Eastern Mountain Sports is, of course, much like REI or L.L. Bean in that it’s both a retailer of “name-brand” goods as well as a maker of its own, proprietary label items. In my experience, the quality of their stuff is usually pretty good, even extremely good鈥攁fter all, in most cases the fabrics, thread, zippers, and so on that are used to make a house-brand item are the same as those used by the Marmots or Mountain Hardwears of this world. And then there’s the question of value. REI or Eastern Mountain Sports don’t have to mark things up from a wholesale price to make a profit; they can charge less yet still make money.
Mountain Light
So…that’s a lengthy preamble to your question about Eastern Mountain Sports’ Mountain Light 20 bag (on sale at $159 from the usual $199; www.ems.com). It’s a 20-degree bag with high-quality 725-fill down and an extremely light, tough, and water-resistant Pertex nylon shell. That’s high-end stuff. And, while it has been a few years since I used an EMS bag, I’ve always regarded their bags as well-designed and functional鈥攎eaning their temperature ratings seem pretty accurate. And, at just two pounds, it’s a very light, compressible bag. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it.
Now, the competition鈥攊n this case, Feathered Friends’ Swallow, a 20-degree down-filled bag that sells for $320 with a Pertex Quantum fabric that’s more or less the same as that found on the EMS bag (www.featheredfriends.com). The Swallow is a great bag鈥擨’ve owned Swallows for 15 years now and think they’re maybe the best all-around down bags made. The Swallow is well-made, durable, and has excellent down (about 750-fill). But is it worth more than twice the money of the EMS bag? Probably not. My bet is that in a side-by-side comparison, the Swallow would show itself to be a little warmer. Just a little. And in the long run, probably more durable.
But, all things considered, I’d say buy the Mountain Light鈥攁nd sleep well.
For the year’s best sleeping bags, read the reviews from 国产吃瓜黑料‘s .