Blog

As a cold sleeper, I find the combination of the Nemo Women’s Riff 15 Sleeping bag and the Tensor Insulated sleeping mat perfect for 3 and 4-season use in the UK. The spoon shaped Riff 15 has 825g of down in the Women’s (and 540g in the men’s) and 800 fill power in both versions giving a comfort limit of -9C for both men and women. As a side sleeper, I find the Riff has the benefits a close-fitting bag has to offer but doesn’t leave me in a twisted knot by the morning, the spoon shape stays in position, yet allowing me to rotate within it. The lofty neck baffle keeps the draft out without having to be sinched too tight. I use the  Fillo Elite pillow which slides nicely into a sleeve in the hood of the bag to keep it in place – no more playing chase the pillow round the tent in the middle of the night. The hood and the foot of the sleeping bag are made from a waterproof fabric which stops the bag from getting wet if it comes into contact with condensation on the end of the inner tent. The Tensor Insulated sleeping mat has an R value of 4.2 putting it at the lower end of winter mats but with a small pack size and a weight of less than 500g it was a perfect choice giving both warmth and portability for Autumn through to Spring. The inflation sack is easy to use and fills the mat quickly. Deflation is rapid when the large air valve is removed, making rolling and packing the mat a quick and efficient process.

Lois Fife
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website. Read more from Lois Fife