The Cozy Patagonia Fitz Roy 20F Sleeping Bag | Photo Mike Hardaker Mountain Weekly News
I recently drove up toward Glacier National Park to test out the Patagonia Fitz Roy Down 20F Sleeping Bag during a late May snowstorm. I figured with 800-fill power and a comfort rating of 20F this would test the bag out to its fullest.
4 Season Down Sleeping Bag Comfort Rating
Most sleeping bag manufactures will list the comfort rating for their bags, in this case the Patagonia Fitz Roy 800 Fill Down Sleeping Bag has a comfort rating of 20F (-7C). Traditionally comfort rating would be lowest temperature you would feel comfortable sleeping in, during the coldest part of the night or early morning.
A good rule of thumb is always make sure your bags comfort rating is at least 10 degrees cooler than the temperatures you plan to be camping in. It’s much easier to dump heat by opening your bag if your too warm than it is to generate heat in a cold sleeping bag
For this test when the sun set the temperature dropped quickly getting down to below freezing. Which in turn would put the Fitz Roy 20F to within 10 degrees of it’s comfort rating. I slept great most of the night, although during the early morning hours I could feel cold creeping in from the top of the bag. At this point the temperature was in the mid 20’s.
Patagonia Fitz Roy Sleeping Bag Shape
Patagonia’s Fitz Roy Sleeping Bag offers a mummy style shape with a narrow sculpted footbox to maximize heat retention in a 800-fill-power Advanced Global Traceable Down. I’m a side sleeper and was able to move my legs freely enough without having to open the sculpted toe box. Once your inside this sleeping bag it feels like a cocoon. Laying in the Fitz Roy Bag gives you the feeling that you’ve draped yourself in Patagonia’s best down jacket from head to toe. So it should be no surprise this bag will offer the same look, comfort, feel and warmth that you have seen in Patagonia’s down line over the years.
Ever wonder where your cell phone is in the morning while camping? On the inside of this sleeping bag is a small pocket that can hold a phone or even headlamp for quick access.
Materials
Patagonia seems to be talking recycling again in their sustainability story. So if you like green things you’ll like the Fitz Roy Bag. Patagonia used 100% recycled materials for this sleeping bag. Combined with 800 Fill GTD (Global Traceable Down Goose) which basically ensures the birds supplying the feathers are not force fed or live plucked, so the animals that are goose down certified are treated as humanely as possible.
The Nylon Ripstop material on the outside of the bag looks like it can take some abrasion, and most likely won’t leave feathers all over the place if you careful what you place your bag on. And then when the bags not in use instead of stuffing it into it’s tiny compression stuff sack, let the bag breath by putting it in the large mesh bag or even better hanging the sleeping bag in your closet when not in use. And if you find yourself in a damp environment the Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Sleeping bag is treated with DWR durable water repellent.
Patagonia Fitz Roy Sleeping Bag Size
Patagonia offers the Fitz Roy 20F Sleeping Bag in 3 sizes or lengths. Short, Regular and Long. The Fitz Roy Short Sleeping Bag works for sleepers up to 5’4 in height. The Fitz Roy Regular Sleeping Bag was designed for for sleepers up to 6’0. While the Fitz Roy Large Sleeping Bag works for sleepers up to 6’6 in height.
Patagonia Fitz Roy 4 Season Down Sleeping Bag Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 800-fill power for maximum insulation
- Mummy style shape for heat retention
- 100% recycled materials for sustainability
- Available in 3 different sizes
Cons:
- Cold creeping in from top
- May be bulky for backpacking
- Not ideal for temperatures below 20F
Overall Impression
For camping above 30F I highly recommend this bag making it a great 3 season sleeping bag that easily stays dry as do most synthetic sleeping bags. If your tough and it’s not too cold you could also possibly winter camp in the Fitz Roy but bring a few extra layers to sleep in just in case if the temperatures are from 20F to 30F. Anything below that go with a 0 Degree or -20F bag.
Who’s this high quality Patagonia Sleeping Bag best for? I think the car camp, van life crowd that camps in the spring, summer and fall in the mountains in cold weather will love this bag. It might be a little bulky for long backpacking trips but can still pack sizes down when needed. If comfort is something you’ve been missing while camping outdoors, the Patagonia Fitz Roy Sleeping Bag ($529) will make you want to spend more nights sleeping under the stars.
Related Sleeping Bags We Camped In
I bought this bag in Patagonia when my Western Mountain Kodiac bag was blown into a river by a gale force wind! I had to drive 150 miles to Coyhaigue to find the warmest bag I could lay hands on. I froze my ass off using this 20 F rated bag–at 30 degrees you better sleep in everything you had on before climbing into the tent! But It’s a nice, little, lite wt. bag for modest 3 season weather.
Ron,
Thanks for the comment, yeah the temperature ratings are weird. This bag being rated at 20F is the lowest you could safely camp in the bag, add in 10-20 degrees and you start getting toward the comfort rating. I’m opting for my -20F bags no for camping in temps around 10F-20F. And clearly you could go warmer too..
-Mike