Price-wise, The Alpkit Ultra 120 sits at the upper end of the £200 limit we set for budget sleeping bags. Weight-wise, however, it’s a beauty: a lean, trim bag, ideal, in the warmer months, for hardcore lightweighters or those taking part in mountain marathon-type events.
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In use, I found the bag didn’t offer the instant warmth I’ve appreciated in heavier synthetic bags and down bags, though the insulation started to kick in after a few minutes.- Weight
- Low bulk
- Price
- Tight fit
- Restricted to warmer nights
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £199.99 Weight: Long 632g (613g + 19g stuffsack) (Alpkit’s stated weights = regular 590g; long 640g) Fill: 120gsm water-repellent PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Shell: Outer: PFC-free DWR treated 20d 420T nylon; Inner: 420T nylon Construction: Mummy-shaped, stitched through Zip: Half-zip with full-length inner baffle Length: Regular: Internal length 190cm; Long: Internal length 210cm Rating: 1°C (Alpkit Sleep Limit) Sizes: Regular 190cm; long 210cm Women’s/men’s version: Unisex URL: alpkit.com |
It’s a fine example of the adage that you get what you pay for: your £200 gets you PrimaLoft Gold insulation, one of the best warmth-to-weight ratio synthetic fills on the market. That – and the fact that every other feature is minimal in nature – makes this bag truly lightweight and ensures it occupies very little space in your pack. Weight saving extends to the zip, because zips weigh more than fabrics and fills: the “half-zip” mentioned in the spec is more of a quarter- or even a third-zip, being only about 59cm long, so there’s little scope to use the bag as a warmer night blanket. There is a baffle behind it but there’s no collar baffle.
That said, some backpackers might find its potential applications limited: its minimalist nature means it’s a tight bag, and the amount of fill dictates that, for most, use may be restricted to warmer nights (PrimaLoft Gold is very, very good, but it’s not down), possibly one and two-half seasons. If you’re heading out for a warm, one-night summer wild camp then you might decide that light weight and low bulk are a fair trade for a single night’s reduced discomfort in a bag that offers little in the way of wriggle-room. And if you’re heading for sunnier climes for an extended, remote backpacking adventure, you might appreciate not having to carry a heavier bag for weeks, as well as the extra space in your pack for food and other essentials.
In use, I found the Alpkit Ultra 120 didn’t offer the instant warmth I’ve appreciated in heavier synthetic bags and down bags, though the insulation started to kick in after a few minutes, and I felt acceptably comfortable. There is – just – room to wear a layer of insulation-boosting clothing in the bag, though that would further compromise the wriggle-room.
