The Deuter Orbit -5° is a warm, affordable three-season sleeping bag. It is not aimed at lightweight backpackers – at 1700g it’s a heavy bag. From the outset, it’s obvious that warmth and comfort have been prioritised over weight and transportability. Even when packed down as small as possible in the included compression sack, the bag still takes up a lot of space in a rucksack.
Price: £115 | Weight: 1830g | Fill: 900g high-loft hollowfibre | Shell: 50D Rec Pes ripstop | Construction: 2-layer | Zip: 2-way, full-length on left |Length: 205cm (regular) | Rating: comfort +1°C, limit -5°C | Sizes: regular, large | Women version: yes
My first night of testing the Deuter Orbit -5° was in quite cold spring conditions at sea level in the Scottish Highlands. It was +2°C, and I had developed a bit of a chill before getting into the sleeping bag. I was pleased to find that I started to warm up quickly, and remained comfortable throughout the night. The foot box is slightly raised, which is good news for those with larger feet, and it feels well-insulated. A thick baffle runs along and behind the zip, doing a great job of keeping warm air in, as does the draught collar. The hood feels warm, but I found it did not extend over the top/front of my head as much as I would like and it felt a little restrictive.
I also found that whilst the hood is easy to tighten in the dark, it was fiddly to loosen. In contrast, the main two-way zip features a large pull, making it very easy to find and use during the night. The zip goes almost to the end of the foot box and can be opened entirely, allowing ventilation for your legs or feet on warmer nights. This zip design means the bag can also be used as a blanket. The anti-snag zip guard is an effective feature, as snagging zips is a common annoyance with sleeping bags.
For general three-season camping this is a warm and affordable sleeping bag. It is large and heavy, however, and if carrying it whilst backpacking you will notice the weight quickly.
