Sea to Summit Sleep System Review: Tested for Bikepacking

While social media can be awash of people getting ‘out there’ and pushing their limits when bikepacking, having minimal sleep in uncomfortable settings – for the vast majority of us getting a good night’s sleep is the main ingredient to have a great ride the following day. A comfortable sleep system doesn’t need to be heavy and bulky, which is demonstrated by the Sea to Summit Sleep System with their range of Spark sleeping bags, Ether Light insulated sleeping mats, super light pillows and sleeping bag liners. The right sleep system will depend on your range of use and relative comfort requirements – Sea to Summit sent out this combination to suit light but comfortable bikepacking sojourns.

Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag -1C – $649.99

This range of down sleeping bags uses premium 850+ loft down, in a mummy bag design with half zip. With superlight materials, premium down and a pared back design, the -1 degree bag is under 493g weight. It packs super small in the compression bag, and takes up half the room of my old 650+ loft Alpkit Pipedream bag which has been my go to.

The Spark range has the features you’d expect from high end gear, with a waterproof hood and foot section for falling asleep against tent walls, varied baffles and larger foot box for better warmth and a half zip for lower weight and pack size. The -1 degree temperature rating is against an ISO standard.

The hood is easy to cinch up or open when in use, which isn’t the same for all sleeping bags. Same with the zipper, with easy internal access to zip up tight. The light material was a durable water repellency, but is also soft to the touch. It is very thin though, so I’d recommend caution if sleeping under a tarp or in exposed areas without shelter.

I’m well accustomed to using a mummy style bag but those who aren’t will not like this bag, as you cannot zip it open to be more like a quilt, given the half zip. I tested it in a very cold few weeks in winter and was right on the comfort limit. I’ve become aware I sleep colder than I used to, and the 4 degree night time temperatures during testing were fine – but I didn’t even think about unzipping. This is a high quality bag that will keep you warm for most 3-season use in Australia. However, there are warmer models and different cuts and designs from the Sea to Summit range for those who need more warmth, more flexibility, or even lower weight.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT insulated mat – $329.99

Straight up – this is the nicest sleeping pad I have ever used. I still have a three-quarter Thermorest from 1996 that I use, plus their RidgeRest foam mat. I also bought the uninsulated (but light!) Sea to Summit Ultra Light mat about five years ago which has been my go-to for bikepacking. It has minimal insulation, so the R3.2 rating of the Ether Light XT Insulated was much more welcome for winter testing. Even in Queensland. The Sea to Summit mats use their own bag as a pump, called the Airstream Pumpsack – essentially you capture air in the bag and roll it down into the one way valve on the mat. You can just breathe into it but that adds condensation inside – not ideal in the long run.

The textured top is quieter than the Ultra Light, and more comfortable as well. The insulation comes via two different materials to reflect your heat back, and to stop the cold from the ground. The mat inflates to about 10cm thick, and I found it comfortable in the Queensland winter conditions I tested it in. A nice addition is the stick on velcro tabs to keep Sea to Summit’s pillows in place – way better than losing it half a dozen times each night. While it is easy to roll, pack and store – it’s not as compact as the lightest mats, packing to about the size of a water bottle and weighing 470g. However, I had a far better night’s sleep than I have on other mats I own. There are also women’s models available, with a different size and higher insulation rating. This is bulkier and a bit heavier than the Ultra Light model, but I’ve had far better sleeping thanks to some insulation, but also the fact it doesn’t sound like I’m sleeping on a plastic bag.

Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow – $54.99

I have never taken an actual pillow hiking or bikepacking. Not in any time in the Scouts movement, through Duke of Edinburgh, bikepacking trips, hiking trips, backcountry ski trips – nothing. However, the logic that a rolled up jacket is comfortable is flawed. It compresses and feels like a brick, moves out of the way, and creates poor rest. Enter an inflatable pillow. While a goon bag/box wine insert may work, it will slip and slide, make noise and likely smell like a hangover. The Aeros Ultralight is a little bigger than a kiwi fruit and way more comfortable. I used it with the Ether Light mat and the velcro tabs – it stayed put! At 60g and a low pack size I’m convinced, this was a big part of very comfortable nights out with this sleep system.

Sea to Summit Silk Blend Liner – $179.99

A silk liner exists to add comfort and life to a sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags aren’t designed to be washed very often, so a liner is a sound investment. I used this with the Spark, and found it very comfortable, unlike some silk liners I have used in the past. The Thermolite material does add a touch of warmth, and for packing I packed the bag with this in it – removing it post trip to wash. The mummy design with the hood is a smart inclusion, beating some generic cuts that are on the market.

Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Liner – $134.99

This one is interesting, as with open feet (that can be closed off) and a wider opening upper you end up with a lot of variability. Enough so that I can see taking only this liner on a summer trip in Queensland. The Thermolite Pro material means it can bump up the warmth of a bag by 15%. Again, using it in the middle of a cold snap in Queensland meant I was toasty warm, easily sleeping through chilly and blustery conditions. I’d see this as an option to bolster an existing bag for a wider comfort window, but really a lighter liner is likely more versatile for most. It hasn’t been the season to test it on its own, but I can see how the Reactor Extreme Liner would be a great partner to a quilt or for solo use on warm nights.

Hits:

• Great design and materials throughout their range
• Multiple options across most items – including for men and women
• System design – it all works together if needed to

Misses:

• No major concerns at all

From: seatosummit.com.au