8 C
EN Raiting T-Limit: 37 F / 3 C

Lining: 20D Nylon Taffeta
Insulation: Thermic Micro
Shell Fabric: 20D Micro Ripstop Nylon

Pros: Lightweight; extremely packable; stays warm when wet; adjustable hood

Cons: Ergonomic cut is a tight fit for some; poor ventilation