Getting a good nights sleep in the backcountry can be a real challenge at times. You’re away from your own comfortable bed, usually sleeping on the ground, and the natural elements can conspire against you, preventing a sound slumber. Thankfully, a good sleeping bag, such as the GoLite Adrenaline 4-Season bag, can go a long way towards addressing those issues.
When I’m looking to purchase a new sleeping bag I like to keep a few important things in mind. First, I check to see what temperature it is rated for. There is nothing more frustrating than being too cold or too warm while you’re trying to sleep, and it is important to select the right bag for the conditions you’ll be using it in. Thanks to its 800+ goose down fill, the 4-season version of the Adrenaline is rated down to 0ºF (-18ºC) and when I used the bag in cold weather, it easily lived up to that rating. In fact it kept me so comfortably warm, even as the mercury dropped around me, it made it especially hard to get out of it in the morning.
The other important factors when selecting a sleeping bag are pack weight and overall size. The Adrenaline excels in these areas too, weighing in at just 3 lbs. 6 oz. (1.53kg) and when inserted into its included stuff sack, this sleeping bag compresses down quite nicely as well, taking up very little room in your backpack. 4-season bags are naturally more bulky than those rated for warmer weather, but even with that in mind, the Adrenaline is surprisingly light and small.
Other design features include a shell that is made of lightweight, 100% recycled polyester rip-stop that is both breathable and waterproof, keeping you warm and dry even in the worst of conditions. A single, well integrated, zipper runs along the front of the bag, making it easy to adjust as needed throughout the night, while the hood on this mummy style bag is simple to customize to your needs as well. But if I had one complaint it would be that this bag is perhaps a bit too warm at times. Additional zippered venting options along the legs for instance, would be a welcome addition, allowing for even more control over temperature and comfort.
That one caveat aside however, the Adrenaline 4-season sleeping bag is a perfect example of GoLite’s approach to designing gear, which is to deliver a great product that is environmentally friendly, light in weight, and doesn’t compromise on performance.