Feathered Friends Lark

Review Date
September 26, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: RichardG(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Dallas, Texas USA

Price Paid:  $275.00 at Feathered Friends

Summary:
Excellent bag. I bought this bag for winter use, as I sleep warm and prefer a semi-rec for most camping. I bought (on sale) a bag custom made for someone else, with a collar, extra fill, and extra long (7 feet versus standard 6ft 6in long). The extra length really helps, though it still seems a little tight (maybe because I'm not used to a mummy bag, maybe because of my girth). Very high quality workmanship, components, and concept; the collar is terrific. I recommend the Epic material, which is breathable and very water-resisant (though not waterproof). My value rating is based on full price (about $500 with the custom features), not what I paid.

Customer Service:
Never used

Similar Products Used:
Marmot; Western Mountaineering

Review Date
November 11, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Craig Butler(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Bellingham, WA, USA

Price Paid:  $425.00 at Feathered Friends

Summary:
Price listed includes taxes, shipping, and a water tight "Dry Bag" stuff sack (or pretty close).

Specifications:

Fill: 750 Down
Shell: Epic by Nextec
Removable Collar

Feathered Friends claims that this bag is the same as the Swallow only with the
addition of a removable collar which FF figures is worth 10 degrees.
Having had bags with and without collars, I'll never purchase one without a collar again.
I also chose the Lark over the Hummingbird. The Hummingbird has a tighter cut which I found to be a bit
claustrophobic. Extra room in a bag is supposed to be harder to keep warm, but I figure I can "snug out"
any extra room on a cold night. The full length zipper offers more venting on warm evenings.
The tradeoff, of course, is slightly more weight for the comfort and versatility.

FF builds their bags (at least mine) on demand. Thus, I had my choice of colors.
I chose a red exterior with a "mango" interior. Very nice. It took about 3 weeks
for delivery.

I've had the bag a couple weeks now. I was able to put it to the test recently camping
on the "Dry Side" of the Cascades with temperatures reported down to 6 degrees F.
Too cold for the bag by itself but with a fleece balaclava, fleece hat, long johns, Integral Designs silk bag liner,
and warm socks, I was toasty warm.

For comparison, I brought my Mountain Hardware 3rd dimension bag (Polarguard 3D rated at 0 degrees F).
The with comparable temperatures the 2nd night, I was able to shed my long john top and fleece hat.
Conclusion: The ratings for each bag seemed comparable and probably accurate. I tend to sleep on the cold side.

The construction of the bag looks good. I did notice the FF bag did not have a pocket for my watch, however, I was able to stuff my watch in the removable
collar sleeve. I did discover that the zippers are compatible with my MH bag.
I decided not to go with the 800+ fill upgrade which they claim adds another 5 or so degrees
to the bag.
FF adds a waterproof (resistant?) fabric around the collar to prevent breath moisture from entering
the bag or soaking the collar.
The draw cords for the collar and hood were easy to operate, easier than my MH bag. FF uses
an elastic cord which is comfortable and easy to maneuver through with
hands if needed but makes me wonder how long the elasticity will last.

The bag is a good pound lighter than my MH bag and a lot more compressible. With this bag, I'll
be able to fit enough gear for an overnight or two in a considerably smaller pack. Overall weight savings: 3+ lbs.

When ordering I asked that the Dry Bag stuff sack be the smallest that I could possibly stuff my bag into. The bag included was a Large and
certainly much roomier than needed to contain the bag.

Moisture control with a down bag is quite important. The Epic fabric holds promise as a truly durable durable water repellant (DWR). The DWR on
my MH bag (which is a couple years old now) has mostly worn off. Hopefully the Epic fabric will
live up to it's claims, but only time will tell. It's one of the features that I preferred over Marmot, and Western Mountaineering bags.

The Feathered Friends bag is made in the US. While I like my Mountain Hardware bag, I'm very disappointed
that it was constructed in China. Had I thought to look at the time, I probably would not have purchased the MH bag.

Synthetics, reportedly, permanently loose their "loft" over time, particlarly with repeated compression
in stuff sacks. Down has the amazing ability to re-loft with proper care. This bag should
last for many years to come

Similar Products Used:
Mountain Hardware 3rd Dimension
Coleman 0 degree bag

Review Date
May 8, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Carter Young(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Missoula, MT

Summary:
Does Feathered Friends make excellent sleeping bags? Without a doubt. Is this the best 10-degree sleeping bag in the world? Maybe.

But first let’s get to good points—it’s hard to believe how much top quality sleeping bags have improved since I was a young climber in the early 1970s. They still pretty much look the same, but the attention to details and the lofting power of the best down really makes a difference. I have two other mummies I use: a North Face Superlight from about 1975 and a MontBell synthetic bag from 1994. The Lark and these other two bags are about the same size (relatively slim) and have the same loft (about six inches), and pretty much the same temperature rating: 10 degrees for the FF and MontBell, and if I remember correctly, 5 or 10 degrees for the first incarnation of the NF Superlight. But the FF bag is obviously lighter just by picking it up: 2 lb. 7 oz. compared to 4 lb. 3 oz. for the polyester fill and probably about 3 lb. 8 oz. for the Superlight (which for its time was about as light and compact as you could get). Stuffed size? The same great advantage. Then there’s the FF silky taffeta, removable down collar, shaped hood, and so on. Back in the old days, all down sleeping bags were made from 1.9 oz. ripstop without a DWR treatment, had no stiffener along the draft tube, and no one had thought about making a draft collar or using elasticized drawstrings.

So the first night I had this bag, I slept out in the backyard on four inches of snow, a tarp, and ½ inch closed cell pad (just like in the old days). It was 28 degrees when I went to sleep, and the weather service said the low that night was 15. I was fine in just long underwear and a fleece hat. Wearing all your clothes like you should (including a baffled down jacket) the Lark would be fine with a warm water bottle most anywhere in the lower 48 during winter.

And although I’m not as skinny as I used to be, the fit of a regular size is quite roomy for my 170 lb., six-foot frame. For bigger folks, the FF Raven is the same thing only wider and heavier.

As for comparisons, I bought my Lark from an on-line auction, after examining another style of FF bag at a local dealer. Here in Missoula, MT we have two excellent outdoor shops—both stock Marmot bags, one also carries Feathered Friends, and the other has the Western Mountaineering line of down sleepers. So after I got my Lark, I took it down to the store to compare with a Western Mountaineering Antelope and a Marmot Pinnacle. All three bags are extremely well made (and expensive) but because the Pinnacle has less loft, the side by side comparison was between the Antelope and the Lark. Both have the same amount of loft and about equal sizing. Neither has what I would call overstuffed draft tubes or collars, but they’re filled enough. The FF has a detachable collar to save weight in the winter, the WM a fixed one—advantage FF. WM uses a stiffener built into the fabric on both sides of the zipper, FF uses separate webbing only along the top—WM on top on this one, although I can see how the FF arrangement would be easier to repair. This year WM has switched to smaller No. 5 zippers, while FF uses No. 8—FF wins, although not all YKK No. 8 zippers are the same, and I can’t zip this bag together with any of the other bags I have with the same size zipper. WM uses Velcro to lock the zipper, while FF uses snaps—Velcro is easier to close, but snaps are less abrasive to the fabric when the bag is stuffed—call it a draw. FF tuck stitches the baffle seams (hides them from view) while WM doesn’t—I’ve never had a seam unravel in a sleeping bag. FF has liner loops, WM doesn’t. I’d say its a tie, so go with the one that looks prettiest—my Lark is dark purple with a black interior, but it seems that you don’t get to choose colors with FF bags.

As for the shell fabric, I have the standard nylon taffeta. It beads up water fine, and I’ve never had a problem keeping bags dry—although once I slept by Yellowstone Lake without a tent in a 20 degree ground fog and was totally covered in ice. But I was sleeping in my down jacket, the sun came up, and it was no big deal. Habitues of snow caves should definitely opt for the PTFE (FF) or Dryloft (WM) outer shell.

Customer Service:
None.

Similar Products Used:
'70s North Face Superlight, MontBell Main Squeeze synthetic, Slumberjack 0 degree down, '69 Pacific Tarp and Tent down mummy

Review Date
January 12, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Phil Rainwater(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Bakersfield, Calif.

Summary:
The Lark is is very well made sleeping bag. Although the temperature raying of 10 dedrees seems to optimistic. Feathered Friends claims to use the best down availible, it does not compare favorably to the down in my Western Mountaineering bags. The bag is light with a removable collar. Total wieght is 2lb. 7 oz. Claimed loft is 6 plus inches, but my bag has to be really fluffed up to attain 5 1/2 inches. overall a well made durable bag, just a bit pricey for what you get.

Customer Service:
n/a

Similar Products Used:
Marmot, Western Mountaineering,Moonstone, Sierra Designs,

Review Date
December 30, 1999

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: mike moxness(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from anchorage, ak

Summary:
I've used the Lark on several climbs, one involving an unplanned bivi just below the summit of Rainier. FF is the Ferrari of down products. The workmanship is outstanding. The bag is significantly warmer than its rating of 10 degrees. It is very light and compressible, but you'd expect that from FF. This is a technical bag and it doesn't have alot of surplus room that just adds weight. About the only suggestion I could make is that I don't know why they make the collar removable.

Customer Service:
Our family has three FF parkas as well as my bag. We've bought stuff at the store, over the phone and through the mail. Their staff is always extremely helpful and knowledgable.

Similar Products Used:
I've used North Face bags, which are good but not in the same class as Feathered Friends.