Gear Review: Nordisk Arktis 1400
Extreme Cold Down Sleeping Bag. Made in Europe.
Yeti Division of Nordisk, a Danish company, and made in Germany.
Rated -48C for extreme (Hybrids tested it at -80C in Antarctica). -28C comfort for dudes (-20C for women, but not our focus).
We were generally comfortable around -25C, sleeping naked. We were freezing our ass off at -45C, but did not develop hypothermia, and thus survived the night.
Fabric is durable, and water repellent, if not waterproof (relevant if you use an igloo, as temperature in a well-built one will reach +8C). Even if it gets wet, down is treated to repel water as well. The bag is exceptionally comfortable, with more down at the feet, which is often a cold part of the body in extreme climates. Sizes are spot on based on a dude’s height. Bag is also very light.
Of course, as if any down item, sleeping bag should be stored loose, in the mesh bag provided. A compression bag is also provided for transportation during expedition.
The Nordisk Arktis 1400 bag beats by far the Mountain Hardwear Ghost, which was great, but not as good as the Nordisk, not to mention that the Mountain Hardwear is made in China, and thus, evidently, with tortured geese and enslaved children.
The Nordisk Arktis 1400 is the only extreme weather bag we are aware of that is still made in Europe.
As for those of you thinking you probably don’t need such a bag based on where you live, that’s okay, because they are sold out as we bought all the ones we could find. But if we did go on a purchasing rampage, it should get you concerned… Maybe we foresee Europe getting colder down the road with a slow down of the Gulfstream, and people freezing to death because of the insane reliance on “green” energies (which are, in fact, anything but green).
