Deuter Orbit -5° £115

+ Affordable, seamless shell

Heaviest sleeping bag on test, narrow cut won’t suit everyone, bulky when packed away

Part of Deuter’s budget line of synthetic sleeping bags, the Orbit -5° is nothing spectacular. There aren’t any bells or whistles, or innovative design features to get excited about, but ultimately it does a good job at an affordable price. And for those on a budget, it might just hit the mark.

If you like a figure-hugging fit, the narrow cut of this bag will leave you as snug as a bug in a rug, while the 900g fill weight of polyester insulation is graded warm enough down to a comfort rating of 0°C. All of the normal features are present: adjustable hood, hanging loops, full-length zipper with anti-snag strip and integrated baffle, and Velcro tabs for sealing in warmth around the neck and collar baffle. Another nice touch is the absence of exposed seams on the outer, which removes the risk of insulation ‘leakage’ – a problem some bags are prone to.

The negatives of the Orbit -5° are quite obvious. It’s rather large when packed away and it’s far heavier than ideal – at 1740g it’s the heaviest here. Another alternative might be the super-stretchy Deuter Exosphere -6°C (£170, 72% rating in Trail 2021 review), which is 370g lighter but has the same temperature ratings.

■ Fill 900g of High-Loft Hollowfibre synthetic insulation (100% polyester, 2x 140g/m2)

■ Temp rating 0°C comfort, -5°C comfort limit ■ Weight 1740g ■ Pack size 48x25cm ■ Sizes Men’s, women’s (Orbit -5° SL)

Verdict

A synthetic sleeping bag with a narrow cut at an affordable price – but it’s heavy.