Reviews You Can Rely On

Sea to Summit Spark SPII 28 Review

An ultralight bag with a long list of problems
sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review
Credit: REI Co-op
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Price:  $409 List
Manufacturer:   Sea to Summit
By Jack Cramer ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 16, 2019
65
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#13 of 20
  • Warmth - 20% 6.0
  • Weight - 20% 10.0
  • Comfort - 20% 5.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 9.0
  • Versatility - 15% 4.0
  • Features & Design - 10% 3.0

Our Verdict

There is a lot to like about the Sea to Summit Spark SPII 28—its 850+ fill power goose down, a total weight barely over a pound, and an absolutely miniscule packed volume. There is also plenty to dislike about the Spark II. Our testers particularly detest its narrow dimensions and a zipper that constantly snags. The latter is a huge concern because this zipper is sewn into the bag in a way that doesn't allow you to restart it if the teeth get misaligned. Snag this zipper badly in the backcountry, and you'll be sleeping with an open sleeping bag until you can get it to a tailor to fix. In our view, this durability issue crosses the line between ultralight and ultra-fragile. We, therefore, only recommend the Spark II to those who prioritize weight savings above all else.
REASONS TO BUY
Ultralight
High-quality goose down
Packs down extremely small
REASONS TO AVOID
Terrible zipper
Uncomfortably narrow
Difficult to compress
Noisy fabric

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award  Best Buy Award Best Buy Award 
Price $409 List
$409.00 at REI
$520.00 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
$348.68 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$245 List
$245.00 at Backcountry
$100 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
65
80
73
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52
Star Rating
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Pros Ultralight, high-quality goose down, packs down extremely smallSpacious dimensions, super comfortable, great loft, lightweight, made in the USASpacious hourglass shape, innovative venting "gills", waterproof footbox, sturdy compression sackDecent weight, respectable warmth, awesome bargainGreat price, respectable weight, simple design
Cons Terrible zipper, uncomfortably narrow, difficult to compress, noisy fabricExpensive, awkward hood, good but not great zipperBelow average warmth-to-weight ratio, bulky packed sizeAverage materials, limited features, basic designSubpar warmth, annoying hood drawcords, no storage sack, mediocre versatility
Bottom Line An ultralight bag with a long list of problemsThe best ultra-premium bag that combines warmth, low weight, good packability, and luxurious comfortPremium down in an hourglass shape that offers the roomiest lower body dimensionsAn exceptional deal for a capable and sturdy backpacking sleeping bag for those looking to get outside without breaking the bankAn acceptable sleeping bag at a rock bottom price
Rating Categories Sea to Summit Spark... Western Mountaineer... NEMO Riff 30 Mountain Hardwear B... REI Co-op Trailbrea...
Warmth (20%)
6.0
8.0
4.0
6.0
5.0
Weight (20%)
10.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
3.0
Comfort (20%)
5.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
Packed Size (15%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
Versatility (15%)
4.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
Features & Design (10%)
3.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
Specs Sea to Summit Spark... Western Mountaineer... NEMO Riff 30 Mountain Hardwear B... REI Co-op Trailbrea...
Insulation 850+ FP Down 850+ FP Down 800 FP Down 650 FP Down Synthetic - Polyester
Compressed Volume 6.6 liters 7.2 liters 7.2 liters 7.5 liters 9.8 liters
Measured Bag Weight (Size Long) 1.21 lbs. 1.62 lbs. 1.91 lbs. 1.98 lbs. 2.74 lbs.
Manufacturer Claimed Weight (Size Regular) 1.10 lbs. 1.50 lbs. 1.80 lbs. 1.79 lbs. 2.50 lbs.
Compression/Stuff Sack Weight 1.2 oz. 1.6 oz. 2.4 oz. 1.6 oz. 1.2 oz.
Hydrophobic Down Yes No Yes No N/A
Manufacturer Temp Rating 28 F 30 F 30 F 30 F 30 F
EN Temp Rating (Lower Limit) 28 F Not rated 29 F 30 F 29 F
Fill Weight 12 oz. 13 oz. 10.2 oz. 15 oz. 21.1 oz.
Compression or Stuff Sack Included Compression Stuff Compression Stuff Stuff
Shell material Ripstop nylon (10D) Extremelite (12D) Ripstop nylon (20D) 20D Nylon Ripstop Polyester w/ DWR
DWR Treatment Yes No Yes Yes No
Liner material Nylon n/a 30D Nylon Taffeta w/ DWR 30D Plain weave nylon Polyester
Neck Baffle Yes No Yes No No
Small Organization Pocket No No Yes Yes Yes
Zipper Half-length / Side Full-length / Side 3/4-length / Side 3/4-length / Left Side 3/4-Length / Left Side
Shoulder Girth 59 in. 64 in. 62 in. 62 in. 62 in.
Hip Girth 51 in. Not stated 54 in. 53 in. 56 in.
Foot Girth Not stated 39 in. 59 in. Not stated Not stated

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - on paper, the sea to summit spark ii seems like an impressive...
On paper, the Sea to Summit Spark II seems like an impressive sleeping bag. In the field, however, our testers were not particularly impressed.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Warmth


The Spark II is stuffed with 12 ounces of 850+ fill power goose down. This is a whole lot of down for a bag that weighs 19 ounces total. The short 1/3-length zipper limits the possibility for heat to escape. Despite these indicators, we weren't particularly impressed with this bag's warmth. It came close to living up to its 28°F temperature rating, but our testers felt warmer in several other comparable bags that chose to include a neck baffle.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - the shell fabric is great at momentarily beading water. but over the...
The shell fabric is great at momentarily beading water. But over the course of a full night, it didn't seem any better at resisting condensation than other down sleeping bags.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Weight


Where the Spark II really shines is in the weight department. At just 1.21 pounds for a size long, it is among the lightest of the 3-season sleeping bags that we've tested. This will surely be appreciated by anyone in the ultralight crowd that prefers a full mummy hood. Considering its respectable warmth, this also means that the Spark II has an awesome warmth-to-weight ratio.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - every tester who tried the spark ii complained about the hood...
Every tester who tried the Spark II complained about the hood drawstring and zipper pull tab scratching there face.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Comfort


In any sleeping bag design, there will inevitably a balance of trade-offs. And with this bag, the Sea to Summit product designers seem to have traded away comfort. Our testers found its meager interior dimensions to be uncomfortably constrictive, particularly for the lower legs and feet. The fabric also has an unusual coating that makes it noisier than most bags we've tried. If comfort or roominess is paramount, we suggest selecting something with a few more inches in girth.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - if you can actually get this bag inside its tiny compression sack...
If you can actually get this bag inside its tiny compression sack, it will compress down exceptionally small.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Packed Size


We were able to compress this bag down as small as any backpacking sleeping bag we tried. We learned this using the same third-party compression sack that we used in all our tests, but the Spark II comes with its own lightweight sack that's capable of full compression. We disliked this sack, however, because it is sized so small that it is difficult to cram the sleeping bag all the way inside. This difficulty is worsened because the shell fabric 's seems to trap air inside in a way that other bags didn't. Our testers were routinely frustrated, waiting for air to escape so that they could finally close this undersized sack.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - we tested a size long sea to summit spark ii, shown here in the...
We tested a size long Sea to Summit Spark II, shown here in the foreground. Our testers, however, noticed that it is a couple inches shorter than other identically sized bags.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Versatility


If you hope to use the Spark II across a wide range of temperatures, then you should also plan to be uncomfortable. Its 1/3-length zipper hardly provides the means to vent excess heat on warm nights. At the same time, the lack of a draft collar ensures that precious heat will escape out the hood during cold conditions. Combine these two issues and prepare to sweat or shiver if overnight lows are anywhere outside the narrow range of 40 to 55°F.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - one unusual problem with the spark ii is that the shell fabric traps...
One unusual problem with the Spark II is that the shell fabric traps air. This made stuffing it into its tiny compression sack a frustrating chore.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Features and Design


Here at OutdoorGearLab, we are usually in full support of ultralight designs, but in the case of the Spark II it seems that just too much has been sacrificed for the sake of trimming ounces. We particularly dislike the small zipper (YKK #3) that was constantly snagging. The end of this zipper is inexplicably sewn directly into the bag, which means that if it snags badly, there is no way to back it down and get it restarted.

For an expensive sleeping bag, the Spark II also comes with a seemingly cheap drawstring. This drawstring, along with the zipper pull tab, is scratchy and prone to rubbing your face in a way that disturbed the sleep of several testers.

sea to summit spark spii 28 backpacking sleeping bag review - considering all of the spark ii's faults, we can't recommend for...
Considering all of the Spark II's faults, we can't recommend for anyone that's not obsessed with saving weight.
Credit: Jack Cramer

Value


To get your hands on this ultralight bag, you have to lay down a hefty pile of money. This is understandable considering the premium 850+ fill power down it contains. The overall performance of the bag, however, does not live up to this price tag in our opinion. For this reason, we don't believe it's an especially good value.

Conclusion


It can be tempting to select a sleeping bag based on the numbers. The Spark II is warm down to 28°F and weighs just 18 ounces, where do I get one?!? In the performance areas that are harder to measure, however, such as comfort, versatility, and design, this bag simply doesn't excel. For this reason, we suggest weight-conscious shoppers consider some of the other backpacking sleeping bags that are still lightweight but don't sacrificing performance in other areas.

Jack Cramer
 
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