Lightweight warmth in a sleeping bag is hard to achieve but it is what so many people hope to find. The Vango Cobra 400 is a lightweight bag and it compresses to the smallest size, so it’s great for fast-packing trips. But, I can’t score it as the best for warmth.
Still, Vango has made great efforts to add features that should add warmth. The 400g of 700FP down has been placed into welded box-shaped baffle channels for “maximum down lofting from head to toe”. There is also a so-called “Thermal Reverb” to provide an “aluminimised layer” that is meant to reflect heat back to the user, plus “Omega shaping” for a more “ergonomically tailored head and shoulders” and baffle, which helps to keep out major drafts.
Fiona Russell’s verdict
t’s a bag that might well appeal to warm sleepers who want to save weight although it could be worth looking at the Cobra 600 and Cobra 900, which boast a greater weight of 700FP down for £50 to £100- Lightweight
- Compact
- Compression bag
- Warmth
- Zips
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £275 Weight: 980g Fill: 400g 700FP RDS “Hydro Barrier” down Shell: 20D 380T nylon, water resistant Construction: box wall, welded Zip: 2-way full length auto lock with zip guard Length: 205cm Rating: comfort -1C, limit -8C Sizes: one Women/Mens version: Unisex URL: www.vango.co.uk |
All of this means, the bag is quite warm. However, it’s really not a bag that is warm enough for me for all three seasons and especially not for typical UK spring and autumn nights. I’m a cold sleeper and I would only to use bag for a short summer’s trip (and even then I would pack a down jacket to wear at night).
The bag also saves on weight by being narrow. It’s what I would describe as slim-fit rather than recommended for larger people. The zip, while full length and two-way is stiff to use and tends to snag.
Saying all this, there are some features I appreciate such as the lovely floaty and silky feel when inside the bag, a handy Velcro fastened internal pocket and a mesh storage bag.
Vango has also added a “Hydro Barrier” treatment that it claims will keep down four times drier than untreated down. This is very hard to test although I haven’t felt any damp or wet. Plus, the brand has made a nod to ethical responsibilities with RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified goose feathers.
It’s a bag that might well appeal to warm sleepers who want to save weight although it could be worth looking at the Cobra 600 and Cobra 900, which boast a greater weight of 700FP down for £50 to £100 more.
Written and tested by Fiona Russell
Fiona Russell is 5ft8in tall and slim. She is also a cold sleeper. She has tested the bags in a range of overnight temperatures while wild camping.
