This can be a gear overview concerning the Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Baggage in 2023. The sleeping bag overview covers the entire Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Bag Vary however I’ve targeted on the Sea to Summit Spark 18F often known as the Spark SPII which I’ve extensively used and examined.
The Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Baggage all use high-quality 850+ Hyperdry down, ultralight 10D outer shell cloth coated with a DWR, 7D interior cloth, and so they pack right down to a really small pack measurement. There are such a lot of positives to notice concerning the Spark sleeping baggage making them one of many finest light-weight sleeping baggage for 2023.
There have been a few upgrades to this bag in 2019 and once more in 2022 which have improved points with the bag. These enhancements have additionally made the Spark sleeping baggage even higher.
Maintain studying to search out out extra.
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Sea to Summit Spark Ultralight Sleeping Bag Specs 2023
Sea to Summit Spark SPI / 40F Specs
Weight: 12 oz / 340 grams
Down Fill: 6.3 oz / 180 grams
Sleeping Bag Material Weight (with out down): 5.7 oz / 160 grams
Down fill energy: 850+
Hyperdry Down: Sure
Whole down loft in cubic inches: 5355 cubic inches of down loft
Zip: Sure, 1/2 size YKK zips
Draft Tube on Zip: Sure
Hood: Sure
Stuff Sack: Sure, a compression stuff sack
Stuff Sack: XXXS
Stuff Sack Compressed Quantity: 1.5L
Sea to Summit Spark SPII / 28F Specs
Weight: 17.3 oz / 490 grams
Down Fill: 10.6 oz / 300 grams
Sleeping Bag Material Weight (with out down): 6.7 oz / 190 grams
Down fill energy: 850+
Hyperdry Down: Sure
Whole down loft in cubic inches: 9010 cubic inches of down loft
Zip: Sure, 1/2 size YKK zips
Draft Tube on Zip: Sure
Hood: Sure
Stuff Sack: Sure, a compression stuff sack
Stuff Sack measurement: XXS
Stuff Sack Compressed Quantity: 2.5L
Sea to Summit Spark SP III / 18F Specification
Weight: 23.5 oz / 665 grams
Down Fill: 15.2 oz / 430 grams
Sleeping Bag Material Weight (with out down): 8.3 oz / 235 grams
Down fill energy: 850+
Hyperdry Down: Sure
Whole down loft in cubic inches: 12920 cubic inches of down loft
Zip: Sure, 1/2 size YKK zips
Draft Tube on Zip: Sure
Hood: Sure
Stuff Sack: Sure, a compression stuff sack
Stuff Sack measurement: XS
Stuff Sack Compressed Quantity: 4.6L
Sea to Summit Spark SP IV / 5F Specification
Weight: 31 oz / 880 grams
Down Fill: 21.9 oz / 620 grams
Sleeping Bag Material Weight (with out down): 9.1 oz / 260 grams
Down fill energy: 850+
Hyperdry Down: Sure
Whole down loft in cubic inches: 18615 cubic inches of down loft
Zip: Sure, full size YKK zips
Draft Tube on Zip: Sure
Hood: Sure
Stuff Sack: Sure, a compression stuff sack
Stuff Sack measurement: S
Stuff Sack Compressed Quantity: 6.6L
STS Spark Ultralight Sleeping Baggage
When Sea to Summit first launched the ultralight Spark Sleeping Bag vary it grew to become a hit as they chased the ultralight sleeping bag market. As soon as upon a time, ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers have been seen as freaks who compromised sturdiness and security whereas chasing decrease ounces and grams. Now ultralight is mainstream and accessible to all.
Latest upgrades adjustments to a few of the zips on the luggage, vertical baffles to forestall down shift whereas tossing and turning at night time and an improved PFC-free DWR end. All of those enhancements have elevated the power of the bag to maintain you heat at night time, elevated the performance of the luggage, and diminished the environmental influence of the bag.
They’ve retained the beneficiant inner sizing and dedication to having the temperatures of the luggage independently examined to EN requirements.
Observe: In March 2022 a brand new sleeping bag customary, ISO 23537, was launched as the brand new sleeping bag requirements. Sea to Summit has knowledgeable me that they are going to be testing all their baggage to this customary very quickly. I like this dedication to making sure the sleeping bag scores are independently examined fairly than a finest guess on how heat you need to be like some firms do.
Down sort / fill energy
The Sea to Summit Spark is full of 850+ Hyperdry Goose Down in 2023. That is the prime quality down used on any Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag. It’s not solely light-weight but it surely additionally has good water resistance qualities as they use the water repellent Hyperdry down.
While you buy a Sea to Summit Bag you’ll get a certificates from the Worldwide Down Feather Laboratory (IDFL). This certificates will state precisely what Responsibly Sourced Down was utilized in your Sea to Summit Ember sleeping bag.
Once I opened my new sleeping bag I used to be shocked to be taught that my down sleeping bag had a barely greater fill Hyperdry down. The acknowledged 850+ down is the minimal customary that Sea to Summit has dedicated to placing in your Spark Bag. Typically that batch could also be a little bit greater however by no means decrease. Only a small however spectacular function from Sea to Summit
Building
Let’s check out how the sleeping bag is made with the options such because the Interior and Outer Shell materials, zippers, baffles, draft tubes, hood, and climate resistance.
Outer Shell cloth
The exterior face cloth of the Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag is made utilizing a ten Denier Ripstop Nylon which is coated with a brand new PFC-free DWR coating to forestall drops of water from getting into the bag. The material is so gentle and so skinny it’s virtually see-through, particularly while you maintain it as much as the sunshine.
When testing the spark sleeping bag I dropped a big quantity of water on the outer cloth to check the water resistance of the material and the water beaded properly and ran off the material. I’m a fan of this ultralight outer cloth and the brand new DWR coating.
Additionally good to know if water did someway enter and get into the down the vast majority of it is not going to be absorbed because of the usage of the high-quality Hyperdry down.
Interior cloth
The Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag makes use of a lighter interior cloth in comparison with the outer cloth. The 7 Denier cloth shouldn’t be solely ultralight but additionally resistant to ripping.
I did attempt to rip the material with my arms, Arnold Schwarzenegger type, and it was powerful sufficient to not rip. Or possibly I’m simply not very robust!
Climate resistance
As talked about above, I did drop water on the outer face cloth to check the water resistance and high quality of the DWR coating. I can affirm it can present a good degree of water resistance that’s a minimum of equal to or higher than all of the competitors within the Ultralight Sleeping Bag market.
The Sea to Summit Spark is sweet sufficient to sleep exterior below the celebrities when condensation comes down in a single day.
Disclaimer: I don’t advocate that you just pour an entire bottle of water over your sleeping bag to check its water resistance.
Baffles
A few years in the past the Spark vary modified to vertical baffles within the torso space to forestall down shift whereas sleeping at night time, particularly good in case you are a slide sleeper. The decrease area and backside facet of the bag use a sewn-through design to maintain weight to a minimal.
The hotter Spark III and Spark IV use full field baffles to fill extra down into the bag for larger heat. Whether or not you need weight saving or heat, the baffle design has you lined.
My solely critique was the quantity of down in every baffle may have been a little bit greater to forestall down clumping. After some time the down will begin to clump a little bit, this occurs to each sleeping bag. Slight overfill will cut back the clumping impact. Washing the bag will repair the clumping points on a closely used sleeping bag.
Zips and Draft Tube
The Spark sequence options both a full zip or 1/2 size zip. The Sp1 and Sp2 function 1/2 size top-of-the-range YKK #3 zips and a draft tube to maintain within the heat. The Sp3 and Sp4 function full-length YKK zips with a zipper draft tube.
I attempted my finest to destroy the zip and tried to snag it on the inner draft collar. All makes an attempt failed. The zip and draft collar are effectively positioned and forestall snagging. This is a matter on many sleeping baggage however not the Spark sleeping bag.
The zip can snag when making an attempt to open the bag. The truth is, it can snag for most individuals after they attempt to open the bag. There’s a quirk with virtually all YKK zips on sleeping baggage. Should you attempt to open them at an angle they’ll stick. As soon as this, and alter the way you open the sleeping bag, you’ll discover it really works nice.
Total, the zips and draft tubes do a very good job and there’s not a lot that may be faulted.
Hood
The hood on the Spark is sweet and includes a full collar the entire approach round. There’s an outsized drawcord toggle on the right-hand facet which is a little bit greater than it must be. The toggle could be cinched tight to shut off many of the hood and depart solely the nostril and mouth in place to get recent air on these very chilly nights.
The neck and hood collars may very well be a little bit greater and will have extra overfilled for higher warmth retention. In my expertise the hood collar and neck collar areas of sleeping baggage are the primary locations to get soiled from physique oils and sweat which ends up in the down changing into extra compressed and clumped, making them much less environment friendly at preserving you heat.
Once I examined the Sea to Summit Spark I spent lots of time sleeping on my facet and rolling over so much. The hood did a very good job preserving within the heat.
As talked about above, possibly a bit extra overfill within the hood and draft collars could be a very good enchancment.
Stuff Sack
The usual Stuff Sack provided with the Spark sleeping bag is sweet and there’s no want for anybody to think about upgrading to anything. It’s light-weight and could be compressed with the facet straps to compress the luggage into a really small measurement. The truth is, the Spark is without doubt one of the most compressible sleeping baggage in its class of ultralight sleeping baggage.
Compression
As talked about above the stuff sac will compress the bag to a smaller measurement. Consult with the Specification chart for detailed comparisons.
Packability
The Sea to Summit Spark sequence is probably probably the most packable of all of the sleeping baggage within the ultralight class.
Consolation
The inner sizing of the Spark sleeping baggage has elevated in recent times. Though they’re a basic mummy type of the sleeping bag, they’ve been upgraded to expedition sizing which permits most customers to have the ability to put on a down jacket, down pants, or down booties contained in the sleeping bag with ease.
When testing the bag I wore my expedition weight down jacket contained in the bag and I nonetheless had loads of room to toss and switch with out feeling constricted. When sleeping on my again or facet I discovered it to be snug and capable of hold me heat with no points to report.
An affordable method to flip your bag right into a winter sleeping bag is to make use of one other sleeping bag or quilt with any of those baggage. The beneficiant sizing will permit you to use one sleeping bag inside one other, thus turning your 3-season sleeping bag right into a 4-season winter sleeping bag at a less expensive value.
Heat
When testing the bag I discovered the temperature score to be true to these acknowledged by Sea to Summit. As every sleeping bag type from the Sp1 to the Sp4 has been examined to EN requirements so you possibly can relaxation assured that the sleeping bag will hold you heat on the temperatures as reported.
I’m usually a chilly sleeper until I ate a really heavy meal earlier than going to mattress (which may hold you hotter at night time). I’m a facet sleeper typically and I discovered the bag to work effectively when sleeping on my facet or again.
It’s tremendous necessary to notice that there are 3 temperature scores listed on every sleeping bag.
Consolation Score
The Consolation Score is an important score as that is the temperature at which you’ll be heat and may sleep effectively. Sadly, the sleeping bag business as an entire fails to make use of this score for advertising and marketing causes. However use this as your base for what bag will hold you heat at what temperature.
That is normally the temperature at which a lady will sleep effectively with out being chilly.
Restrict Score
The Restrict Score is utilized by virtually all sleeping bag producers because the temperature score for the sleeping bag. Few folks will get a very good night time’s sleep on the restrict score until your physique effectively sufficient to know you’re a heat sleeper. I do know myself effectively sufficient to know I’m normally midway between the Consolation and Restrict Score for my very own private score on how heat I will likely be at night time inside a bag.
That is normally the temperature score {that a} male, curled up on his facet, will sleep. Most individuals will really feel chilly and never sleep effectively when sleeping on the restrict score temperatures.
Excessive Restrict
The Excessive Restrict is the restrict inside which individuals is not going to die from hypothermia or excessive chilly. You could be assured that for those who use the bag on the Excessive Restrict you’ll stay awake in any respect. If going into the Excessive Restrict you should definitely get a Thermal Sleeping Bag Liner and even higher improve to a 4 Season Winter Sleeping Bag.
Dimension
As talked about above the sleeping bag is snug and designed as an expedition measurement. This lets you put on layers of clothes if wanted whereas contained in the sleeping bag. Due to this fact, the Spark Sleeping baggage have greater inner dimensions than most ultralight mummy-style sleeping baggage.
Caring in your Spark Sleeping Bag
When you have got a high-quality sleeping bag it’s value taking care to take care of it. Among the best issues you are able to do is put on clear backpacking base layers to mattress to forestall sweat, filth, and physique oil from penetrating the liner of the sleeping bag. You may as well use a sleeping bag liner to maintain it clear.
The best way to retailer your Spark sleeping bag
The Sea to Summit Spark comes with a Lofting bag included together with your bag. The lofting bag shouldn’t be as giant as I would love. A few years in the past Sea to Summit Sleeping Baggage got here with a really giant cotton lofting bag. I might have preferred to see a bigger lofting bag a minimum of twice the dimensions of the one provided.
Like most individuals, I typically go weeks and months between mountaineering journeys or bikepacking journeys into the backcountry. Whereas not utilizing the sleeping bag I might like to have it saved in a big lofting bag. Perhaps that’s one thing that may enhance sooner or later. Having mentioned that, the lofting bag is such a minor grievance that I can overlook this when making an allowance for the general high quality of the sleeping bag and every thing else provided with the bag.
The best way to wash your Spark Sleeping Bag
Over time the sleeping bag will lose a little bit of its loft and you might begin to complain that the bag is not so good as it was. Perhaps it would begin to have some funky smells that appear to be a cross between a sweaty gymnasium and an unwashed homeless particular person. If this happens it’s time to give the sleeping bag a wash. I wrote an article on how to do that so check out The best way to Wash a Down Sleeping Bag, for additional particulars on wash your bag.
Worth
The Sea to Summit Spark is a premium Sleeping Bag at a premium value. Having mentioned that, they don’t price as a lot as a few of the different premium ultralight sleeping baggage available on the market in the intervening time. The Spark Vary sits on the greater finish of the worth vary in comparison with the rivals however that greater value comes with typically higher availability.
Edit – June 2023 there are nonetheless some provide points and never all fashions can be found.
No want to hitch a waitlist or await the luggage to be made like some ultralight firms. And it is without doubt one of the solely ultralight sleeping bag firms which have their sleeping baggage independently examined to the EN / ISO requirements to make sure the heat score is true and never an informed guess like many of the rivals.
Sea to Summit Spark Vs The Relaxation
How does the Sea to Summit Spark examine to different Sleeping Baggage within the ultralight class in 2023. Try my full comparability overview of the Sea to Summit Spark and all of the Finest Ultralight Sleeping Baggage 2023.
Finest Suited Use
The Spark Sleeping Baggage could be excellent for anybody who’s sleeping in temperatures above freezing or barely under within the case of the Spark 4. The next kinds of journeys could be excellent for this bag.
- Summer time mountaineering within the Rockies or Sierra or North America. Or into the Spring and Fall if utilizing the hotter Spark 3 and Spark 4.
- Summer time mountaineering within the Alps in Europe or mountaineering the Camino. The hotter baggage will likely be effectively suited to three season journeys in most locations.
- Summer time mountaineering and 3-season mountaineering in Australia and New Zealand in most areas.
- Summer time journeys in South America together with Patagonia so long as the nighttime temperatures are above freezing. You could want the Spark 4 or one thing with extra insulation if heading to the Excessive Andes of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Conclusion
The Sea to Summit Spark is finest suited to anybody wanting a high-quality ultralight sleeping bag. The temperature score for this bag is true to the specification for my part and primarily based on my use of the sleeping bag.
In order for you a sleeping bag for the summer time months and into the shoulder season for hotter climates then that is for you.
In relation to enhancements, I want to see a lighter weight cinch chord on the hood, overstuffing of down on the hood, collar and neck draft tubes, and a bigger lofting bag.
I ponder if they’re contemplating utilizing a better loft Ultrdry down sooner or later. Some producers are actually utilizing 900+ Hyperdry and 950+ loft. When you get that top on the loft score the down turns into a little bit extra delicate and must be sorted effectively by the person. Simply my ideas.
Total, the Sea to Summit Spark vary of sleeping baggage is considered one of my all-time favourite sleeping baggage in 2023. There’s little to fault, and people faults are so small that it’s not sufficient to make the bag something lower than the most effective available on the market.
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Steadily Requested Questions
Sea to Summit Sleeping Baggage are a few of the very best quality and lightest weight accessible. The Spark, Flame, Ember, and Alpine Collection are notably good sleeping baggage.
Sure, All of the down sleeping baggage from Sea to Summit are ethically sourced down that may be traced as responsibly sourced.
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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari shouldn’t be half of a big weblog community and is proudly impartial. All opinions on this web site are impartial and sincere gear opinions of outside merchandise by the writer.
The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s necessary when utilizing and testing gear for opinions like this.
BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for opinions and they don’t settle for sponsored opinions on this web site. All of the feedback concerning the gear opinions are from the writer primarily based on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial overview was useful for you.
