Thermarest Antares 20 Sleeping Bag Review

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Thermarest has long been known as the go to sleeping pad company for backpacking and car camping.  They have grown over the years and expanded their sleeping pad lines, but you can only go so far when you make sleeping pads.  That said, Thermarest has come out with a performance focused line of sleeping bags this season including the Thermarest Antares 20.  When I first caught wind of the new sleeping bags by Thermarest a little while back, I was super interested in testing out one of the sleeping bags so I could see how they compare to the rest of the high quality Thermarest product line.

What sets this sleeping bag apart from most

The Thermarest Antares 20 is the perfect option for the backpacker who’s trying to save on weight and space without compromising on performance(warmth).  What sets the Antares 20 apart from most other 15-20 degree sleeping bags is not what it has, but what it doesn’t have.  On the underside of the Thermarest Antares 20 sleeping bag, Thermarest decided to remove the insulating down and allow the sleeping pad to step in and keep the layer closest to the ground warm.  When your body is laying against an air filled space, that space gets closer and closer to the temperature of your body.  I imagine this has it’s breaking point, such as 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but while sleeping in temperatures down to 25 degrees, I kept plenty warm.

One feature that is integral to making this system work is keeping the underside of the sleeping bag on the bottom and the top on the top. This is done through using elastic straps that are attached to the sleeping bag that go around the sleeping pad.  There is one strap near the head and one strap near the foot of the sleeping to keep you from sliding off the sleeping pad.  It should be known that these straps are best used with a mummy style of sleeping pad.  While the straps work with square sleeping pads, I found that they were stretched beyond what they were made for.

To trim down on weight and space while maintaining warmth, Theramrest uses 750 Fill Goose Down which is on the higher end when it comes to down used in a sleeping bag.  The general range you will see on down sleeping bags is usually between 550-900 fill.

Coming in at 1 lb 15 oz. for a size regular, the Thermarest Antares 20 is super light for the amount of warmth the sleeping bag offers.

Sizing of the Thermarest Antares 20 Sleeping Bag

My one complaint with the Thermarest Antares 20 is the sizing specifications.  I found the size regular to be a little short for my height, which is 6’0.  Having tested dozens of sleeping bags, I have always been able to fit into a size regular so I have a feeling it’s not me, but the Antares 20 fits a little short.  While this is a complaint for me, there is an easy fix, move up to a long if you are 6’0 or taller.  If you are 5’11 and shorter, you should be safe.

Features

A few features worth noting in the Thermarest Antares 20 sleeping bag include a small zippered pocket near the head of the bag.  This pocket is great for small items like a headlamp, cell phone, keys, contacts, etc.  Another design worth noting is the fabric used along side the zipper of the Antares 20.  This material is a little more heavy duty which helps prevent the zipper snagging and tearing a hole.

For more information on the Antares and other Therm-a-rest products, please visit www.thermarest.com or www.amazon.com/thermarest.