TETON Sports Celsius XXL 0 Review

The Teton Sports Celsius XXL earned average and higher scores in each of our metrics. The soft lining is comfortable on the skin and its oversized design makes it the largest bag we test. It's very roomy and appealing to see from afar, but after getting a closer look, we feel the bag's construction and quality have some room for improvement.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Scoring an 8 out of 10 for warmth, we feel the Celsius provided excellent warmth down to about 20 degrees. The soft lining is not flannel but is nice next to bare skin. This bag has unique features that contribute to its warmth. It has both a draft tube to back the zipper and a neck collar that can be adjusted to reduce air flow from the top of the bag. In addition, this bag has a sort of minimal hood feature which can also be adjusted tighter to secure a pillow or surround the user's head. With two layers of synthetic insulation - the upper one is sewn to the nylon taffeta shell fabric, and the inner one is sewn to the brushed poly flannel lining — this bag uses all the tricks to stop drafts.

Comfort

The XXL version we tested is a generous 90 inches long (including the hood) and 36 inches wide. That's a lot of room for one person, but the bag is a few inches narrower than the most comfortable bags we tested. We enjoyed the feel of the brushed polyester lining.


Our one disappointment is that the zipper on this bag does not extend along the foot box, which prevents the user from unzipping the bag fully to act as a blanket. Overall, the bag's sheer size gave it a score of 8 out of 10 for comfort, bested only by the Wenzel Grande and the Slumberjack Country Squire 0.

Features

The soft lining and draft collar are this bag's most notable features. Two large webbing loops sewn into the foot of the bag near the corners provide for easy hanging. The zipper closure flap secures on itself to hide the prickly Velcro. A tape backing for the zipper gave our testers snag-free operation, a plus for this product. We were also impressed with the bag's water-resistant shell, and equally impressed with Teton Sport's limited lifetime warranty. However, we were disappointed with the manufacturer's cleaning instructions, which specify hand washing only and laying flat to dry. The instructions also specifically state not to tumble dry, and that machine washing voids the warranty. We feel this is a negative. The Celsius scored low in this metric, earning a 6 out of 10. Its performance was topped by that of the Wenzel Grande, Slumberjack Country Squire 0, The North Face Dolomite 20, Kelty Callisto, and REI Siesta.

Packed Size

This sleeping bag comes with one of the best stuff sacks of the bunch. It has compression straps similar to backpacking sacks, which also conveniently double as a carrying handles. The Celsius XXL is right in the middle of the bunch in packed size, and you could really cinch it down with the compression straps if space is at a premium. Weighing in at 7 lbs 8 ounces, it's fairly heavy and does not pack down as well as the The North Face Dolomite 20.

Best Applications

This is a great, dedicated car camping bag, especially for folks that want a large, rectangular bag that doesn't include cotton fabrics. With all synthetic materials, this bag is better suited to extended camping when it might get wet. Unfortunately is doesn't unzip to make a blanket, limiting its use for picnics or around the house use.

Value

The TCelsius XXL is very affordable at $70, and warmth and comfort contributed to a high overall score. However, when we considered that our Editors' Choice, the Wenzel Grande, is priced at $90, the price to value of the Celsius XXL seems to fade.

Conclusion

If you want a comfortable rectangular bag with all synthetic materials, the Celsius XXL is a great choice. All synthetic materials are more appropriate for car camping in rainy places, and the Celsius XXL will dry much quicker than bags with cotton shell or liners. The Celsius' draft collar and shallow hood are unique features for a rectangular bag.