In previous years, the REI Igneo took home a Best Buy Award for being an affordable, yet high-performing, down sleeping bag. Although it remains affordable and performs well, it's no longer an award winner. That's because the latest iterations of the Kelty Cosmic 20 and Nemo Kyan 35 currently cost less while offering comparable quality. The Igneo, however, remains a viable option if you're willing to spend a little more to get a little better warmth-to-weight ratio.
Performance Comparison
The REI Igneo is worthy of your consideration. Although the list price is a bit higher than some of the cheapest down bags, the Igneo is lighter and less bulky. You also may be able to find deal on it at REI.
Photo: Jack Cramer
Warmth
A standard Igneo is filled with 10 oz of 700-fill power, hydrophobic, duck down. This places it near the bottom of the backpacking sleeping bag field in terms of insulation quantity and quality. To our testers, the bag felt less warm than its EN Lower Limit rating (25°F) would suggest. For comparison, there are several bags with temperature ratings above 25° that contain more and better quality down.
Weight
Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of this bag is its weight. Tipping the scales at 1.8 pounds for a size long, it falls within the same neighborhood as the top-performing, but much more expensive, high-end bags. A greater portion of the Igneo's weight, however, is composed of shell materials, rather than insulation, so it doesn't achieve the same outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio.
Comfort
This bag provides slightly below average comfort. Although the foot box and lower leg area is surprisingly roomy, the torso width feels mildly constrictive. Those that are slight of frame are unlikely to complain, but the broad-shouldered, or anyone how prefers to sleep on their side, may find the Igneo to feel less than comfortable.
The Igneo packs remarkably small for its warmth and price. We just wish it came with a functional compression sack rather than a drawstring stuff sack.
Photo: Jack Cramer
Packed Size
With the aid of an after-market compression sack, this bag compacted down to one of the smallest volumes of all. However, you will not be able to obtain the same results using the feather-light stuff sack it comes with. Thus, if packed size is important to you, expect to spend an extra twenty bones on a third-party compression sack that will help you squeeze this bag to its full potential.
We think this bag is extremely versatile, particularity when you compare it to other models in its price range. It's light and compact enough for extended backpacking trips and carry-over style alpine routes, but still warm enough for late spring ski tours. We also think that its dimensions are just comfortable enough that it can pull double duty for occasional car camping trips as well.
Photo: Ian Nicholson
Versatility
Like most down bags, the Igneo isn't well suited for wet conditions and will lose nearly all of its ability to insulate if it gets soaked. Apart from that limitation, it provides average versatility. The two-way zipper gives you some venting options on warmer nights. The zipper's 3/4-length, however, constrains full venting and prevents it from being shared as a quilt.
Features and Design
The Igneo is a basic mummy-style sleeping bag. We really liked its anti-snag zipper that includes pull tabs on both the inside and outside to ensure that getting in and out is a breeze. Unfortunately, the thin draft tube to insulate this zipper does not feel entirely adequate. It also includes a similar draft collar to prevent heat from escaping out the hood. However, the draft collar is also thin and lacks a drawstring to keep it in place, leaving it to feel similarly inadequate.
The Igneo is one of only a few sleeping bags we tested with zipper pull tabs on the inside and outside of the bag. This makes unzipping it in the dark of the night notably easier.
Photo: Ian Nicholson
Value
At its full list price, this bag's performance is a decent value. Although we consider a couple of other bags to be a better choice for bargain hunters, that could no longer be true if you can manage to score this bag on sale. REI regularly offers coupons for 20%-off a single item. With that kind of discount, the Igneo could edge past its rivals to be the best down sleeping bag deal.
Conclusion
Despite minor flaws in its warmth and design features, the
Igneo warrants respect and consideration. Its weight and packed size are close if not better than its far pricier competitors. In the competition for bargain bag accolades, it narrowly lost. However, it's still worth considering, especially if you can find it on sale.
