Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Evaluation

Backside Line

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a real powerhouse for frigid situations and one of many warmest backpacking luggage we’ve examined. With 850-fill-power down, a full-length draft tube to seal in warmth, and a beneficiant down collar to bolster the fluffy insulation, you’ll keep additional cozy in chilly situations. That is Gear Analyst Ian Krammer’s go-to bag for tenting from November till April within the Utah desert and the Colorado excessive nation, the place he’s stayed comfy from sundown til dawn on the longest, coldest nights of the yr. Regardless of being lighter and extra affordably priced in comparison with many winter luggage, it has an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio, and options just like the no-snag zipper, included compression sack, and ethically sourced down are simply the cherry on high.

Nonetheless, the Phantom 0’s match is slender, which is a bit restrictive when you wish to unfold out. The consolation score of 13°F means it will not be heat sufficient when you’re tenting in temperatures beneath 15-20°F. And, whereas the bag is well-priced for a 0°F bag, it’s nonetheless a serious funding in comparison with different choices.

Heat

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a no brainer for all-season adventurers. It’s particularly made  for tenting in frigid shoulder season climate and winter, or for chilly sleepers who’ve a tough time staying heat at night time.  Two necessary issues to take a look at when deciding if a sleeping bag goes to be as heat as its temperature score suggests are fill energy and fill weight. The Phantom is filled with 30 ounces of 850-fp down – something above 800-fp is usually thought-about very high-quality down, so this bag leads the pack for heat.

The Phantom additionally has a full-length draft tube and a wraparound draft collar that basically seal within the warmth on chilly nights. This bag additionally makes use of Gore-Tex to shed water on journeys when moist down merely isn’t an possibility. It’s necessary to take into account that the Phantom’s consolation score is 13°F, so most individuals in all probability received’t keep comfy all the way in which all the way down to 0°F, however that’s not what most individuals want more often than not. Hikers heading into the backcountry in sub-freezing situations, or people who aren’t staying heat with the next temperature bag on a decently insulated sleeping pad, will love this distinctive winter sleeping bag.

The one draw back of the unbelievable heat, large loft, and plush really feel of this bag is it’s too heat for many summer time adventures. If you happen to’ll be tenting frequently in temperatures at or above 40°F, we suggest a extra breathable and light-weight bag with the next temperature score.

Consolation

Not solely is that this bag one of many warmest choices for backcountry nights, it’s one of the comfy. The 20D nylon taffeta cloth is so easy and delicate towards the pores and skin that we all the time stay up for slipping into the Phantom 0 after a protracted day of snowshoeing, skinning, and trudging by means of snow and ice. The beneficiant down collar and draft tube lock in heat, and the no-snag zipper and lengthy zipper pulls make for simple, comfy entry from inside or outdoors the bag. We additionally just like the easy-to-use cinch cords for the hood, and the compression sack is a bit stretchy for simple packing on chilly mornings earlier than hours of backcountry journey.

Our solely complaints are that the bag’s match is a little bit slender, which feels restrictive for people who sleep on their abdomen or unfold out like a starfish whereas sleeping. And, the overstuffed draft collar is superior for locking in warmth on very chilly nights, however it’s a bit cumbersome and cumbersome on barely hotter evenings after we favor extra air flow.

Weight & Packability

Coming in at 2 kilos, 10.6 ounces, the Phantom 0 is among the heavier sleeping luggage on our backpacking information – though in comparison with aggressive winter sleeping luggage, it’s undoubtedly one of many lighter choices we thought-about. Mountain Hardwear successfully retains the load down with tons of compressible and ethereal 850-fill down insulation and a light-weight 10D recycled shell, with out skimping on options which can be important to maintain you heat within the snow and ice, like a sturdy Gore-Tex shell, overstuffed draft tubes, and a big, closely baffled hood. However, these are the identical parts that make it one of many heavier luggage.

However, this weight is definitely not a dealbreaker. The Phantom 0 is available in at a decrease weight and value in comparison with most winter sleeping luggage, so it’s our favourite suggestion for chilly sleepers and year-round explorers.

Options

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Sleeping Bag is full of options that make it good for chilly nights within the backcountry. The sturdy, easy 2-way zippers – together with glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls – present simple air flow and hassle-free entry and exit. The mother reduce effectively maximizes the warmth-to-weight ratio, and the massive, four-chamber hood is large enough to accommodate a backpacking pillow and retains the heat wrapped round your head. The Gore-Tex exterior gives wonderful climate resistance, and this mannequin additionally comes with left-hand and right-hand zippers so you possibly can zip two luggage collectively, making it a flexible alternative for {couples} and teams to share heat whereas tenting. Mountain Hardwear additionally features a light-weight nylon compression sack and a mesh storage sack, so it’s simple to pack and retailer the bag at dwelling and in your backpack. 

Regardless of its many options, the Phantom 0 has a couple of drawbacks. Often, the zipper will slide down when shifting round within the night time, probably letting in chilly air. We love the contoured foot field for retaining heat, however the backside half of the bag is narrower than some would possibly favor, limiting foot motion, and extensive sizes will not be accessible. And the Gore-Tex exterior, whereas including sturdiness and climate resistance, can sound a bit noisy and make the bag stiff and fewer compressible in comparison with different supplies. Nonetheless, these are minor points. The Phantom 0 is the boss of cold-weather options and a frontrunner with regards to high-performance winter sleeping luggage.

Ought to You Purchase the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0?

The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 is a dream for devoted winter adventurers and people who incessantly camp in chilly situations. With its spectacular warmth-to-weight ratio and high-quality 850-fill-power down, this one is ideal for hikers and campers who want dependable insulation in temperatures properly beneath freezing. The beneficiant down collar and draft tube successfully block the coldest chills. You’ll be exhausting pressed to discover a lighter, extra sturdy, or efficient down backpacking dag for tenting in harsh, chilly environments. 

Nonetheless, the slender match will not be as comfy for nighttime tosser-turners, and its excessive value level – one of the costly luggage we thought-about – could also be a barrier for budget-conscious patrons. It’s additionally particularly designed for sub-zero temperatures, so the Phantom could also be too heavy, heat, and ponderous for many backpackers and most mountain climbing climates. That mentioned, the Phantom 0 is the golden egg for hikers who need one of the best of one of the best for heat and luxury in sub-zero temperatures from the dry, open desert to the snowy alpine.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Baggage Ought to You Contemplate?

Sea to Summit Spark 15 Evaluation: Much like the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0, the Sea to Summit Spark 15 provides wonderful warmth-to-weight ratio in a sensible, mummy-style design with high-quality down fill. Nonetheless, the Spark 15 is a full pound lighter and far more compact, making it higher suited to ultralight backpacking at colder temperatures.

Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 Evaluation: In the case of top-of-the-line luggage made by cottage corporations with an eye fixed in the direction of high quality, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 is straight aggressive by value, fill energy, and heat. The UltraLite 20, nonetheless, is lighter, has the next temperature score, and provides a wider reduce, making it extra comfy and versatile for extra customers.

Feathered Pals Swallow YF 20 Evaluation: Similar to the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 by way of high-quality down fill, best-of-the-best consolation, and wonderful heat. Nonetheless, the Swallow YF 20 is cheaper, has the next consolation score, and weighs considerably much less – and for a barely increased fill energy.