Sierra Designs Electra Sleeping Bag Review
Women in contemporary times have long since proven
themselves capable of enduring harsh climates and unforgiving outdoor
conditions just as well as their male counterparts.
Regardless of any gender equality issues, however, it must be
acknowledged that the female and male physique have different needs,
particularly when it comes to temperature and body shape constraints.
With this distinction in mind, Sierra Designs has produced and
refined a line of sleeping bags that are specifically designed for women.
One of the bags in this line, the Electra -20, is crafted for women
who engage in serious expeditioning in Arctic-level temperatures, and is
packed with features that both complement its temperature rating, and the
fact that women are expected to use the Electra to keep from freezing to
death while trying to get a good night’s sleep on some windy mountainside.
The Electra -20 is packed with high-quality 800-fill goose down, with an impressive loft that can displace up to 8 inches of thickness, for optimum warmth retention. Along with other sleeping bags made by Sierra Designs, the fill of the Electra compresses well and fluffs back out once the bag is released from its constraints. As its name denotes, this version of the Electra is supposed to withstand temperatures of up to -20 degrees F. As far as its users report, it appears to hold up well to this extreme rating, due to a wealth of anti-draft features, including double draft tubes that run all about the bag and a heavy draft collar that seals shut. The hood is also thickly lined to act not only as an insulator, but also as a cushion. The smooth, silky interior lining ensures comfort to complement the sealed warmth produced by the bag’s layers.
A major positive note for the Electra is its excellent
waterproofing, which uses glue-welded seams instead of stitching to minimize
access points for rain or snow.
As water is unable to penetrate into the fabric, the dampness that often
becomes an issue with most down-filled bags becomes practically non-existent
with the Electra. Some women are
happy to state that this is their favorite feature.
Since it is designed for women, the Electra takes the
female body into consideration with its narrower shoulder room and ample hip
room, and is appropriately sized for reduced height.
Also, the insulation is thicker in the torso and foot area, where
women are more likely to lose body heat.
Women who have used the Electra in a variety of outdoor
conditions exhibit resounding approval for this sleeping bag, which has
performed ideally in every situation.
The only minor gripes reported are that the hook and loop closures
along the length of the draft tubes tend to latch onto other fabrics, which
can bothersome, and the fact that the zipper snags from time to time.
If you are an adventurous lady who needs a sleeping bag designed
especially for you, but is tough and warm enough to keep up with your
activities as well, one can recommend no better candidate than the Electra.
You can buy it online here.
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