View Full Version : Gear Review: Big Agnes Zirkel SL (Long; with pad)
KevinAce
03-20-2008, 10:32
This isn't exactly a full fledged review, just my amateur thoughts on the product.
My Big Agnes Zirkel SL just showed up yesterday. Along with it I got a Big Anges mummy pad. I could not be more pleased. I'm a big guy (6'2, 330 lbs) and had a lot of issues finding a mummy style bag that I would fit in. Without the pad, I fit great. I can zip it up without a problem. With the pad fully inflated, it's a bit of a tight fit and a little tough to zip up. With about 2/3rds the air out of the pad (still insulated me from the ground), I fit quite well.
It is incredibly warm (as you'd expect with a 20 degree down product), and very well built. The paid fits perfectly into the sleeve on the bottom. There's even a pouch by your head to stuff some clothes into to make a pillow. Once inside and zipped up, I was able to roll over on to my side and back comfortably.
The only question I have (and yes, it's a noob question) is how to roll it up and store it. It only came in a plastic bag. There aren't any clips / bungees on the bag itself. Should I buy some sort of compression sack or cables or what?
Jaybird62
03-20-2008, 10:46
This isn't exactly a full fledged review, just my amateur thoughts on the product.
My Big Agnes Zirkel SL just showed up yesterday. Along with it I got a Big Anges mummy pad. I could not be more pleased. I'm a big guy (6'2, 330 lbs) and had a lot of issues finding a mummy style bag that I would fit in. Without the pad, I fit great. I can zip it up without a problem. With the pad fully inflated, it's a bit of a tight fit and a little tough to zip up. With about 2/3rds the air out of the pad (still insulated me from the ground), I fit quite well.
It is incredibly warm (as you'd expect with a 20 degree down product), and very well built. The paid fits perfectly into the sleeve on the bottom. There's even a pouch by your head to stuff some clothes into to make a pillow. Once inside and zipped up, I was able to roll over on to my side and back comfortably.
The only question I have (and yes, it's a noob question) is how to roll it up and store it. It only came in a plastic bag. There aren't any clips / bungees on the bag itself. Should I buy some sort of compression sack or cables or what?
Thanks for the review. I would suggest checking big agnes site and seeing if they offer a stuff sack for your particular bag. If not then take your bag to your local outfitter and find a stuffsack to fit your bag. Congrats on finding a good setup for yourself:sun
Thanks. Once you get messing with this bag, I would like to know how it is temp rating wise.
I am also curious about the "stuffing with the uninflated pad still in the sleeve," that I have read about.
Speak up down the road! I can't be the only one curious about this. Well, maybe!
Littlest Hobo
03-20-2008, 11:13
The only question I have (and yes, it's a noob question) is how to roll it up and store it. It only came in a plastic bag. There aren't any clips / bungees on the bag itself. Should I buy some sort of compression sack or cables or what?
Thanks for posting your thoughts on this bag. Was looking to purchase a 15 to 20 bag when I head to Minnesota in September and this bag is on my list.
As for your question, you mention "storing" you bag... as I'm sure other WBers will advise, the last thing you want to do when storing a down bag is to compress it. A large cotton-type laundry bag will do. Often times, these come with the sleeping bag itself. Another option is a solid rubbermaid-type storage bin, which I use to store my WM bag.
When I'm hiking, I stuff my bag into a sea-to-summit stuff sack. Don't see any reason to compress it while it's in my backpack, but that's just my opinion.
Jaybird62
03-20-2008, 11:37
As for your question, you mention "storing" you bag... as I'm sure other WBers will advise, the last thing you want to do when storing a down bag is to compress it. A large cotton-type laundry bag will do. Often times, these come with the sleeping bag itself. Another option is a solid rubbermaid-type storage bin, which I use to store my WM bag
I am sorry I misread. You certainly do not want to compress or stuff your bag while storing it. I was suggesting stuff sack for when you are carrying it in your backpack. Thanks for pointing that out L.H.
I've had a couple different Big Agnes bags... love 'em. Mine came with a stuff sack and a bigger white cotton one to store it in without it being too compressed. As far as packing it with the pad inside, it will never pack as small. I take the pad, open the valve and fold it in half and set my pack on it for a little while to get the air out. Once its empty, lay it out flat and fold it long ways in thirds. Then from the end opposite the valve, I make fold about 5-6" and fold it over a few times. Then I bend that in half and start rolling. Fits perfect in the stuff sack every time and gets all the air out. The bag I stuff in a stuff sack and put that in a knotted trash bag.
hope this helps
I have the same bag and have used the BA products for a good while. You probably already know this but if you prefer to put a wee bit more air in the pad but it feels tight, BA make an "expander" that adds 7" to the girth.
I have had a couple of minor problems with their stuff which they were very helpful with. The first pad I bought finally popped a vein. The new one they sent to replace that one leaked the first time I used it. I'm not sure they believed this but they once again replaced it free of charge anyway. So far, so good.
The expander I was using got snagged and broke the last day of a trip through the Smokies. This they also replaced free of charge. It took a while because they were out of stock but it was delivered as promised at a time they predicted.
I have tried leaving the pad in the bag when packing up. If I'm in a real hurry, it's.....OK. I have recently started taking the pad out, stuffing the bag in my pack around whatever happens to go in there first, and folding the pad up so it lays on top of all that. I've also tried sliding the pad up against the backside. Either way seems to work better than just cramming the whole thing in as one. I am not a user of stuff sacks for my sleep gear.
I reckon the coldest I've used it so far is down to 30 something up on Mt. Sterling with a howling wind. Hard to tell for sure because I wore a light fleece shirt/jacket, my Patagonia something or other longjohns, and socks, but I slept pretty darn warm. I do not recall being even a wee bit chilly. I guess had I not been so comfortable, I could have stood to lose the shirt at least.
I like this stuff and even the minor difficulties have not deterred me from using it.
BTW, if you decide you want one of the expanders, let me know. I have lost weight, no longer need mine. Brand new, still in the package.
KevinAce
03-21-2008, 04:21
Oops. Apparently during my mad scramble of excitement to try the bag out, I tossed the damn storage bags aside! There is a bag that it fits in perfectly as well as a mesh bag that's extra (like 4x the size of the main bag, I assume just to store clothes in or something).
I am probably going to end up sleeping on top of the pad (keeping it external instead of putting it in the sleeve) so I have more room. Putting the pad in the sleeve cuts down on the room quite a bit.
I am going to mess around with it a bit more in the coming days and decide if I need an expander or not. It was a bit of a fight to get the zipper all the way closed but once I was in I was very comfortable.
I'll be in touch with you Eman if I need an expander.