Reviews You Can Rely On

Therm-a-Rest Oberon 0 Review

One of the lightest bags in our lineup, the Oberon is toasty warm
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Therm-a-Rest Oberon 0 Review
Credit: Therm-a-Rest
Price:  $520 List
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Manufacturer:   Therm-a-Rest
By Brian Smith ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 24, 2022
70
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 20% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 8.0
  • Comfort - 20% 7.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 6.0
  • Weather Resistance - 15% 6.0
  • Features - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Therm-a-Rest Oberon 0 is a very warm and comfortable sleeping bag. It is also amazingly lightweight for its warmth, and the cost is quite reasonable. It also features a strap system designed to attach a Therm-a-Rest inflatable sleeping pad. There is a lack of a cinch strap around the hood, and we were a bit disappointed to find that the down feathers had shifted in the draft collar. Fortunately, the well-shaped hood made up for the draft collar's limitation and we were plenty warm.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Warm
And inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Down shifts in baffle around neck
Lack of hood cinch strap

Our Analysis and Test Results

The shape of the Oberon is impressive, with one of the best hoods we tested. Whether you sleep with an inflatable pillow or use your down jacket as a pillow, many sleeping bags don't account for that, and the hood can often feel too tight. The Oberon cradled our brain buckets, inducing a state of relaxation. Lofty and lightweight, this sack of down feathers was toasty.

Performance Comparison


therm-a-rest oberon 0 - bright and colorful, the oberon is as warm as it looks
Bright and colorful, the Oberon is as warm as it looks
Credit: Brian Smith

Warmth


The Oberon was one of the warmest 0-degree sleeping bags that we tested. With minimal free air space inside and lofty down throughout, we could really feel our body's thermometer rise inside. What really impressed us was the hood, which conforms perfectly to the head, even with an inflatable pillow inside. Since you lose so much heat through your extremities in cold environments, the Oberon keeps you toasty warm by keeping the head, hands, and feet surrounded in 800-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down.


Therm-a-Rest placed more down on the top of the bag and less on the bottom, where it will compress down against your sleeping pad. This minimizes air space inside the bag and feels like a warm down comforter on the inside.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - easy to get into but hard to leave. this bag is lofty and warm.
Easy to get into but hard to leave. This bag is lofty and warm.
Credit: Brian Smith

Weight


At 2 pounds, 10 ounces, this is one of the lightest bags we tested. The warmth-to-weight ratio is very high, which makes it ideal for those who like to backpack and winter camp.


The zippers, cinch straps, and even the SynergyLink connectors that attach the sleeping bag to the sleeping pad are all minimalist and lightweight.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - the oberon is light, weighing in at 2 pounds, 10 ounces (without the...
The Oberon is light, weighing in at 2 pounds, 10 ounces (without the compression sack)
Credit: Brian Smith

Comfort


The Oberon was one of the more comfortable sleeping bags we tested. The extra down at the top provides plush comfort, and the hood surrounds your head like an enormous, warm hat. The draft tube along the side zipper is huge so you don't even notice the zipper. Unfortunately, we noticed that there was hardly any down in the middle of the draft collar; it had all shifted to the sides. However, the rest of the bag is so warm and comfortable that it hardly even mattered.


Therm-a-Rest incorporates SynergyLink connectors that attach the sleeping bag to the sleeping pad, which greatly eliminates slipping and sliding off your pad during the night. This feature significantly increases comfort since you can shift around in your sleep without having to wake up and re-position onto your sleeping pad.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - enjoying the oberon's comfort in a snowy environment
Enjoying the Oberon's comfort in a snowy environment
Credit: Brian Smith

Packed Size


Thanks to the thin, soft, and supple fabric, the Oberon packs down very easily. Of course, the down is so lofty, it takes a bit of patience to squish all that warm air out of the bag.


While the compression sack that comes with the Oberon is sufficient, it could certainly be quite a bit smaller, since this bag is so compressible.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - the oberon comes with a nice compression sack, but it could...
The Oberon comes with a nice compression sack, but it could certainly be even smaller
Credit: Brian Smith

Weather Resistance


It's very windy in Wyoming, where we tested this sleeping bag. One of our testing days was particularly windy, with the first major winter storm on its way. The Oberon impressed us with how well it blocked the wind and the giant hood kept our heads protected inside.


With rigorous dunking and pouring techniques, the water did find its way in, but as you can see in the photo below, most of the water beads up and runs right off the shell material. Hydrophobic down inside resists moisture and quickly dries out. So, unless you're planning on an open bivy in a heavy rainstorm, this warm winter bag should shed snowflakes just fine.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - water streaming off of the shell
Water streaming off of the shell
Credit: Brian Smith

Features


The Oberon comes equipped with removable SynergyLink connectors to attach your sleeping pad to this bag. This is a great feature that prevents slippage and barely adds any weight. An external zippered stow pocket fits a headlamp or phone. A single cinch strap tightens the hood, protecting your head from cold air.


There are even loops on the underside designed for quilts or blankets. All of the features are lightweight. A small button prevents the zipper from unzipping. Those with larger hands might prefer a bigger button, though.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - a zippered stow pocket is located on the outside
A zippered stow pocket is located on the outside
Credit: Brian Smith

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Oberon 0?


The Oberon is a very warm and lofty down sleeping bag that is ideal for winter recreationists who want a lightweight and compressible package. Backcountry snow riders who like to go winter camping will enjoy this product.

therm-a-rest oberon 0 - enjoying the warmth of the lightweight oberon
Enjoying the warmth of the lightweight Oberon
Credit: Brian Smith

What Other Winter Down Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?


If you're looking for a quality, snug-fitting cold weather bag with a great compression sack, check out the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0. Our favorite winter bag overall, the Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF, is super compressible with an insane warmth-to-weight ratio and awesome comfort.

Brian Smith