Rab’s Neutrino -6°C combines top-end materials with a long zip and relaxed fit in a mummy-shaped sleeping bag that’s comfortable from coastline to snowline.
I was a keen 17-year-old tramper and aspiring climber when I bought my first down sleeping bag in the late 1980s. After-school jobs earned me the money for what was a big spend at that age. Older climbers handed down the advice to buy wisely and choose quality, suggesting that a good down bag could last me the rest of my life. Although I no longer use it, the four-season bag I chose served me for many years, including a night bivouacked on the summit of Aoraki Mount Cook. Outdoor gear has evolved considerably since then, but what hasn’t changed is the enduring performance of a good sleeping bag.
Top-of-the range materials underpin Rab’s excellent Neutrino -6°C, which successfully combines adaptable comfort without sacrificing performance, making it a bag to buy with the long term in mind.
The specs position this bag for all-round backcountry use. The 800 fill-power hydrophobic down is inside a DWR-treated 10/20D Pertex Quantum shell. Helix-shaped LOFT 3D baffles prevent down migration and maximise its insulation value, and the hood and neck baffle are alpine quality and fully adjustable. The bag’s versatility comes from its long two-way zip, roomy fit and relaxed yet anatomic foot box.
Rab’s L.O.F.T. 3D baffle design utilises offset baffle walls with a twisted helix design, which prevents down migration to reduce cold spots and provide consistent insulation. This means a lower volume of down can be used, which improves packability. Longitudinal chest baffles prevent down from slipping to the sides of your torso.
The Neutrino has a tapered mummy shape that’s slightly relaxed from shoulder to hips, providing extra wriggle room. The footbox maintains an alpine-spec anatomic design for robust insulation, but is built wide for spacious sub-alpine comfort. For side sleepers, the bag’s sidewall baffles maintain insulation without uncomfortable side seams. The baffled 2-way YKK zip runs right to the ankles for warm weather ventilation or use as a quilt.
The shell combines luxuriant soft down and wind-proof Pertex Quantum ripstop 10D with a more durable 20D base and footbox. Both fabrics are treated with PFC-free DWR for damp-proofing. The liner is recycled 20D nylon. Highly packable 800 fill-power goose down provides plump loft for the coldest nights, and the PFC-free hydrophobic finish provides moisture repellence.
The hood provides alpine-ready head-wrapping insulation, while a 3D anatomic neck baffle keeps warm air sealed inside and cold draughts out. We were impressed with the fumble-free cord locks and eyeleted drawcords, which adjust smoothly. The details don’t stop there, with a catch-free zipper pull, a comfortable zip garage and an internal security pocket. A high-quality storage bag and waterproof roll-top stuff sack are included.
The Neutrino -6°C is a mountain-spec bag suitable for multi-day backcountry trips, two to three-season mountaineering, fastpacking and bikepacking. It’s a reliable three-season performer with enough warmth for light winter use. Minimalists might seek a lighter option and hardcore winter users will want more warmth, but for many backcountry travellers it could be the only sleeping bag you will ever need.
Price $999.95
Temperature rating Limit, -6°C / comfort, 0°C
Weight 870g
Fill 800 fill-power goose down with Grangers fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic finish
Fill weight 400g
Fabric Pertex Quantum ripstop 10D (26g/m²) and 20D (38g/m²) with fluorocarbon-free DWR (shell), recycled 20D (38g/m²) nylon (lining)
Variants -12°C available in regular, long, wide and women’s fit
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