RADICAL 16H - THE WARMEST SLEEPING BAG IN THE WORLD
Can the best sleeping bag in the world be selected from hundreds of options? Yes, it can - it's the Radical 16H. How do we know this, i.e., how the temperature range of a sleeping bag is tested and what determines that one model is warmer than another, you will find out from today's text.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN FROM THIS POST?
- Is Radical 16H the warmest sleeping bag in the world?
- How are the parameters of down determined?
- Why do down sleeping bags provide warmth?
IN BRIEF
Construction-wise, Radical 16H outshines the competition. Filled with the most highly regarded down in the world from white Polish geese with a loftiness of 900 FP and enhanced with an IRL internal coating that reflects up to 50% of body heat, it allows you to survive even in extreme conditions: comfort temperature -31/limit temperature -43/extreme temperature -73. Not only is it the warmest expedition sleeping bag in the world, but it also has a high compression ratio, so it doesn't take up much space in your gear. Additionally, it is incredibly lightweight, weighing only 1500 g.
WHY IS A SLEEPING BAG WARM?
Everyone experiences cold and warmth differently. So how do we determine in which temperatures a given product will perform well? There is a way: the temperature range of a sleeping bag is not based on subjective perceptions but on values determined through precise laboratory tests.
Let's start with what makes a sleeping bag warm or not. Firstly, the type of insulation. Natural down insulation provides better cold protection than synthetic alternatives, despite the continuous development of technology. The best in this regard is considered to be down from white Polish geese raised exclusively in Poland. The down with which nature has endowed these birds has a delicate, three-dimensional structure, unlike feathers, which lack a solid quill. This is what creates a kind of spatial construction between the down clusters, allowing still air to accumulate freely in the spaces between them. This still air is the actual insulator. It's worth knowing that a sleeping bag doesn't need to have a large amount of down - what matters is that it is as lofty as possible, as only then will it retain enough warm air.
HOW DO WE COMPARE SLEEPING BAGS?
To determine how warm a sleeping bag is, it is necessary to know the most important parameters of down: loftiness and down-to-feather ratio.
Loftiness is measured in cuin (cubic inches per ounce) and represents the volume that one ounce of down occupies when gently compressed in a test procedure. The more the down expands, the greater its insulating properties will be. As you can imagine, this also affects the compressibility of the product that the insulation fills and therefore the amount of space it occupies in a backpack.
As for the second parameter, it could be summarized as the quality of the fill. Feathers, due to their flattened structure and the presence of a quill, have inferior insulating properties compared to down. Feathers are also heavier, which affects the overall weight of the product. However, obtaining pure down is practically impossible - it is done manually, and the price of such insulation can reach thousands of dollars per kilogram. Therefore, most products contain a mixture of down and feathers. In the outdoor industry, insulation with a down-to-feather ratio ranges from 70/30 to even 97/3 (meaning 97% down and only 3% feathers).
RADICAL 16H - THE WARMEST SLEEPING BAG IN THE WORLD
In addition to the quality of the down, the construction of the sleeping bag is also extremely important. When designing the Radical 16H, Pajak's experts left no room for error. This sleeping bag was created with winter expeditions to the most frigid corners of the world in mind. According to the international standard EN13537 (ISO 23537), it achieves a temperature range from -31 degrees Celsius (comfort temperature) to -43 degrees Celsius (limit temperature). In extreme conditions, it is possible to survive a night in temperatures as low as -73 degrees Celsius. Such temperatures are difficult for most people in our climate zone to even imagine.
Meanwhile, there is only a little over a kilogram of down in the Radical sleeping bag. And that's all it needs! As mentioned before, it is not the quantity of the fill, but its loftiness that plays a crucial role in determining the temperature range of a sleeping bag. In the case of the Radical 16H, it is Polish goose down with a loftiness of 900 FP.
But the phenomenal temperature range of the Radical is not only due to the down. Inside the sleeping bag, a breakthrough solution has been implemented: the addition of an IRL (infrared radiation) reflecting layer (it is worth noting that nearly 60% of the energy released by the human body is in the form of infrared radiation), which reflects 80% of the radiation back to the body for re-warming. The construction details, such as double zipper flaps, a 3D collar, and an adjustable hood, "seal" the sleeping bag in the most critical areas. Every detail matters in Arctic conditions.
The internal structure of the sleeping bag is also unique. Double H-shaped chambers and varying circumferences of individual layers provide additional support. Pajak's experts have created a framework that further enhances the loftiness of the down.
Properly packing equipment is also important during an expedition. The sleeping bag is made with an incredibly lightweight yet super-durable GELANOTS Ultra Light Rip Stop Shell. Its application allows for the construction of a sleeping bag that compresses into a small stuff sack. An additional weight of 1.5 kg and occupying no more than 10 liters of space in the backpack is truly minimal considering the properties that the Radical 16H boasts.
HOW TO CARE FOR A DOWN SLEEPING BAG?
We know there is a lot of talk about the difficulties of maintaining down sleeping bags. However, it doesn't have to be a struggle! The most important thing to remember is to thoroughly dry and air out the sleeping bag after each expedition, wash it periodically, and store it properly. The manufacturer strives to facilitate these processes: special hanging loops are sewn inside and outside the sleeping bag. Thanks to them, the sleeping bag can dry in the correct position without the need for bending and tossing it over a door handle, which can cause the insulation to clump. The sleeping bag also comes with two included bags: a compression sack, which allows it to occupy minimal space in your backpack, and a mesh bag for safe storage in an uncompressed state between expeditions.
The Radical 16H excels in laboratory tests as well as in the field. It is no wonder that it is chosen for expeditions by Himalayan climbers and high-altitude skier Andrzej Bargiel, and used by Gosia Wojtaczka in the South Pole. You can find this and other down sleeping bags on the pajaksport.pl website.
Image source: pajaksport.pl