The colder half of the year is creeping closer, but we still want to show you one more down summer sleeping bag. There is certainly some use left in it this year, and with a bit of luck you can stretch the summer out with a holiday somewhere further south. We have the chance to introduce a very interesting model from Cumulus.
Cumulus X-Lite 200 specifications
Weight: 479 g (weighed ourselves, incl. stuff sack)
430 g (manufacturer’s figure)- Fill: 96/4 goose down
- Fill weight: approx. 200 g
- Fill power: 850 cuin
- Construction: H-construction (box baffles)
- Dimensions: 185 x 77 x 51 cm (max. body length/shoulder/foot)
- Packed size: 20 x 14 cm (compressed)
- Stuff sack volume: 2.75 dm3
- Fabric: Pertex Quantum
- Temperature rating: 3 °C minimum comfort temperature
(the manufacturer’s figure does not follow EN 13537)
The moment you unpack it, you notice that the maker has done away with the zip entirely. That means slipping into the bag is a slightly awkward business. In other respects too the bag is kept very plain.
Inside there is nothing but a small pocket, and at the hood a simple elastic drawcord for tightening collar and hood. According to the manufacturer the bag should still keep you warm down to outside temperatures of 3 °C.
A matching compression sack and a storage sack are included. The manufacturer asked me to point out that the bag can be compressed up to 40 % smaller than it is in the supplied stuff sack. There are loops at the foot end for hanging the bag up to store or dry it.
The interesting details of this bag are the technical ones, such as the choice of inner and outer fabric. At 30 g/m2, Pertex Quantum is probably the lightest down-proof fabric currently available. The down fill is also worth a mention, with a fill power of 850 cuin. The fill is 96 % down to 4 % feathers.
Photos of the Cumulus X-Lite 200
Cumulus X-Lite 200 in the field
Naturally I cannot write a full field test after such a short time with it. For now I can only share what I learned over three nights in the Cumulus X-Lite 200.
Getting into a sleeping bag without opening it took some getting used to, though that is not meant as criticism. The biggest drawback is still the missing zip. Because the bag cannot be opened, regulating your temperature is difficult. If it gets too warm in there, all you can do is push the hood off and perhaps slide your upper body a little higher.
What I liked a great deal is the workmanship, which really does look flawless. There is no down poking out anywhere and the seams are cleanly finished. Another plus, to my mind, is the Pertex Quantum fabric, which feels very soft and pleasant against the skin.
The small inner pocket strikes me as pointless. It is not even big enough to hold my wallet, and it cannot be closed. I would not shed a tear if it were quietly dropped from a future version.
As already noted on Twitter, at 77 cm across the shoulders the bag is fairly narrow. Depending on your build, that width may not be enough. I find it borderline myself and have to think about where to put my arms.
Verdict on the Cumulus X-Lite 200
A sleeping bag of very low weight and excellent, high-quality workmanship. The one and at the same time biggest point of criticism is the missing zip. The slightly awkward entry that comes with it, and having no way to regulate temperature or use the bag as a simple quilt, will not suit everyone.
Pros of the X-Lite 200
- superb workmanship
- small packed size
- good value
- light
Cons of the X-Lite 200
- limited temperature regulation
- small inner pocket
Where to buy the Cumulus X-Lite 200
The Cumulus X-Lite can be bought directly from the manufacturer. The price is around € 120 excluding shipping, which makes it definitely one of the cheapest down sleeping bags I know of.
