Overall, the Therm-a-Rest Parsec sleeping bag scored really highly in testing of the Best three-season sleeping bags for hiking 2023. It was tested in very soggy conditions, normally problematic for down sleeping bags. The hydrophobic down got a good soaking but completely dried out in an afternoon on the front seat of my van in the sunshine.
Price: £430 | Weight: 935g | Fill: 470g 800FP Nikwax hydrophobic RDS down | Shell: 100% recycled nylon ripstop DWR | Construction: box wall | Zip: ¾-length two-way YKK anti-snag | Length: 203cm (regular) | Rating: comfort 0°C, limit -6°C | Sizes: small, regular, long | Men’s version: no, unisex
It’s warm for its weight as you would expect with a down bag, and it’s got some nice details. There’s a cosy pocket for feet in the bottom, and a large zipped pocket on the outside. There are removable straps underneath (‘SynergyLink Connectors’) that help to secure it to your sleeping pad, and it’s compatible with most lightweight pads, not just Therm-a-Rest’s. The mummy hood is deep and luxurious, and good for cold nights.
The otherwise generous neck baffle isn’t adjustable, so there is a danger of losing a little heat in this area. The Parsec -6 is not available in men’s and women’s versions, but Therm-a-Rest produces three sizes. This makes sense
to me, as a taller woman (171cm). I often find myself on the upper limit of women’s bags, but don’t want the extra weight and dead space of a men’s bag. The regular that
I tested was generous in length (203cm) and fairly narrow (157cm girth), and a reasonable fit overall. This bag also hits a lot of ethical plus points, with the shell and liner made entirely from recycled materials and filled with Responsible Down Standard down.
