Therm-A-Relaxation Enhance 650 Sleeping Bag Assessment

Backside Line

It’s uncommon {that a} new-to-market merchandise lands in our prime 3 so rapidly, however the Therm-A-Relaxation Enhance 650 bucks the pattern. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer fell in love with this bag over two dozen nights of automotive tenting and backpacking throughout the Colorado Rockies in summer season and fall. With a comfortable really feel, superior options and a flexible design, it earns an Editor’s Choose on our tenting sleeping baggage information.

The Enhance 650 has a middle zipper that expands the comfortable mummy form to a roomy rectangular match – good for staying heat whereas backpacking, or spreading out when automotive tenting. It additionally has two armhole zippers. This design allow us to maintain our shoulders and heads heat whereas studying a guide – now that’s cozy. Comfortable nylon material, draft collars, and a large stash pocket add to the consolation. We additionally admire that it’s mild and packable, plus it is available in practically each dimension for an impressively inclusive debut.

That stated, all these zippers can really feel like a bit a lot. This design is nice for adaptability, nevertheless it’s overkill if you happen to desire a easy, no-fuss sleeping bag. It’s additionally not as heat because the consolation score suggests and the mother hood is a bit shallow, too, so we’d save this one for the 40-65°F vary. Lastly, the Enhance 650 is a bit spendy. That stated, it’s on the prime of our record for a purpose: this factor provides excellent versatility that few different fashions can provide. If you would like top-tier customizability and packability over simplicity, that is the one for you.

Consolation

The Enhance 650 earns prime marks for consolation from our testers due to its distinctive, comfortable options. Our favourite? The Enhance 650’s distinctive skill to unzip down the center. This zipper permits it to increase from a cosy, restrictive mummy that retains warmth higher to a extra roomy, rectangular form for extra room general. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer is a really energetic sleeper, and the additional inches felt like a revelation on hotter nights switching between his facet, again, and abdomen. 

We’re additionally large followers of two zippered holes on prime. They double as vents for dumping warmth in addition to armholes. We liked having the ability to stick our arms out whereas holding our torso’s heat. Ian used these to learn a guide, scroll his telephone, and extra. The Enhance 650 additionally has inclusive sizing together with quick, common and lengthy, in addition to in huge sizes for every size. There’s a match for practically everybody.

That stated, all these zippers could be a trouble whenever you simply need to crawl into the bag to sleep. A number of occasions, we’ve returned from a midnight lavatory break and unzipped the vent zipper or increasing zipper whereas looking for the primary zipper, which may be annoying. We discover the mother hood is nice for retaining heat, nevertheless it’s a bit comfortable and shallow. And, although the growth function creates more room, it’s nonetheless not as roomy as bigger rectangular baggage constructed purely for consolation. If you would like most stretch-out area, there are higher choices, however for a steadiness of consolation and packability, the Enhance 650 shines.

Heat

The Enhance 650 has one-of-a-kind air flow and warming options. A bag-length zipper on prime permits it to increase from a smaller, heat-efficient mummy form – greatest for retaining warmth all the way down to 40°F – to a wider rectangle, greatest for hotter temps and extra airflow. It has two vents on prime that may be opened from the within or exterior, to not solely fine-tune air flow, but additionally function arm holes. In contrast to many mummy baggage, the full-length, 2-way facet zipper extends all the way in which to the footbox, providing you with further management over airflow with out sacrificing insulation.

The draw back? Testing finds this bag’s temperature score is bold. Ian slept on a frozen lake on this bag, mixed with two excessive R-Worth pads. The in a single day temperatures dropped to 27°F. To remain heat he nonetheless needed to placed on base layers, midlayers, and a puffy.

The principle wrongdoer? There’s simply a variety of zippers. This design will increase the possibility of chilly air sneaking in in comparison with easier designs, though the various draft tubes assist. We additionally discover the hood is a bit shallow, even for a mummy bag, so you could need to order an extended model to provide your self further room. Nonetheless, these are small gripes. This bag is heat for many three-season tenting journeys.

Packed Measurement

Some sleeping baggage eat up treasured pack area, however not the Enhance 650. Regardless of its many zippers, it compresses to simply 20 inches by 7.5 inches in its stuff sack, making it one of many smaller picks on our record. It’s additionally one of many lightest in relation to tenting sleeping baggage – solely 2 kilos, 11 ounces.

Therm-A-Relaxation contains each a compression sack to squish the bag down tightly, in addition to a separate mesh storage sack to keep up loft when not in use. Whether or not you’re heading deep into the backcountry or stuffing your trunk to the gills, the Enhance 650 doesn’t take up a lot room.The tradeoff is that down insulation requires extra maintenance in comparison with artificial. It might’t be saved long-term in its compressed state, so that you’ll want to provide it area when not in use. Down additionally calls for particular washing steps in comparison with artificial insulation.

Options

The Enhance 650 one is filled with intelligent designs. Ian loves the twin vents that double as armholes, good for dumping warmth and reaching out of the bag rapidly. A full-length zipper runs from the hood to the footbox, so we’re capable of stick our ft out on heat nights. An increasing zipper transforms the bag from a heat-trapping mummy form to a roomy rectangular structure. Lengthy zipper pulls make changes straightforward, even with gloves on, and a snap closure on the prime prevents the zipper from slipping open when transferring at evening.

We particularly love the outsized inner pocket – this factor is deep – that simply suits a telephone, headlamp and different small necessities. All these design components make it a great match for nearly any sleeping model or temperature choice.

However, all these zippers can really feel overwhelming, particularly at evening. When it’s darkish, determining which zipper is which could be a little annoying if you happen to desire a extra easy, no-fuss design. Moreover, Therm-A-Relaxation doesn’t embody any zipper plows, so zippers are susceptible to snagging on the material. The inside pocket is spacious, nevertheless it lacks a closure, so smaller objects like chapstick and automotive keys can slip out in a single day if we toss and switch lots. That stated, if you need an in depth function set for the final word versatility, the Enhance 650 is likely one of the greatest.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-rest Enhance 650?

For backpackers and automotive campers who desire a feature-forward, light-weight bag that doesn’t skimp on consolation, go along with the Enhance 650. This bag can’t be beat for options, together with wonderful air flow, arm holes, and an increasing form that shifts from mummy to rectangular. This factor is available in a variety of inclusive sizes. The light-weight design packs small for carrying deep into the backcountry on multi-day treks, nevertheless it’s obtained all the weather we search for in a stable automotive tenting bag as nicely. Sturdy supplies and draft tubes provide dependable heat throughout three-seasons – and even gentle winter nights. This bag delivers each comfort and luxury in a approach few others can match.

That stated, the Enhance 650 is extreme for informal automotive campers who don’t want a high-performance, light-weight sleeping bag. The intensive function set is spectacular, nevertheless it provides pointless complexity if you happen to simply want a easy, heat place to sleep. The mother hood is a bit shallow, and we discover the consolation score is nearer to 40°F. This one is spendy, too, so budget-conscious campers could discover higher worth elsewhere. However if you need an adaptable, light-weight, and ultra-functional bag for each frontcountry and backcountry use, the Enhance 650 is an thrilling addition to our automotive tenting record.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Luggage Ought to You Think about?

If the Therm-A-Relaxation Enhance 650 caught your eye, see the way it compares on our greatest tenting sleeping baggage record. And when you’re right here, take into account these prime rivals:

Kelty Cosmic Down 20 Assessment: The Kelty Cosmic Down 20 is successful for many who desire a high-performing bag for much less cash. It packs small and has heat down insulation for each backpacking and automotive tenting, although it’s heavier.

NEMO Disco Limitless Promise 30 Assessment: The NEMO Disco has related air flow options to the Enhance 650, plus a really snug design. It’s extra reasonably priced and we additionally fee it a bit larger for consolation.

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Go 15 Assessment: This one additionally makes use of high quality down and encompasses a mummy design. It’s hotter, easier, and pricier, however the Bishop Go 15 a premium and long-lasting selection with a extra conventional function set.