Sleeping bag Rock Front 600
For the trip to Aladağlar, I needed a new down sleeping bag. We spent two weeks living autonomously at altitudes above 3000 metres. It’s hot during the day, but at night there’s frost and the wind sweeps across the plateau, blowing away all the warmth. Carrying more than 20 kg is physically hard — it’s over a third of my body weight. I started lightening my gear so I could walk under the backpack rather than crawl. I managed to save a lot on small things, a bit less on metal. Well, an ice axe simply can’t weigh as little as a feather.
Synthetic warm clothes no longer fit into my 65-litre backpack, so I started thinking about down — it compresses better and weighs less. It’s riskier to get it wet or dirty, though modern hydrophobic coatings help protect the down from moisture. I usually go for gear from European brands, but this time I tested insulation from the Ukrainian company Rock Front. The Rock Front 600 sleeping bag met several criteria. A comfort temperature of –7°C and a limit of –13°C were just right. 800 fill power, same as European brands, but the price was more pleasant.
Pros:
- Warm and lightweight
- Compresses well, takes up little space in the backpack
- 800 fill power down
- Hydrophobic coating helps protect against moisture
- Good value for money
- Made by a Ukrainian company — nice to support local brands
For the first time, my feet didn’t get cold even without socks — the footbox area was pre-insulated.
The cut allows freedom of movement without leaving unnecessary empty space. There’s a hood and a warm collar around the neck. For comparison, my old Chinese sleeping bag had no hood at all, and my head would freeze even in a hat.
It’s compact and weighs 1080 g including the compression sack.Впервые не мерзли ноги без носков – зону в ногах утеплили заранее
Cons:
- The cut allows for freedom of movement, but without any unnecessary space.
- There’s a hood and a warm collar around the neck.
- By contrast, my old Chinese sleeping bag didn’t have a hood at all — my head would freeze even with a hat on.
Nuances:
- In freezing conditions, it’s better to use a down sleeping bag with a bivy cover — it doesn’t get wet as easily and offers better wind protection. This adds to the overall weight but greatly improves comfort.
- It’s also best to carry it in a dry bag, just like the rest of your gear, in case of rain.
In freezing conditions, it’s better to use a down sleeping bag with a bivy cover — it doesn’t get wet as easily and offers better wind protection. This adds to the overall weight but greatly improves comfort.
It’s also best to carry it in a dry bag, just like the rest of your gear, in case of rain.
Поход прошел отлично, спальник показал себя хорошо.
The trip went well, and the sleeping bag performed excellently.
Thanks to Dasha and Anna for modelling! 🙂