Review Date
April 20, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Cadenza ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $169.00 at online retailer

Summary:
I bought the Big Agnes Lost Ranger 4 years ago along with their REM 1.5" sleeping pad. I've used it on every backpacking and camping trip in environments varying from sea level to 9k-10k elevation in the Sierra, temperatures range from mid 60s to low 30s in dry, humid, rainy and windy conditions.

WEIGHT: For a 15* bag, the Lost Ranger is competitively under 3 lbs (2lbs, 10oz). My Big Agnes sleeping pad is 8oz heavier than its Thermarest counterpart, at 2 lbs, 8 oz. It has a higher insulation rating and actually self-inflates, unlike my Thermarest Explorer. Together, the system weighs 5 lbs. excluding the storage sacks. It's decent weight but not quite lightweight and far from ultra lightweight. I'll be getting the newer ultra-light sleeping pad that weighs about 1 pound, which shaves 1.5 lbs. off the system.

BENEFITS: With the pad slid into the sleeve, there's no falling off the pad. Without down providing some cushion on the bottom, your back can get a little stiff. Interior shoulder, torso and hip girths are roomier than comparable bags for my size (5' 8" / 155 pounds). The foot box is a little flat though.

MATERIAl & QUALITY: Fabrics, zipper and stitching are good but not comparable to my Mountain Hardwear Universe SL 0* but it's a bag of a different league altogether. The shell fabric has gotten damp but never wet. MH Conduit SL fabric is tighter and more moisture-resistant. Both bags are about the same age and the Lost Ranger has down leaking along the seams. Not a lot that it affects performance but it's easily visible, whereas the MH Universe SL rarely leaks. I had a Marmot 0* bag that leaked badly too so MH must be doing something right.

FINAL NOTE: I'm happy with the Lost Ranger's performance. I twist and turn a lot during sleep so a bag of this design keeps me away from the cold ground. Some quality improvements can be made regarding stitching and the foot box.

Customer Service:
None needed so far.

Similar Products Used:
Marmot Never Summer 0*, Mountain Hardwear Universe SL 0*, REI Polar Pod 20*.

Review Date
September 9, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: hiker333(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $199.00 at Mast General Store

Summary:
I was intrigued by the Big Agnes line by the weight-saving design and semi-rectangular shape of the bags. Entering middle age I no longer enjoy sleeping with my tired, aching body confined in a straightjacket. The Lost Ranger met my expectations. It's lighter than many mummy bags as there's no insulation on the bottom, with a full-length pad providing the insulation. Down-filled tubes overlap the pad edges eliminating cold spots. What a delight to be able to toss and turn like in a bed at home! I've spent half a dozen nights in this bag and they have been the most restful nights in almost 30 years of backbacking.

The bag "assembled" by pulling the bottom sleeve over the pad like a pillowcase. Easy enough outside in nice weather but wait until you have to do it in a one-person bivy or tent. Kneeling in the tent doorway while rain gushes down is a problem. Aside from this it's basically hassle-free. In hot weather, it can be a bit sweaty since you sleep directly on the waterproof covering of the pad with only a thin layer of nylon separating it from your skin. I overcame this by wearing a t-shirt to bed which I normally don't do.

These issues aside, the bag is the most comfortable bed I've slept in while backpacking. By adding the available 40-degree outer bag and using pads of varying thicknesses, a year-round system is created that is usable from +60 to -15 degrees. Use the outer bag with a 1-inch pad in high summer, a 1.5 inch pad and the Lost Ranger in spring and fall, and both bags together with a 2-inch pad in winter.

The bag has a draft collar and full hood. Since the bag doesn't turn like a conventional mummy bag, some side sleepers complain about the hood but I simply keep it open enough to breath while lying on my side. If it gets really cold I don't mind sleeping on my back.

I recommend this bag for anyone who wants a quality bag with unmatched comfort.

Customer Service:
Not needed.

Similar Products Used:
EMS Franconia, EMS Ultralight, North Face Blue Kazoo.