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EUREKA 30F SILVER CITY SLEEPING BAG
BY JONATHAN COUPAL
OR
November 27, 2015
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: Jonathan Coupal
EMAIL: [email protected]
AGE: 44
LOCATION: Buffalo, NY, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.40 kg)
I started backpacking as a teenager, and spent time hiking around the Adirondacks. I took a long hiatus when I got married, then started backpacking again once my son joined the Boy Scouts. Most of my backpacking is 2-3 day trips with some longer trips every couple of years, and I enjoy camping and backpacking with my family. I am also the co-host for the podcast "HYOH Podcast", a monthly podcast about Hammock Camping.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Eureka Tents
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Manufacturer's Website: http://store.eurekatent.com/Silver-City-30-Regular
MSRP: US$89.90
Listed Weight: 44 oz (1247.38 g)
Measured Weight: 37 oz (1048 g)
Other details:
Fill Style and Weight: 24 oz (680 g) Eureka Rteq Synthetic Insulation
Extra Features: Pillow Pocket (outside the hood) and internal glasses/phone pocket (inside, near the chest)
Temperature Rating: 30F (-1C)
FIELD USE
Initially purchased in 2010, I took this on a 3 day, 2 night hike in the Allegheny Forest in Southern New York in October, with the expectation that we would be using the product within the rated limits indicated by the manufacturer. The first night we made camp at a lean-to in the Allegheny State Park after a day of hiking. After setting up and inflating our pads (therm-a-rest classics), we laid out our bags to “fluff” while we made dinner. The weather was chilly and damp, but the inside of the lean-to was dry. The temperature that weekend was forecasted to be 55F (12.78C) during the day and 35F (1.67C) at night, with light rain. It did not go below freezing while we were on the trail, so I would expect that those numbers are relatively accurate. It rained on the second day.
Getting into the bag after sundown, my first impression was that it was a little cool and very lightweight. Definitely not the experience that I had had in the past with heavy coleman sleeping bags when I was younger. I zipped myself into the bag, cinched down the hood, and snuggled up for the night in boxers and a t-shirt. The bag was plenty long enough, and I did not have any issues feeling cramped. Halfway through the night, however, I found that I was a little uncomfortable with the cold air and donned my wool socks, hiking pants, and fleece jacket. After adding this insulation, I was able to go to sleep for the remainder of the night. My second night mirrored my first, in which I needed to wear a little more clothing to stay warm when using the bag near its lower comfort rating.
I continue to use the bag on Boy Scout campouts as well as backpacking trips when I anticipate the weather to be above 40F (4.44C), and I have found it to be very comfortable in most conditions. I also use the bag as a top quilt when sleeping in my hammock, leaving it unzipped with my feet in the foot box. The bag packs up easily into its supplied stuff sack, which includes compression straps if fit in a backpack is a problem. Cleanup is easy: after an overnight, I simply hang the bag inside out for several hours to air it out and dry out any latent moisture. Periodically (after 4-5 nights), I will throw the bag into the regular sized clothes washer and then air dry in the summer or dry in the dryer in the winter. This does not appear to have affected loft, however I have been sure to store the bag open on a hanger in our clean, dry attic closet.
Recently, on a trip to Mt. Hood with a friend, I used this bag with the S.O.L. breathable bivy, and I found it to meet its temperature ratings in this situation. This leads me to believe that the bivy, acting as a windbreak, probably added 10 degrees to the insulating value of the bag. I had a similar experience with an overcover on my hammock, where the overcover acted as a wind break.
SUMMARY
For the cost, I would suggest that this bag is a great value for a beginning hiker or camper, especially if that person plans on limiting themselves to 3-season activities.
THINGS I LIKE
Inexpensive for the weight and temperature rating
Packs reasonably small
Roomy, even with the hood cinched up
Easy to clean and maintain
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Might not meet the lower temperature rating for cold sleepers
Heavier than down or newer materials
SIGNATURE
Jonathan Coupal
www.hyohpodcast.com
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
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