Mummified Inside the RAB Genesis 2 Sleeping Bag
Published on 06/25/2012
By Billy Brown
A mummy bag can cause mixed feelings among backpackers who have an issue with sleeping in tight spaces. On one hand, a mummy bag’s tapered cut keeps the user warmer by reducing air pockets inside the sleeping bag, but on the other hand, that tapered cut can leave a sleeper feeling confined and immobile, wrapped up like a…well, you know.
Outdoor outfitter Rab’s Genesis 2 sleeping bag is listed as a mummy bag, but it offers a wider cut than we’ve seen in many of the other mummy bags we’ve tested, giving users a bit more freedom of movement. The middle-of-the-line entry in the Genesis series, (the Genesis 1 is listed at 50 degree and the Genesis 3 is listed at 20 degree comfort ranges) the Genesis 2 has a comfort range around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. An internal collar and a drawstring on the hood keep warmth in, while the durable and the 100% recycled Pertex Classic Eco exterior fabric held up to some rough treatment when sleeping on the dirt. The bag’s synthetic insulation won’t lose its loft if it gets wet and as a bonus, it’s also made with 100% recycled materials, so you can feel better about all the gas your beater truck burned on your road trip to Joshua Tree.
Our testers were pleased to find that the bag lived up to its temperature rating. On a test trip in Bishop’s Buttermilks bouldering area, the Genesis 2 kept one tester cozy and warm during nights in the low 40’s. We dug the roomier fit, especially testers who tend to sleep on their sides. One tester reported that he could roll over from side to side without moving the bag at all. The toebox was a welcome feature as well – testers unanimously praised the bag’s roomy foot region.
The bad news: at just under 4 pounds, this thing’s not for ultralight backpackers. It doesn’t pack down well, either – the bag in its stuff sack is about 18 inches long and 29 inches in circumference. Might want to strap this one to the outside of the pack.
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