ProView – Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag
This spring I tested out the Mountain Hardwear Women’s Lamina 0 degree synthetic sleeping bag.
Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag
Product Description: Unique Lamina™ construction maximizes the loft of your insulation; eliminates cold spots; and thermally maps insulation to areas you need the most warmth. By strategically placing insulation, we are able to concentrate warmth where you need it.
Offer price: MSRP: $200.00 - $230.00
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Quality
(5)
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Features
(4)
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Fit
(3.5)
Summary
Overall this is a very warm and durable sleeping bag. In my experience, it seems to be highly water resistant, possibly even waterproof, but I did not test that feature. The bag has retained its loft and still looks brand new after several outings. The fabric is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. The sleeping bag does run very small and I would suggest anyone taller than me to get the bigger size. Adding a small pocket for stashing a headlamp and lip balm would be a nice added feature, as would improving the zipper pull to make it easier to close it when inside. I give the bag a 4/5.
Overall
4.3Pros
- Very warm
- Comfortable
- Durable
Cons
- Heavy
- Doesn’t stuff well
- Snug fit
Fit
My first impression of the sleeping bag was that it felt very tight and seemed to run short. The specs state that the regular fits women up to 5’6”, but I am 5’3” and 120 pounds and fairly petite and the sleeping bag felt very snug on me. In fact, it was so snug I had a hard time closing the zipper all the way as I couldn’t quite move my arms when inside. However, after getting the sleeping bag zipped shut using some acrobatic maneuvers, I realized that the snug fit is exactly what is needed in a 0-degree bag. I felt completely engulfed in the thick yet very fluffy synthetic bag as there were no air pockets anywhere.
As a full-time mountain guide at Colorado Mountain School, I have spent years guiding and camping in many different environments and I am pretty picky with my nightly comfort. When I read the description of the sleeping bag I knew I had to test it out in a variety of conditions. The first camping experience was in the desert near Moab. Next, I tested out the bag in central Colorado in extremely rugged winter conditions. Lastly, I spent a night in Rocky Mountain National Park sleeping in the snow under the stars.
Durability
The first test included sleeping on my pad in the dirt in the desert south of Moab. While it is nice and warm during the days, the nights are pretty chilly and seem much colder than one would expect as the temperature difference is so large. I was a happy clam out there staying plenty warm, yet never sweaty. I did manage to roll off my pad several times but hardly even noticed as the thick insulation in the bag provided the needed padding for the night. The sleeping bag seems very durable as I got no scratches or tears in the fabric even after rolling around on the prickly desert soil. After a few days, the bag started to get a bit dirty from blowing sand and dirt but it was easily wiped clean with a warm damp sponge.
Waterproofness
The next testing environment was at 9,000 feet near Vail, Colorado. We were in a storm cycle with very cold temperatures and lots of snow. I made a little bivy shelter in the snow and curled up for the night. During the night it snowed a bit and the temperatures dropped to single digits. I stayed very warm and although the sleeping bag was covered in snow and frost in the morning it did not get wet. The seams are mostly taped and the material seems very water resistant, maybe bordering on waterproof. I was a bit concerned that the dirt and dust from the desert journey would compromise the water resistance of the fabric but it did not seem to be the case. The hood is large and cinches down around the head nicely. The draft collar is also very thick. These two features definitely help to keep the heat in and the body warm.
My final testing environment was spent in Rocky Mountain National Park just below tree line at a neat little site not far from Trail Ridge Road (which was closed due to snow). The weather was pretty dreary overall with some snow flurries but very high humidity. The sleeping bag would frequently come into contact with the wet snow but the bag seemed to stay waterproof. However, everything felt somewhat damp because of the high humidity, including the inside of the sleeping bag, so I was quite surprised that I still stayed very warm at night. This would have been unlikely if the sleeping bag was down filled.
Size/Weight
All my campouts were done with car support and not while backpacking. The sleeping bag is fairly heavy and large and doesn’t stuff too well so it is a bit cumbersome if one wants to bring it into the backcountry. Ideally, this bag is for car camping, short backpacking trips, or any backcountry journeys with support (porters, horses, lamas, etc). The bag would also be awesome on bigger expeditions.
Final Thoughts
Overall this is a very warm and durable sleeping bag. In my experience, it seems to be highly water resistant, possibly even waterproof, but I did not test that feature. The bag has retained its loft and still looks brand new after several outings. The fabric is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. The sleeping bag does run very small and I would suggest anyone taller than me to get the bigger size. Adding a small pocket for stashing a headlamp and lip balm would be a nice added feature, as would improving the zipper pull to make it easier to close it when inside. I give the bag a 4/5.
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About the Gear Tester
Mia Tucholke
Mia is an AMGA certified rock and ski guide. She works full-time with Colorado Mountain School. She has taught and guided in the mountain environment for over 30 years. She guides in all mountain disciplines including rock and ice climbing, alpine climbing, and ski mountaineering. When not working she may be found climbing offwidths at Vedauvoo and Indian Creek or skiing some deep powder somewhere. You can follow her on Instagram at @mtnmia.
