Feathered Friends Snowbunting Review

Likes
The Feathered Friends Snowbunting is an exceptionally well designed zero degree sleeping bag. With 25.3 ounces of 850+ fill down and a waterproof-breathable Pertex Shield EX shell material, the Snowbunting has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Whether it’s backcountry skiing, mountaineering, or an unprotected high altitude bivy, this is the ultimate winter sleeping bag for the Lower 48.

While all of the bags tested in this category have high quality down, the Snowbunting has a better shell material, fit, and refined features.

Shell material. Feathered Friends is refashioning its product line with waterproof-breathable Pertex fabrics. Being lighter and more breathable than the current material, eVent, Pertex offers greater performance for winter weight bags. This transition will take place in late May through June. We tested the same bag that will be produced in mass.

There are several reasons why a waterproof-breathable material is better than one that isn’t. First and foremost, down loses nearly all of its insulating properties when it’s wet. Keeping it dry is therefore paramount to a warm night. Condensation is your enemy. As your body heats up and perspires it creates condensation both below (between the pad and tent floor and between the pad and bag) and above you (small ice crystals will rain down in a poorly ventilated tent). Being able to brush off frost is key to a dry bag, especially on multi-day trips. The Snowbunting’s waterproof shell material, and a 1.5-inch flap that covers the zipper, make it sufficiently weatherproof for foul, unprotected bivys. We tested the water resistance of several bags by leaving them under our house’s drip line for 36 hours of mid-winter melting. We were stunned by how well the Petrtex repelled light snow and steady dripping. A frozen puddle formed on the bag in the morning. The fabric strikes an ideal balance between water resistance, weight, and breathability.

Fit. Finding a bag that fits right is the single best way to maximize warmth. The Snowbunting’s cut is trim and efficient, providing space for you and accessories (batteries, headlamp, socks, etc), but is not so large as to create drafty dead air space. Other bags (Valandre Shocking Blue, Marmot Lithium) are larger in the upper body, which is fine if you’re on the larger side or plan to wear a down jacket and pants to bed (temperatures should be at or below zero), but for most, more space in the torso is inefficient and unnecessary. The Snowbunting hugs you like a furnace. It’s also available in two other cuts, one for wider people and one for women.

The attention to detail is remarkable as well. While most companies use Velcro to close the hood and neck baffle, Feathered Friends uses plastic snaps. (There are two for the hood and one for the neck baffle.) Snaps are better because they are stronger, less likely to come undone, never wear out, and don’t scratch your face at night. Simple and easy. You can also tuck the zipper under the snap so that it stays out of your way. The draft tube that insulates the zipper is very thick and has an anti-snag strip. The neck baffle is even larger! An elasticized draw cord tightens the 4” puff ball around your neck. The hood then cinches tight and you’re settled into a down cave for the night. The Snowbunting is a stellar sleeping bag.

It’s also the only sleeping bag reviewed in this category that’s offered in multiple colors. You can choose from Lava (red) or Ocean (blue).

Dislikes
While there are no glaring flaws with the Snowbunting, we do have one small complaint. The hood is a bit on the small side. When the drawcord is fully cinched there’s only space for your head to face forward, it’s claustrophobic to rotate your head within the hood. More space would be better for lying on your side. But this is really only a problem when the hood is fully cinched.

The Snowbunting is our top rated zero degree bag. It will keep you warm and cozy for everything from early/late season backpacking trips to full-on mountaineering and light, fast alpine climbing, and the most powdery of backcountry ski trips.

Best Application
Alpine climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing.

Value
The Snowbunting is pricey, but top quality. You won’t regret for a minute buying this bag.

Other Versions
The Snowbunting has a trim cut made for slender folk (61/56/38). Larger people will likely want to choose the wider Ibis (64/58/40) and women, with wider hips and narrow shoulders, the Murre (54/58/38). The ability to get this bag in three different cuts is another huge selling point. For anyone approaching or over six feet we recommend getting the longer version. You’ll have more space for batteries and layers and will be able to tuck into the bag better on super cold nights.

How to Get It
Feathered Friends bags are not sold by major commercial or online retailers.
Shop online at http://featheredfriends.com/