The Rab Alpine 800 is a lightweight and well-designed winter sleeping bag. 650 fillpower down is used to keep the price relatively affordable for a lightweight winter bag. This down is Responsible Down Standard certified and is treated with a Nikwax hydrophobic finish. Combined with the wind-resistant outer material, I found this bag coped very well with damp and windy conditions. The down is stored in trapezoidal baffle chambers, helping to keep the down closer to your body. It does a good job, but I didn’t find it as warm as other bags of a similar weight and price.

Rating: 3.5/5 | Price: $365 | £330 | Weight: 1.29kg (Size regular). | Fill: 800g 650 FP hydrophobic RDS duck down. | Shell: 20d nylon ripstop. | Zip: 2 way, 3/4 length. | Length: 215cm (Size regular). | Rating: Limit -16°c. No comfort rating specified. | Sizes: Regular/Long | Women’s version: No.

More info: rab.equipment/uk

The tapered mummy shape gives this bag quite a narrow fit, particularly around the knees. It is snug, but I didn’t find it restrictive. This shape does a great job of maximising the insulation. An angled footbox did well at keeping my feet warm, and the shape ensures that down compression is kept to a minimum when your feet are in an upright position. The anti-snag zip guard and zip ‘plow’ is one of the most effective I have used. There is a thick draft collar which can be tightened, and a draft tube running along inside the 3/4 length zip.

There is also a useful, small internal pocket. I also really appreciated how small you can compress this bag down – good news for backpacking. The outer and lining materials feel extremely soft and comfortable on your skin. However, I did find this bag sheds feathers more easily than I would have liked, and not just from the seams. The lining seems to be very easily penetrated by feather quills compared to other sleeping bags I have used, so it gives me slight concerns about longevity if using this bag regularly.

Overall, the Rab Alpine 800 is a well-rounded sleeping bag for the price and weight. It does a good job in winter most of the time, but I would choose a bag with a higher down fill power rating if you are a cold sleeper.