Review: Therm-a-Rest Antares HD Sleeping Bag - A comfortable sleeping bag with clever tricks I got from "Sekaimon"

This is the fourth installment of our "I bought and used things from Sekaimon" series. We've been talking about how Sekaimon makes it easy to purchase outdoor gear from overseas, including the US, Canada, and the UK, that's hard to find in Japan (please refer to our previous articles for details → Parts 1 , 2 , and 3 ). What did you think? Have you tried digging around?

For more information about Sekaimon, please visit the official website

How about a sleeping bag?

This time, we will be looking at Thermarest's "sleeping bag," which we also covered in the first article. In the first article, we reviewed a "quilted" sleeping bag, but this time we've picked out a mummy-style sleeping bag. The mummy-style sleeping bag is a familiar shape to everyone, isn't it?

Like tents, there are few options for sleeping bags in Japan. Recently, synthetic and lightweight sleeping bags have finally started to appear, but compared to other countries, there are still many options. In North America and Europe, where camping and mountain climbing cultures are more advanced, there are a wider variety of sleeping bags

If you're thinking, "I want a sleeping bag with more advanced features" or "I want a sleeping bag that's different from everyone else's," take a quick look at Sekaimon and you might find a product that meets your needs. You might even find a product that offers the best value for money!

Let's get back to the original topic. I didn't have a sleeping bag for camping, so I visited an outdoor shop, but the lineup was pretty similar, which left me feeling a bit disappointed. Being a contrarian, I wanted to find something that was different from what everyone else was wearing, so I decided to try ordering from an overseas mail order company. I had heard that "Therm-a-Rest, a company famous for their mattresses, has surprisingly good sleeping bags," so I immediately started looking for one

The world is a big place after all... A ton of sleeping bags pop up, as if to say "Hello!" So I decided to use my secret weapon of checking overseas reviews. Finally, I found the THERM-A-REST Antares HD Sleeping Bag

>>Try searching for products on "Sekaimon"<<

THERM-A-REST Antares HD Sleeping Bag:

This mummy-style sleeping bag is suitable for three seasons. Its filling is made with Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, a high-quality 750-fill-power down with a proprietary water-repellent finish. This prevents the down from absorbing moisture. It's warm yet lightweight. Its generous width allows for easy turning inside the bag. The Synergy Link (mattress connection band) securely holds the mattress in place, eliminating the worry of the sleeping bag slipping. The integrated mattress design prevents heat loss

Recommended points

• 750 fill power for warmth yet lightweight (878g)
• Tossing and turning in the sleeping bag
• There is a small storage compartment near the hand
• Water-repellent down so you don't have to worry about it getting a little wet
• The unique mattress connection band securely fastens the mattress

Points of interest

• Is the included stuff sack too small? It's hard to pack it in
• A slightly inadequate minimum temperature setting

Antares HD Sleeping Bag

Therm-a-Rest

0.87kg

Main specifications and evaluation

Detailed Review

It was delivered in a long-term storage bag, but it was much larger than I expected

Comparing it to a stuff sack. Will it fit in this stuff sack? (lol)

I took it out of the storage bag. ...It's really big

First, I spread it out inside the tent. It doesn't look as big as I thought it would be. It seems a little wide

I tried getting into the sleeping bag. There was a lot of extra space at the left end, at the feet. (The author is 160cm tall.) And best of all, it was warm! My body heat was trapped inside the sleeping bag, making it really cozy. Maybe because it was filled with a lot of down, it was very comfortable to sleep in

It may be hard to tell, but when I lay down on my side, there was plenty of room in the sleeping bag, so it was easy to move around inside and very comfortable

You can hold a cup with your arms inside your sleeping bag. This is great for cold weather because you don't have to take your body out

I tried to get halfway out of the sleeping bag. I was able to slip out easily

It comes with a synergy link (mat connecting band) like this

Let's take a closer look. It's easy to use, as you just insert the mattress

There's a zippered pocket on the right side near your head, actually around your shoulder. It's made of heat-reflecting fabric, so it's perfect for storing things you don't want to freeze. It can also be used to store a light or other small items. It's convenient to have a pocket within easy reach

Concerns

It's quite difficult to store

Its selling point is that it's relatively light (870g) for a sleeping bag that can withstand temperatures down to -5°C, but it's still quite bulky. This is probably because it's filled with so much down. However, I broke out in a sweat just stuffing it into the stuff sack by myself. Actually, it took two people to pack it in

A slightly inadequate minimum temperature setting

This may be a bit off topic, but I feel that the minimum temperature limit of -5°C is a bit too warm (hot) for a three-season jacket, but a bit too cold in the depths of winter. Considering that the ideal temperature is in the early stages of snow or in late autumn in high mountains, or in the depths of winter in low mountains, this might be a bit of an awkward time in Japan. The size of the jacket when packed in the stuff sack is 17 x 30 cm (I think it was actually a bit bigger...), so I'm a bit hesitant to take it on a long hike

Summary: Recommended for use in low-lying mountainous areas and campsites where the mornings and evenings are extremely cold

It's warm, comfortable, and allows you to turn over in your sleep - all aspects of comfort have been taken into consideration, and the down material is resistant to moisture, so it's definitely of high quality. In fact, I don't think you'll find this level of comfort in Japanese sleeping bags

Considering its lack of compactness, the specifications are more than sufficient for use in camping or low altitudes (light mountain climbing). It may be an exaggeration, but it offers the same level of comfort as a regular bed. It is resistant to moisture, so why not try using it along rivers or in mountainous areas where humidity is a concern?

For an overview and details about Sekaimon, please visit the official website here.

Antares HD Sleeping Bag

Therm-a-Rest

0.87kg

We also recommend this article about sleeping bags

• Stay warm from the inside out with the perfect sleeping bag – How to choose and 8 recommendations
• No more quirks! 7 reasons why I decided to switch to quilted sleeping bags for spring, summer, and fall, and two recommended models
• How to choose a winter sleeping bag for a comfortable winter tent stay in the mountains and our top 8 recommendations

   

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