$139

by Frederick Reimers

Shana Novak

EMS's 20-degree Boreal is the first sack to use a new synthetic insulation from Prima­Loft called Infinity, which EMS claims is "18 percent warmer and 25 percent more compressible" than comparable fill. Although it was impossible to test that boast, the Boreal squashes down to the size of a volleyball and easily lived up to its rating: It was plenty warm in just-below-freezing temps on the Oregon coast. The cut is roomy, but the beefy draft tubes and collar trap heat, and the shell's DWR coating keeps dew and condensation at bay. 20°, 2.7 lbs; ems.com

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2009 Summer Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

GoLite Adrenaline 20 Gear of the Year	$325
Eastern Mountain Sports Boreal 20 Killer Value	$139
EMS Women's Boreal 20 Killer Value	$139
REI Aura 25	$219
Wenger Chasseral	$199
Sierra Designs Cochise 15	$159
Sierra Designs Déjà vu 5	$209
The North Face Green Kazoo	$279
Big Agnes Peggy SL 15	$289
Mammut Shield	$530
Mountain Hardware Ultralamina	$220

2008 Summer Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

Sierra Designs Verde 20 Gear of the Year	$180
MontBell Super Stretch Burrow Bag 0 Killer Value	$180
Marmot EcoPro 15	$165
Kelty Foraker 15	$300
Mammut Kira 3 Season	$160
The North Face Scorpio	$160
Lafuma Warm'n Light 600g Down Lady	$110
Rab Women's Atlas 750	$325
Marmot Women's EcoPro 15	$165
Exped Woodpecker	$280
Big Agnes Zirkel SL 20	$340

2007 Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

Pacific Outdoor Equipment AO Lite Reg Gear of the Year	$74
Mountain Hardwear UltraLamina 32 Gear of the Year	$175
The North Face Cat's Meow Killer Value	$159
Sierra Designs Kaya Killer Value	$99
Mammut/Ajungilak Altitude 3-Season	$439
Sierra Designs Cirque	$419
Macpac Epic 300 SF	$350
Coleman Exponent Klickitat X20	$140
REI Kilo Flash +35	$179
REI Kilo Flash +40	$179
Big Agnes King Solomon	$299
Kelty Luxor	$180
Lafuma Pro 950 Down	$280
Exped SynMat 7	$85
Therm-a-Rest ToughSkin Mattress	$120
MontBell Ultra Light Super Stretch Down Hugger #2	$315
Mountain Hardwear UltraLamina 32	$175
Lafuma Warm 'n Light 1300g Down Lady	$250

2006 Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

Sierra Designs Trade Wind Gear of the Year	$330
Lafuma Extreme 800 Lady Killer Value	$75
Montbell Super Stretch Burrow Bag #3 Killer Value	$140
Marmot Arroyo	$249
The North Face Hightail	$359
Kelty Light Year +25	$160
Marmot Pounder Plus	$189
Mountain Hardwear Spirit SL	$335
REI Sub Kilo	$229
REI Sub Kilo +15	$229
Western Mountaineering Summerlite	$280
EMS Velocity 5	$229

2005 Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

Marmot Atom Gear of the Year	$229
Sierra Designs Arrow Rock	$190
Big Agnes Crystal	$149
Mountain Hardwear Lamina 15	$140

2004 Buyer's Guide Sleeping Bags Reviews

Feathered Friends Osprey Gear of the Year	$300
Slumberjack Superguide +30 Killer Value	$80
Granite Gear Air Compressor	$24
Big Agnes Air Core	$55
Functional Design Bag Doubler	$79
The North Face Beeline 900	$299
Exped Butterfly	$249
Marmot Helium EQ	$429
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45	$215
Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4	$79
Valandré Shocking Blue	$596
Kelty Silk Sleeping Bag Liner	$59
REI Sub Kilo +20	$209
Sierra Designs Van Winkle	$220
Big Agnes Yampa	$149

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