Sleeping Bags

Vaude Rotstein 450 DWN Sleeping Bag | Review

The packable Rotstein 450 Down offers a very nice blend of roominess, warmth, useful details and a light weight

Why We Chose The Vaude Rotstein 450 DWN Sleeping Bag: Lightweight, environmentally friendly, surprisingly spacious.

There aren’t many greater pleasures in the world than settling down in a cosy sleeping bag for a night in the wilderness. As experiences go, it’s the kind that can be heightened with just the simple addition of a headtorch and a book you can’t put down. Anyway, one of our current favourites, from a sleeping bag point of view, is the Rotstein 450 Down from Vaude.

Straight off the bat, let’s deal with the fact that the Vaude Rotstein 450 is not only green in appearance but also green in nature. If, like many outdoor brands these days, you’re making a conscious efforts to do things in an increasingly environmentally friendly manner you’ll be delighted to know that this sleeping bag is made from sustainable materials and has been manufactured in a way that’s conserved resources wherever possible. ‘Green Shape’ is a label Vaude use to guarantee a product is eco-friendly and, as you might have already guessed, it’s featured here.

“This sleeping bag is made from sustainable materials and has been manufactured in a way that’s conserved resources wherever possible.”

While we’re on the subject of this item’s thoughtful approach to all things Mother Nature related, the Vaude Rotstein has been given a water resistant coating that’s free from any fluorocarbons (PFC). PFCs, as you might already be aware, are part of a group of chemical compounds which are used to waterproof the outer layer of many outdoor products. They have, in recent years however, come under criticism for being non-biodegradable and generally toxic, as well being potentially harmful to people’s health. Because of this, Vaude have officially renounced PFCs; a commitment that, here on Team Outdoor100, we can definitely get on board with.

The Rotstein 450 DWN has been stamped with Vaude's own 'Green Shape' guarantee for eco-friendly products. Photo: Chris Johnson

The zip pulls are made from leather. Photo: Chris Johnson

450 grams of premium 700 fill power Responsible Down Standard duck down will keep you toasty during 3-season use. Photo: Chris Johnson

Digging down into what the Rotstein 450 bag itself offers, well you’re looking at a ‘Mummy’ shape with an optimum comfort level of -1c and a limit at -7. Obviously not one for your Arctic expeditions then, but with enough about it to keep you cosy during three out of four UK seasons.

A lightweight and thermally-efficient box-wall construction with 450 grams of premium 700 fill power duck down, sourced in accordance with the Responsible Down Standard, will separate you from the outside while the outer material on the bag is made from top of the line Pertex Quantum – something that manages to be both low in weight and high in abrasion resistance. It’s worth pointing out here that the Rotstein 450 really does pack down nicely for something so roomy, ideal for campers who hate it when their sleeping bag stages a hostile takeover of their backpack.

Interestingly, Vaude have given this a very long length, which should be music to the ears of anyone over 6ft 2. That’s not to say this isn’t one for us shorter people however, that’s because Vaude have added a toggle about a foot and a half from the end that, when cinched in, shortens the overall length. Granted, shorter people who don’t want unnecessary weight to carry might not appreciate this feature, but still, this is a lighter bag than many shorter ones out there anyway.

Before we wrap this one up, a quick shout to the Vaude Rotstein’s contoured hood, its roomy footbox, long side zip down to the foot section (which makes getting in and out of it in a darkened tent a hell of a lot easier) and its practical inner pocket for storing, say, your headtorch or phone.

If you’re after a lightweight sleeping bag for your next multi-dayer, one that provides the user with a lot of space to move around in, we’d say this a good option to consider.

Tester’s Verdict

Tom Watkinson, outdoor photographer

“I’ve been really impressed with this sleeping bag. The compression sack allows me to optimise volume in my backpack more than other sleeping bags I’ve used. It’s also very light and despite it feeling thin kept me super warm on a frosty night within the Black Mountains. Being 6ft 5 tall, it was long enough with room still to stretch out – I haven’t come across many sleeping bags that will afford me that luxury!

The Rotstein 450 DWN Sleeping Bag comes with a stuff sack, giving the ability to compress the bag into a small package. Photo: Chris Johnson

Trade Secrets

Uwe Gottschalk, Vaude Head of Product

“If days are tough, nights should be cosy. This high-class down sleeping bag really is the best choice for trekking and mountaineering adventures in cold regions. It’s filled with premium 700-fill power duck down that is RDS-certified and offers superior warmth-to-weight ratio. It packs down really small into a handy water-resistant bag. The outer material is made from premium Pertex® Quantum, so it’s both low weight and abrasion resistant. Our Green Shape label guarantees that environmentally friendly materials and fair production have been used to make this product. Your body will be nice and warm, and you’ll also sleep with a good conscience.”