James Roddie recommends the Rab Solar Eco 3 sleeping bag with excellent ‘green’ credentials – but found two minor niggles.
The sustainability credentials of this Rab Solar Eco 3 sleeping bag are impressive. Rab state that 96% of the total content is recycled, with essentially everything apart from the zips made from recycled materials. This is sure to be a major selling point.
James Roddie’s Greener Choice
Two minor points aside, this is an excellent sleeping bag made with an admirable emphasis on environmental impact.- made almost entirely from recycled materials
- good warmth to weight ratio
- position of security pocket
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $194.95 / £180 (available from Rab) Weight: 1270g + 115g compression sack Fill: 100% recycled Stratus insulation Shell: 20D polyester ripstop Construction: Dual layer concertina blanket construction Zip: 3/4 length, 2 way on left or right Length: 220cm Rating: Comfort: 0°C; Limit -6°C Sizes: Regular or Long Women’s/men’s version: Yes rab.equipment/uk |
The Atmos ripstop polyester shell and lining is treated with a fluorocarbon free DWR coating and is highly water resistant. The insulation is made from recycled polyester, with a good warmth to weight ratio, and it is distributed with more fill on the upper where it’s needed most (and is not compressed by the sleeper). The bag uses elastic internal quilting, which brings the lining and insulation closer to your body. I didn’t feel aware of this at all when sleeping in the bag, but I certainly felt comfortably warm when using the bag in temperatures just above freezing.
The zip is 3/4 length, featuring a zip ‘plow’ which greatly reduces snagging. There is a zip baffle running the length of the zip, although the insulation there was minimal – something to be aware of if using at the lower end of the recommended temperature range.
I had two very minor niggles. The security pocket is located right at the neck, so storing a phone there can be uncomfortable. Secondly, fully tightening the draught tube around the shoulders resulted in an excessively long section of drawcord lying loose within the bag – up to 40cm in length, which was distracting at times.
These two minor points aside, this is an excellent sleeping bag made with an admirable emphasis on environmental impact.
Testing conditions
James is 5’9” tall and tends to be a ‘cold sleeper’. He used the sleeping bags in a mix of weather conditions in the Scottish Highlands during the Spring – in overnight temperatures ranging from around +2℃ to +9℃. All weights are from his own scales.
