When Rab supply their sleeping bags they have never been compressed so the first time they are compressed in their stuff sack is either by the shop that are selling it or a customer when they have bought it. The Ascent 900 is a four season down sleeping bag down to -18C iirc definately for colder weather. It is better to be warmer in cold conditions than cold with a bag on it's limits of keeping you warm as you can get into real difficulties. Also the ratings on sleeping bags are a guide as everyone has different sensitivity to cold and indeed warmth. The Ascent series as a larger traditional bag size. Their other bags such as the Neutrino Endurance and Alpine bags have a narrower shape firstly to reduce weight and secondly to reduce excess space inside thus meaning less volume for your body to heat and keeping you warmer. You can't beat down for warmth and lightness. At very low temperatures, temperatures that you could die of hypothermia, only a down bag will keep you warm. For synthetic bags you would need a much thicker, bigger and heavier bag which just isn't practical. Most down is now treated with water repellent agents. If you get a sleeping bag wet, whether down or synthetic, you still have a problem getting it dry. The important thing is not to get them wet. In any case if you get a down bag wet it means the temperature is above freezing as below freezing water is not liquid but a solid i.e. ice or snow when this bag is best used. I suppose ice can form on the surface of the bag if really cold in the night in your tent but the outer fabric is Pertex water repellent and wind proof. Wet can also be caused by your own vapour condensing on or in your bag in your tent, but the water repellent treatment of down should be more than enough to combat this. If you unwittingly camp in a riverbed which then fills with water then you are an idiot or if your tent is totally inadequate for the conditions and lets water inside or you are using a bivvy in extreme conditions which is not up to the job. Sleeping bags are also a piece of emergency equipment to keep you warm if you get into difficulties and might just save your life.
I’ve used the same bag for the last 4 years now. When I get cold I get the hood up and cinch in. I soon have to open it out again. -12 my coldest camp and I was fine. I’ve also invested in an exped downmat and the foil mat under it all. Keeping warm to sleep is essential. Nice wee vid. Atb
I hust got the rab mythic 600 fantastic super light weight and very war. My mattress is the sea to summit comfort plus insulated,its dual layed and comfortable enough.and warm
I was looking for a sleeping bag and came across this one on Amazon so searched it on RUclips. You were the first video to come up and when I seen your name I thought if Murray uses it then it must be good! I live in Scotland and so do you so I think I will be buying this one. Thanks for sharing mate I know this is an older video from you, but I still found it helpful.
What I like about the Ascent range is that they're wider in the footwell than traditional mummy bags ,so I personally feel way less constricted. Great warm bag.
Awesome bags I used the ascent 700 for many years and used in some extremely harsh conditions, it never let me down. I recently changed to a thermarest oberon which is also proving to be a good bit of kit. Thanks for that keep the vids coming, atb Steve
Great wee video Murray. 2.30 -regarding a ground matt. Buy a cheap and cheerfull £8 nato sleeping matt as supplied to the British army in the 80 's ( I still use mine ), and use that for ground protection. It weighs next to nothing. Then use your ' proper ' sleeping matt on top of that. Then your sleeping bag. That way you ensure no loss of heat into the ground plus you keep your 'proper ' sleeping matt protected from dirt/ damp/ tears etc. An old Indian trick I learned many moons ago....😉
Nice 1 Murray I’ve got 1 but find it too warm so went for the 600 with the thermerst Mat pro it’s a great Mat I’ve got a down exped too nice mat cheers
Do you know how much larger the pack size of the Ascent 900 is compared to the 700? I have the 700 and it only just fits horizontally in the bottom of my 70 litre backpack. I currently use a Sea to Summit Reactor liner too but it’s no substitute for down.
No worries Murray 👌👍 You have to get your priorities into order!! Your family & work must come before pleasure 👍😉 The Van Idea sounds good 😌 Quite a few of your fellow photographers have them !! Tom Heaton comes to mind!! Take care 👌👍😎
What's the lowest temperature that you have wild camped in, using that bag and the met you mentioned? Also, do you use a liner and/or bivvi bag in conjunction with it?
Mines a Rab Alpine 600, good for -14degrees apparently.......on a Thermarest inflatable mat, roasty toasty. And yes a pee bottle (wide neck of course) is essential.....ha !!!
I've an Alpine 600 and a Neutrino Pro. The alpine is a nice bag and good value. Same as you, I use a thermarest inflatable mat. The missus prefers the Rab Ascent series.
Christopher Smith I’ll need to look at the lighter version - a few people have mentioned it now ( away to check my savings account 😂) Thanks for watching ATB M
@@ScotlandsMountains Hi Murray, I have a Vantage Sol, just back from Glen Coe and North Connel area. Had a great week end. I definitely think a Camper Van would enhance your passion for all the reasons I am sure you are already aware of. Cheers
That's the same sleeping bag that I've been looking at for a while. I have an Alpkit down bag just now, but I've looking for something a bit warmer for the winter months. Murray, Is that one of your own photographs on the wall? Atb Glenn.
South-West-Wilderness hi Glenn - it is indeed - it’s an old print from a trip up the CMD Arete on a glorious winters day a good few years ago now :)): M
I think you’ve copied my set up Murray as we both have the same mat and bag 😜. Both great but heavy and I’ve just got me a lighter bag and mat for the warmer months which I’m really appreciating now.
Check out wiggys sleeping bags, probably the best bags you can buy , I have imported 2 bags from Colorado USA 🇺🇸 where they are made,absolute bomb proof
More Gear Videos here - ruclips.net/p/PLhFhqvuwQ5xXLqZFo_EIapP6uYH6CnVkF
When Rab supply their sleeping bags they have never been compressed so the first time they are compressed in their stuff sack is either by the shop that are selling it or a customer when they have bought it. The Ascent 900 is a four season down sleeping bag down to -18C iirc definately for colder weather. It is better to be warmer in cold conditions than cold with a bag on it's limits of keeping you warm as you can get into real difficulties. Also the ratings on sleeping bags are a guide as everyone has different sensitivity to cold and indeed warmth. The Ascent series as a larger traditional bag size. Their other bags such as the Neutrino Endurance and Alpine bags have a narrower shape firstly to reduce weight and secondly to reduce excess space inside thus meaning less volume for your body to heat and keeping you warmer. You can't beat down for warmth and lightness. At very low temperatures, temperatures that you could die of hypothermia, only a down bag will keep you warm. For synthetic bags you would need a much thicker, bigger and heavier bag which just isn't practical. Most down is now treated with water repellent agents. If you get a sleeping bag wet, whether down or synthetic, you still have a problem getting it dry. The important thing is not to get them wet. In any case if you get a down bag wet it means the temperature is above freezing as below freezing water is not liquid but a solid i.e. ice or snow when this bag is best used. I suppose ice can form on the surface of the bag if really cold in the night in your tent but the outer fabric is Pertex water repellent and wind proof. Wet can also be caused by your own vapour condensing on or in your bag in your tent, but the water repellent treatment of down should be more than enough to combat this. If you unwittingly camp in a riverbed which then fills with water then you are an idiot or if your tent is totally inadequate for the conditions and lets water inside or you are using a bivvy in extreme conditions which is not up to the job. Sleeping bags are also a piece of emergency equipment to keep you warm if you get into difficulties and might just save your life.
I’ve used the same bag for the last 4 years now. When I get cold I get the hood up and cinch in. I soon have to open it out again. -12 my coldest camp and I was fine. I’ve also invested in an exped downmat and the foil mat under it all. Keeping warm to sleep is essential. Nice wee vid. Atb
I hust got the rab mythic 600 fantastic super light weight and very war. My mattress is the sea to summit comfort plus insulated,its dual layed and comfortable enough.and warm
I was looking for a sleeping bag and came across this one on Amazon so searched it on RUclips. You were the first video to come up and when I seen your name I thought if Murray uses it then it must be good! I live in Scotland and so do you so I think I will be buying this one. Thanks for sharing mate I know this is an older video from you, but I still found it helpful.
What I like about the Ascent range is that they're wider in the footwell than traditional mummy bags ,so I personally feel way less constricted. Great warm bag.
Thanks Murray. Any chance of seeing how small you can compress it?
Awesome bags I used the ascent 700 for many years and used in some extremely harsh conditions, it never let me down. I recently changed to a thermarest oberon which is also proving to be a good bit of kit. Thanks for that keep the vids coming, atb Steve
Outdoors Lifestyle thanks Steve - it’s been a great bag - I’ll have a look at the Alp Kit gear too 👍
Thanks for watching
ATB
M
Great wee video Murray. 2.30 -regarding a ground matt. Buy a cheap and cheerfull £8 nato sleeping matt as supplied to the British army in the 80 's ( I still use mine ), and use that for ground protection. It weighs next to nothing. Then use your ' proper ' sleeping matt on top of that. Then your sleeping bag. That way you ensure no loss of heat into the ground plus you keep your 'proper ' sleeping matt protected from dirt/ damp/ tears etc. An old Indian trick I learned many moons ago....😉
Nice 1 Murray I’ve got 1 but find it too warm so went for the 600 with the thermerst Mat pro it’s a great Mat I’ve got a down exped too nice mat cheers
Do you know how much larger the pack size of the Ascent 900 is compared to the 700? I have the 700 and it only just fits horizontally in the bottom of my 70 litre backpack. I currently use a Sea to Summit Reactor liner too but it’s no substitute for down.
Quick question - how small does it pack down too?
Great review.
What do you wear in it when it’s really cold,please?
Regards
No worries Murray 👌👍 You have to get your priorities into order!! Your family & work must come before pleasure 👍😉 The Van Idea sounds good 😌 Quite a few of your fellow photographers have them !! Tom Heaton comes to mind!! Take care 👌👍😎
@ 4:30 An empty one pint plastic milk container comes in extremely handy. Walkers should be prepared for inclement weather.
What's the lowest temperature that you have wild camped in, using that bag and the met you mentioned?
Also, do you use a liner and/or bivvi bag in conjunction with it?
I had the lighter 500 version, they’re wider than most others which is ideal for man sized shoulders
Mines a Rab Alpine 600, good for -14degrees apparently.......on a Thermarest inflatable mat, roasty toasty.
And yes a pee bottle (wide neck of course) is essential.....ha !!!
I've an Alpine 600 and a Neutrino Pro. The alpine is a nice bag and good value. Same as you, I use a thermarest inflatable mat. The missus prefers the Rab Ascent series.
Hi murray I have the rab 500 and the rab 900 superb bags thanks for that mate atvb chris
Christopher Smith I’ll need to look at the lighter version - a few people have mentioned it now ( away to check my savings account 😂)
Thanks for watching
ATB
M
Hi Murray, Thanks again for sharing. Just one unrelated question. As a Camper Van nut myself why don't you have one?
William Donnelly just back from a week in a T5 - reason I don’t have one (yet) is that I’m still saving my pennies 😂😂
@@ScotlandsMountains Hi Murray, I have a Vantage Sol, just back from Glen Coe and North Connel area. Had a great week end. I definitely think a Camper Van would enhance your passion for all the reasons I am sure you are already aware of. Cheers
Great review Murray, thanks. BTW, it's a compression sack :)
wrzl gummidge that’s the word I was looking for 👍😂
Thanks for watching
M
That's the same sleeping bag that I've been looking at for a while. I have an Alpkit down bag just now, but I've looking for something a bit warmer for the winter months. Murray, Is that one of your own photographs on the wall? Atb Glenn.
South-West-Wilderness hi Glenn - it is indeed - it’s an old print from a trip up the CMD Arete on a glorious winters day a good few years ago now :)):
M
I think you’ve copied my set up Murray as we both have the same mat and bag 😜. Both great but heavy and I’ve just got me a lighter bag and mat for the warmer months which I’m really appreciating now.
David Blair I’ll need to look at some lighter summer kit at some point so will have a look at these - 👍
Thanks for watching
ATB
M
Rab zippers are awful snag ripping holes in the Ascent. Poor design.
Check out wiggys sleeping bags, probably the best bags you can buy , I have imported 2 bags from Colorado USA 🇺🇸 where they are made,absolute bomb proof
You're churning out videos now just to get content out. Stick with quality content, not quantity.
Nemo Tensor Extreme sleeping pad + RAB Expedition 1400 sleeping bag is my choice