Lucy Wallace has one reservation about the Vango Mantis 400 – but recommends this well-featured bag for those on a budget.
Vango ambitiously describe the Mantis as a four-season bag, with a comfort limit rating of a whopping -9°C. Although there is lots to like about this bag, for me, the temperature rating does not reflect real world performance.
Lucy Wallace recommends
Despite my reservations about the temperature rating, the Mantis is an excellent value 3-4 season bag, particularly suited to taller folk on a budget.- warm for weight
- roomy
- did not feel as warm as advertised
- generous size less suited to smaller sleepers
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: international shipping available / £90 (available from Outdoor Action) Weight: 1426g Fill: 4T Eco recycled synthetic filling Shell: 40D recycled Polair Active Eco, with aluminised Thermal Reverb layer Construction: sheets of synthetic filling Length: Max height 190cm Rating: limit -9°C, extreme -15°C Sizes: one Women’s/men’s version: Unisex vango.co.uk |
It’s worth noting that I tend to sleep cold and often need a warmer bag than suggested by official ratings. I tested the Mantis 400 in cool conditions with nighttime temperatures hovering around freezing and felt chilly at times.
The Mantis is well featured and includes a generous neck baffle to keep drafts out, insulated zip baffle, and a shiny reflective layer built into the insulation to help reflect heat back to the user. The shell has a soft cotton-like feel with a silkier lining, and there’s an internal pocket for small items such as a head torch. The shape is a traditional mummy cut, with narrow, shaped foot box and wide shoulders.
Perhaps one reason I felt cold is the overall size of the bag. It’s a unisex model, one size fits all, and generously proportioned inside. My husband, who at 188cm often struggles to find sleeping bags to fit, found the sizing perfect. For me, at 172 cm, even with the gently elasticated lining, there were cold spots where my body couldn’t warm the dead air space.
Despite my reservations about the temperature rating, the Mantis is an excellent value 3-4 season bag, particularly suited to taller folk on a budget. It’s bulky, as you would expect for a warm synthetic bag, but does compress sufficiently to pack into a backpacking rucksack for overnight adventures.
The Mantis is also a Greener Choice for those looking to reduce their ecological footprint, entirely from recycled materials.
Testing Conditions
Lucy Wallace is 5’6” with narrow shoulders and is a cold sleeper. The bags were tested on overnight camps in Wales in mixed, rainy and cool conditions. Weights supplied using her own digital scales and include the stuff sack. This review was first published in the August 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
