Elite Survival Systems Recon 5 Sleeping Bag

I bought this bag for camping in Colorado, where many places are quite cold at night even in the hottest parts of summer. This bag has not disappointed!So far I've had it in the mountains in the summer with night temperatures well below freezing (~20 degrees) multiple times, and this bag has kept me VERY warm! Enough so that I don't usually zip it up all the way, even when there is literally frost on the outside of my tent.Full disclosure, my sleeping pad has an R value of 6, so the bag has a lot of help given the insulation under it and may not perform as well with less effectively insulating pads.I don't know if the bag will keep me warm in the -4 degrees it claims, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.The center zipper definitely took some getting used to, and I'm still not sure if I like it or not. It's definitely easy to get out of in a hurry, but that's not really something that I care much about.So let's get to the flaws and what could be better, in no particular order.First, the inside phone pocket could be bigger. My phone doesn't fit at all, but I do have a large one (Samsung Note 10+), and I doubt most would fit with a portable battery for charging while sleeping.Second, this bag desperately needs some ventilation. I'm thinking about asking my husband to modify it and add a couple of ventilation zippers.Third, and to me this seems like the biggest oversight, is the bag doesn't have an internal baffle or anything to help keep air from going out. The only way you're going to get good retention is by genuinely drawing it as closed as you're comfortable with around your face and using your hands to grab the bag on the inside to hold it close to your chest. Personally, I would rather have less restriction around my head, plus the inside would warm up faster with a baffle in place. That said, it might also make the bag a bit too warm in everything but the coldest conditions.Fourth, it would be really nice if there were some kind of cinch to put around the bag after rolling it before you get it into the compression sack.Finally, the compression sack design takes some getting used to and can be very annoying. The 4 straps are done in such a way that it can be interesting getting the top back on. I'm not sure how that could be improved without compromising it's effectiveness.None of these are really a big deal, and IMO not worth taking a star away. I'm very happy with this bag and with summer coming to an end I can't wait to get out there in the winter and see how it stands up to the truly bitter mountain cold!

I purchased this to replace heavy winter bags, it weighs next to nothing and cinches down in the stuff sack to smaller than most summer bags. I use a snugpak fleece liner and Gore-Tex outer shell in combination with this for outdoor sleeping in the mountains of Colorado, the system is comfortable at higher elevations and almost eliminated the need for a tent. After using multiple military systems and civilian bags, this is the end all be all of bags.

Kept me comfy in 10°F temps during a winter trip in the Mid Atlantic region of North America. Fantastically easy to get in, zippers are smooth and sturdy. Not wild about the foot region's waterproofing, which can make for some sweaty feet if the temps rise) but overall a really warm and lightweight sleep system.

Very warm bag, I used it on a 27°F night and I was more than comfortable. I'm 6' tall and 260lbs and I find the bag a bit tight around the chest, not real bad but I little snug. I would say that I have at least 6-9" more room in length though, so a 6'6" person would be ok.. I'm planning on losing 30+lbs ready for hiking on the AT and I'm sure the bag will be perfect then. I will most likely buy the Recon 2 for summer use.

As a Infantry Marine I spend a significant amount of time sleeping in sub optimal conditions, and the sleeping bags provided are… well less than ideal. The recon 5 keeps me warm, toasty and dry. OnlyImprovement needs to be the zippers and a the addition of a head cover

This sleeping bag is recommended by several avid campers/hikers. Got one for myself and very pleased with it. Quality materials and very good cold protection.

2 backpacking trips so far, both have been in hot weather. The -5 bag is hot enough that I just use it as a quilt and even then I throw an arm out at night. The toe box is rugged e ough I can just crawl in with shoes on and pass out. The bag is big enough I stay under it. I plan to only buy one bag for all my backpacking needs and I think this is it. I ditched the stuff sack to cut weight. I just stuff it in my pack. Works better.

I'll be honest and say I've not yet used this sleeping bag but the quality and compactness is excellent. I keep this in the car trunk just in case for the upcoming winter.

Éste sleeping bag es de una calidad excepcional, pues utiliza materiales excelentes y su diseño está muy bien pensado; sin mencionar que, para la temperatura a la que está destinado, es de muy buen tamaño y peso.