When they first came out last year, Big Agnes’ expandable ultra-light sleeping bags changed the game, giving you a mummy bag that can expand to accommodate a variety of physique types and sleeping positions. Much as we love them, that ultra-light build sure does tack on a whole lot into its price. If you want the same customized fit at a much more affordable price point, you’ll want to check out the Big Agnes Torchlight Camp.
A car camping version of the original Torchlight UL, it takes the same mummy shape and expandable panels, but decks it in a heavier material and insulation since weight shouldn’t be that much of an issue when you’re bringing your car along. That way, you can enjoy the same sleeping comfort that delivers warmth while allowing you to toss and turn as you please without paying a premium on lightweight materials.
The Big Agnes Torchlight Camp is a mummy-style sleeping bag that contours to the body, minimizing the amount of room between your skin and the bag’s walls, ensuring there’s minimal space for cold air to occupy. Unlike traditional sleeping bags, it has a customizable fit, made possible by expandable zippered panels on each side that stretch from your shoulders to the footbox. Each side is able to expand a generous five inches, too, giving you a total of 10 extra inches of room inside to accommodate you, whether you’re sleeping on your side, your stomach, or spreading your legs as if you were in your bed at home.
You don’t have to unzip the entire length of the expandable panels, by the way. If you only want extra room on the shoulders, you can do that. If you want extra space for your legs to splay, you can do just that, too. Heck, you can even unzip the shoulder on one side and the footbox on the other, which would make it an ideal position for side sleepers. Suffice to say, it’s very customizable.
The Big Agnes Torchlight Camp uses Fireline Pro for insulation, a synthetic material that’s with high-loft, short-staple fibers that can efficiently trap head while being easy to compress for packing in a small bundle when it’s time to transport it in your car. It comes in two thermal ranges, 35 degrees and 20 degrees, so you can pick whichever’s more suited for the prevailing climate in your region.
Construction is nylon ripstop for the shell and polyester taffeta for the lining, with both sides getting a PFC-free water-repellent finish, so you’re going to stay dry while you doze snugly inside its sack. It comes in two sizes: a regular model that fits individuals up to 6’ and a long one that fits up to 6’6”. Features include a jacket-style hood opening that contours to the shape of your face, an insulated tube along the upper hood opening that can be cinched to seal out drafts, draft-fighting collar, exterior loops for hanging, a zipper garage, and an included stuff sack.
The Big Agnes Torchlight Camp is available now, priced starting at $159.95.