Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32 Review

Selecting the products to include in our reviews is never easy. In the case of 3-season backpacking sleeping bags, we searched for the top-rated hooded bags under 2.5 pounds with temperature ratings between 20-35°F. The Hyperion was an exciting choice because it weighs just over a pound but promises 32° performance. In our tests, however, this temperature rating proved to be largely aspirational. The bag thus didn't score that well in our 3-season review, but it's worth considering.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

This bag contains premium, 900 fill power, goose down, but only 9.2 ounces of it. With this insulation, it receives a 32°F lower limit EN temperature rating. For comparison, there are other ultra-premium bags with similar 30° ratings that come with 30% more down (by weight).

Our testers think the Hyperion feels colder than other bags with a similar rating. Based on this performance we only recommend it for summer or the warmer nights of spring and fall.

Weight

On our scale, the Hyperion weighed in at just 1.14 pounds for a size long. This is lightest of any 3-season bag we tried. However, comparing the Hyperion's weight with other 3-season bags isn't really fair. Our testers struggled to stay warm in the Hyperion at 45°F, but felt fine in some other bags down to 25°. It's still worth acknowledging the Hyperion's exceptionally low weight, but shoppers should be aware that its warmth-to-weight ratio isn't so exceptional.

Comfort

To save weight, this bag features particularly narrow dimensions — dimensions that were narrow enough that some of our testers that sleep on their sides or stomachs consider them a deal breaker. Therm-a-Rest also claims that the fitted length of a size Long is 78 inches (6'6"). Our 6'2" lead tester, however, felt constrained by the hood in a size Long. We thus can't recommend that size for anyone 6'3" or taller.

Packed Size

The Hyperion comes with a great compression sack that's light (1.7 oz) and capable of compressing it to its minimum volume. In our test with an aftermarket compression sack it packed down to 6.6 liters, the smallest in the review. Like its weight performance, however, this packed size is partially a result of its minimal insulation that's unlikely to provide the same warmth as its slightly bulkier competitors.

Versatility

To achieve its low weight, this bag uses a short, half-length zipper. This zipper also has only one slide, so you're not able to zip the bag up and then use a second slide to vent heat from the bottom of the zipper. Both the shorter zipper and the lack of a second slide limit the bag's ability to excess heat and restrict its use to a narrow range of temperatures. They also prevent you from sharing the bag as a quilt or zipping it together with a second bag.

Features and Design

Our favorite feature on this bag is its sleeping pad attachment system. If you like to secure your bag to your pad, it will get the job done. If not, it's easy to remove and trim its weight. We also like the simple button closure at the top of the zipper. It's light but effective at preventing the zipper from sliding down if you roll over in the night.

Value

This bags premium down and has a correspondingly premium price. For just a bit more, there are several warmer and more versatile bags available from Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering. Our Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag Review also includes several other options that are similarly light and warm but cheaper. For these reasons, we don't consider this bag a great value.

Conclusion