One of the most versatile temperature rating in a sleeping bag is 15 degrees Fahrenheit in my mind. 15 degree sleeping bags are 3-season bags as winter temperatures often can dip below the 15 degree threshold and at that point, you usually want a 0-degree sleeping bag. Typically while backpacking and car camping I like to have a sleeping bag that can keep me warm in most temperatures in the spring, summer, and fall months.
This season, I have taken the Sierra Designs Pyro 15 on a hut trip in February where the temperatures dipped down to 0 degrees outside, but the cabin temperatures on the inside only dipped down to 20 or 30 degrees when the fire went out at night. The Pyro 15 in this situation kept me plenty warm overnight. I’ve also taken the Pyro 15 on other camping trips in the Rocky Mountains and I was happy with the temperature performance of the sleeping bag. Trying to sleep when your body is trying to generate heat is nearly impossible, so having a good sleeping bag that stays true to its temperature rating is important.
The Sierra Designs Pyro 15 features a 600-fill down insulation which is my down fill minimum preferred in a sleeping bag. One of the benefits of using a 600-fill sleeping bag is that you often can save over $100 and only add a few ounces and a little added size over similar 800 down fill sleeping bags. If you camp a few times a year and want a quality affordable sleeping bag, a 600-fill down sleeping bag such as the Pyro 15 is a perfect option.
Zipper Snap Protection
The Sierra Designs Pyro 15 is unique in that it places more insulation where warmth is most needed, the core. So to help keep your core warm, Sierra Designs has added extra down insulation on the top side from the thigh section to your head. The shin section of the bag has a little less insulation as this area doesn’t need as much heat as other areas of the body. One thing that I run into in a lot of lower grade sleeping bags is that my zipper always gets caught on the fabric. I usually don’t tear the fabric, but over time a rip is almost eminent. The Pyro 15 has a piece of fabric on each side of the zipper that helps keep the zipper from getting caught on the outer shell. I have to admit, the zipper has gotten snagged, but far less often than other sleeping bags I have used. For those of you using a foam or air mat such as a Therm-a-rest, the Pyro 15 has two straps on the bottom of the bag that wraps around the mat so you aren’t sliding off the mat during the middle of the night. This is something that I really liked in this sleeping bag.
When you’re backpacking or trying to travel as light as possible, a bulky pillow is the last thing you want to bring along with you. No need to worry, Sierra Designs has come to the rescue and added a pocket underneath the head section in the sleeping bag where you can stash some clothes that take the place of a pillow. It’s a nice little feature in my mind… Another nice feature in the Sierra Designs Pyro 15 is the waterproof outer shell. I personally didn’t get caught in a rain storm nor did I encounter any nighttime condensation. I did however run the sleeping bag under a garden hose for 3 minutes and it stayed completely dry inside.
The Pyro 15 comes in a size regular that fits up to someone who is 6’0 tall (I am 6’0 tall and a regular fit fine) and a Long which fits up to a someone 6’6. The Pyro 15 is a mummy style sleeping bag with a hip girth at 58/60 inches, this is pretty standard among similar sleeping bags. I weight 178 with a size 32 hips and I was plenty comfortable in the Pyro 15. Overall, I find the Sierra Designs Pyro 15 to be a quality made sleeping bag at a great value. For more information on the Pyro 15 Sleeping Bag and other Sierra Designs gear, please visit www.sierradesigns.com or www.amazon.com/sierradesigns.
