Therm-a-rest Questar 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag | Review
Cosy, roomy and comfortable, this is a fully-featured and reasonably priced four-season sleeping bag that works well for winter wild camping adventures
Though still best known for its sleeping mats and pads, Therm-a-rest also makes some of the best sleeping bags in the business. We’ve previously tested (and been seriously impressed with) the brand’s Parsec series, a range of 800 fill power down bags that strike a great balance between weight, performance, comfort and affordability.
In contrast, the Questar 0 is a slightly lower spec sleeping bag than the Parsec 0. It’s still designed for four-season use, and maintains the focus on those four attributes listed above, though with a slight bias towards comfort and affordability. As such, it has a slightly roomier fit than the Parsec, ideal for those who like a little more wriggle room. It also uses a slightly lower grade of down fill than the Parsec (650FP rather than 800FP), which keeps the price down.
When it comes to performance, it has exactly the same EN temperature ratings as the Parsec 0, namely a comfort rating of -10° Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and a lower limit of -18° Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit). So, there’s no trade-off in performance there.
On the scales, the regular size weighs in at 1.21kg (there are also small and long versions of the bag). In comparison, the regular Parsec 0 weighs 1.09kg. So, the Questar is a little heavier, though not a lot. It also has a slightly larger packed size. But it is also more than £150 cheaper, representing a significant saving.
Materials
The shell fabric of this bag is 20-denier polyester finished with a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment, which does a decent job of keeping minor tent spillages and condensation out of the bag’s down fill. If you’re bivvying, it has no trouble repelling light frost or dew either.
The lining is also made from 20D polyester taffeta, which is soft and comfortable, even against the skin.
The bag is filled with 820g of 650 fill power duck down, certified by the Responsible Down Standard. The down is also treated with a Nikwax hydrophobic finish, a water-repellent coating that means it absorbs 90% less water and dries 3 times faster than untreated down. Nikwax’s testing has also shown that it maintains its loft 60 times longer than regular down. Like all Nikwax products, the DWR treatment is free from harmful PFCs.
This should help to guard against general dampness – though as with all down gear, it’s good practice to try and keep your down dry, as a soaking wet down bag makes for a cold and sleeples night. Still, it’s a useful additional measure of weather resistance that means you won’t be totally screwed if your sleeping bag gets a bit wet.
OM editor Will with the Questar on a campout in Scotland. Photos: Dave Macfarlane
Of course, 650 fill power down doesn’t loft as well as 800 fill down, giving it a lower warmth-to-weight ratio than the Parsec or rival 800FP bags. But there’s plenty of fill here to ensure ample warmth in sub-zero conditions, and the bag’s overall weight and packed size is competitive. It is by no means too big to be a viable choice for backpacking or wild camping. Sure, it’s not ultralight, but it’s still far more portable and packable than a synthetic alternative.
Features
Here’s where the Questar 0 really shines. It’s fairly loaded with features. First is the overall cut, which Thermarest calls its ‘W.A.R.M. fit’ (‘With Additional Room for Multiple positions’). It’s basically a clever way to describe the relaxed mummy shape, meaning this bag allows for various natural sleep positions while maintaining thermal efficiency. It actually measures a generous 63 inches in circumference at the shoulders, so it’s a great bag for broader builds, as well as side and front sleepers.
Another clever innovation with an equally nifty name are the Synergylink connectors. These are removable elastic straps that connect the bag to a sleeping mat, ensuring you won’t roll off your mat onto the cold ground in the middle of the night. This also maximises the benefits of the bag’s zoned insulation, which places more down fill on top and the sides of the bag, and less underneath, where it would be compressed by your own bodyweight anyway.
Next, there’s a ‘Toe-asis’ foot pocket. This is an integrated footwarmer inside the bag that eliminates some of the dead space at the bottom of the bag to keep your feet warmer. It works really well – ideal for those with poor circulation.
Up top, there’s a cosy, snug-fitting hood with a drawcord closure, plus a padded neck baffle for improved thermal efficiency.
The two-way zipper has a smooth-running, (almost) snag-proof insert to stop it from getting stuck on the thin fabrics. It’s backed with a full-length insulated baffle, reducing cold spots. It is also positioned slightly higher on the side of the bag to ensure it’s easy to reach, even when the bag is connected to a sleeping mat.
Lastly, the bag features a small external zippered pocket, ideal for stashing tent essentials. It will also help to keep camera, phone or headtorch batteries warm, though not that the pocket itself is not insulated, so you might still be better off sticking them in the bag with you for ultimate peace of mind.
All in all, the Questar 0 packs an impressive number of features in a great value package. If you need an all-round winter bag for UK use that comes in at well under £400 (and considerably less if you shop around), it’s a top choice.
Tester’s Verdict
Dave Macfarlane, Adventure Photographer and Videographer
I can’t count the number of times I’ve slipped off an inflatable mat in the middle of the night to find myself laying face down on the groundsheet, the only time this doesn’t happen is if I’m bivvying but that’s more like being the meat in a sausage and a story for another time. Thermarest have developed their SynergyLink Connectors that are essentially sleeves to the rear of the bag that allow the mat to slide in and be connected to the sleeping bag. Genius. I love this and with ample shoulder room for all night wriggling this is my new go-to bag.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Newsletter Terms & Conditions
Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.
Share