It would be fair to say that I am a tough equipment critic, but the reality is––I’m simply an unabashed gear snob. Mediocrity holds no quarter in my equipment closet. With that in mind, I presumed the custom-made sleeping bags I used for years were pinnacle products, and I suppose at one time they were. You can see where I’m going with this. I have a new favorite brand.
When Sea to Summit released their first sleeping bags a few years ago, I admit I dismissed them as just another entry into an already competitive space. More in-depth research proved I was categorically wrong and their bags are not just another also ran, but are redefining industry standards. It wasn’t until I used one of their bags to sit out a hurricane force storm in Iceland, complete with freezing rain, that I realized Sea to Summit bags are pushing into the next level.
At the core of a Seat to Summit bag is their use of ULTRA-DRYDown. Employing science I can barely wrap my head around, it is a process by which premium quality down is treated on a microscopic level with advanced polymers to make each tiny down plume virtually waterproof. The result is a down that resists moisture, dries quickly when it gets saturated, and returns to full loft when dry. The treatment is so sophisticated it even bolsters the natural loft of the down fibers. It also quells the odors inherent to duck down and extends the service life of the fill.
Incredible as the down is, it is nothing without a well designed shell to contain it. There are elements to good bag design that cannot be overlooked. These are things like a well defined hood, a trapezoidal foot box, the inclusion of a full-length draft tube at the zipper, and of course, well shaped baffles to maximize the efficiency of the down. Suffice it to say, Sea to Summit has nailed every aspect of these attributes, all of them evident in the Talus TsI I have been using for the last several months. If I had one minor fuss, it would be with the size of the foot box. Even with my average sized feet, it does feel a tiny bit small.
By combining 2D nylon NanoShell fabric and 750+ ULTRA-DRYDown European duck down, the Talus Ts I joins two leading materials to create a premium bag. But they don’t stop there. Within the storage bag is a small black envelope containing a certificate detailing the quality of the down within that particular bag. This document certifies the exact fill-power (a measure of loft) as well as other factors like what tiny percentage of various feather fibers entered the mix. The certificate is signed by the individual lab technician who performed the tests. Pretty fancy.
In use, the Talus Ts I performs better than many other bags I’ve used. The cut is generous for a mummy shape, and the baffles remain lofted as I roll, toss, and turn. On a cold morning with a slight layer of dew on my bag, I was able to give the shell a quick shake as tiny drops of water rolled onto the ground. Dry as a bone, I packed it away without enduring that annoying ritual of waiting for the sun to dry my bag.
In November I took the Talus TsI on a week long trek into the Khumbu Valley in Nepal. Despite my luxurious teahouse accommodations, few of them had heat. When nighttime temps at altitudes over 12,000 feet plummeted into the low 40s––inside my room––I was snug as a bug in my bag.
With a low temperature rating of 23ºF and a total weight of just under two pounds, the Talus TsI is an ideal three season option. It comes packaged with a zippered storage bag, a cotton wash sack, and an Ultra-Sil silicon-nylon compression stuff sack. At $350 many may find the price knee weakening, but given the level of quality, performance, and expected longevity, it is a very reasonable value.
