As the last leaf drops from the trees and frost is in the forecast, it is a sign that the summer camping season is about to wrap up. Sure, shoulder season camping is fine. Less people, more campsite availability… but when the backcountry really starts to call is when it starts snowing. And I mean snowing.

Winter camping is glorious. Fresh air, not a soul around, being able to see what animals have wandered by, the ability to camp almost anywhere you heart desires and as an added bonus, your journey has almost zero impact on the land.

Similar to your summer adventures, Winter Camping requires a bit of preparation but where-as you might bring a very light sleeping bag or quilt (or shed it altogether) in scorching temperatures, you don’t have that luxury in the winter. When the moon is up and the needle drops, it’s your sleeping bag that’s going to get you through the frigid night and with the Therm-a-Rest Polar Ranger, you’re in for the most comfortable sleep you’ve ever had.

The stuff sack includes a pull handle to help pull it up from the depths of your backpack

The Therm-a-Rest Polar Ranger is a 1.48 kg/3 lbs 4 oz sleeping bag packed with PFC-free 800-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down within a 100% Recycled Nylon RipStop shell. What makes this great is that not only is it very lofty to trap in the much needed heat for the cold night ahead, but the down compresses with the included stuff sack to a very manageable size (22 x 25 cm/8.5 x 10 in). I have summer sleeping bags that take up more space while compressed and yet this bag expands to an enormous size that envelopes you in warmth. My only wish is that the stuff sack was a little ‘squatter’ so that I could compress it evenly in a small cylindar vs the longer tube shape that it is currently.

Once the sleeping bag is lofted up, you’ll notice two extra zippers (aside from the centre zip) which perform double duty when you’re tucked inside. They zip from either end (as well as from the inside and outside) allowing you to pop your arms out to still perform tasks. If you’re like me you might have a bedtime routine before you finally switch off your headlamp for the night…

tuck my phone plus any camera batteries into the footbox to keep them warm
toss any wet or damp clothing (such as my glove liners) into my bag to dry them out overnight
put my glasses somewhere accessible in one of the tent’s mesh pockets
make sure I’m all centred on the air mattress
Cover up with any remaining jackets for that extra layer of insulation, especially on a cold night

Prior to having arm holes, I’d be unzipped from the sleeping bag letting in cold air the entire time but now I can take my time as if I was fully dressed. Once fully zipped up there are draft tubes behind the side vents to prevent that slow stream of cold air that sneaks though the zipper teeth. I’ve never felt a draft of any sort when sleeping in this bag thanks to the draft tube behind the main zipper and around the neck area.

On the flip side of things, these arm holes also act as perfect vents for nights that you’re running a little warm, or the temperature is a little warmer than what you were expecting. The front zipper also has two zippers that zip from either direction which you can use for venting as well. Being able to manage heat this well is a shining example of how well this bag is made.

There is an included phone pocket which is quite large that keeps it close to your radiating body heat to keep the battery from depleting in the cold. A minor complaint is that the pocket is positioned on the rear side of the bag which means it might get in the way if you’re a side sleeper like me.

We’ll come back to side sleeping in a second, as I can’t pass up mentioning how great the SynergyLink™ Connectors are. There are two separate elasticized straps on the back of the bag that attach with little toggles that go around your air mattress and help anchor the bag to it. These little toggles also are compatible with quilts so you can really add another layer of loft while preventing you from bucking it off in the night.

If there is one issue about winter camping vs. summer camping (and as funny as it sounds) is that it’s awfully hard to stay on your air mattress through the night. The ground can be unexpectedly uneven (and it’s not like you’re going to uproot your tent at this point), and both the air mattress and your sleeping bag are usually a little slippery causing you to slide all over the place. Simply strap these connectors around your air mattress and you’ll be secure. Therm-a-Rest went the extra mile and offers numerous latching points offering the flexibility to find the grounding points that work for you. As a side sleeper, I found a good balance of removing the upper strap all together and leaving one connected near the footbox allowing the bag to still rotate slightly for a comfortable yet secure sleep.

You might think sleeping in the freezing cold would be a detriment but I actually look forward to a cozy night’s sleep in this bag. It is rated -20F/-30C and with its box-baffled construction (and draft tubes as I mentioned earlier) other than on your face you won’t feel the cold seeping in at all. Just as the label says, temperatures up to -20°C are indeed completely comfortable. Even the snorkel hood has a slick little magnetic closure for easy breathing that prevents the keeping your warm exhaled air from causing the bag to get damp.

The area for the upper torso is nice and roomy and you won’t feel confined in it despite it being in the style of a mummy bag. Again, as a side sleeper I was able to find positions to put my arms without feeling bound.

Therm-a-Rest has shown an eye for detail including some nice touches such as…

a little loop to hang your bag when you get home to air dry
a foot pocket to put hand warmers to keep your toes a little warmer
DWR coating on the shell of the bag so an errant snow won’t accidentally start melting on your bag

Sometimes you might not know what Nature is about to throw at you a few nights into a trip. Temperatures can fluctuate and it could be a scary situation. The Therm-a-Rest Polar Ranger is an investment, but one that offers maximum comfort and safety. This in turn means your adventures will be memorable ones and should sway you to venture out more often... if only for a good night’s sleep!

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