Wonderonesie

Be honest – you thought these things (see above) were a gimmick, right? Well you’re wrong. I’ve been using this for summer camps and it’s brilliant. Somewhere between a synthetic sleeping bag and a high-altitude suit, the Selk’bag offers a near perfect combination of cosy comfort and mobility. The feet are reinforced but can be zipped off altogether to wear the Selk’bag with regular shoes, and the sleeves have built-in mitts to fully enclose your hands. Add in the drawstring hood and I mostly felt as snug as a bug in a rug. That said, on my last camp I was starting to feel the chill a little, but this is the Lite version of the Selk’bag, meant for spring to summer use; the Original is thicker and warmer. Because of the extra fabric forming the limbs, the Selk’bag doesn’t pack down as small as an equivalent sleeping bag and is slightly heavier. But the convenience of being able to get up, wander around camp, and even cook and enjoy breakfast effectively without leaving my bed was a revelation. People will look, people will stare. But on the inside, they’re seething with jealousy.

Verdict

Yeah, it might look daft, but it’s a warm, comfortable and convenient alternative to a sleeping bag.

USED BY Ben Weeks, Trail senior writer USED FOR 6 months