Coleman Taos Extreme-Weather Mummy Bag Review
Coleman Taos Extreme-Weather Mummy Bag Feature
- Great for cold-weather sleeping: keeps you comfortable down to 25°F with 38oz. of Coletherm insulation
- Mummy-style sleeping bag, 32" x 82", fits most people up to 6'2"
- Double-batt, offset quilt construction eliminates potential cold spots
- Semi-sculpted hood surrounds head with warmth
- Box-foot silhouette gives feet extra wiggle room
   Coleman's ComfortSmart technology includes such features as a ThermoLock zipper, FiberLocked insulation, and a ZipPlow tool. |
The best way to relax after a big day of camping adventures is to wrap up in a warm sleeping bag and drift off to peaceful sleep. Coleman is so committed to making sure you have reliable and cozy bedding that it backs its Taos sleeping bag with its ComfortSmart guarantee--a promise that the bag will deliver all-night comfort. Coleman can make this promise thanks to its third-party, scientifically tested temperature ratings; engineering features that promote thermal efficiency and durability; and the creation of different bag sizes to ensure a comfortable fit.
Coleman developed a number of warmth-enhancing features for its ComfortSmart system. The FiberLock insulation tailoring, for example, is designed to prevent insulation from shifting in the bag and developing thin or cold spots. By keeping the insulation in place, Coleman also lengthens the life of the bag. The ThermoLock feature contributes by reducing heat loss (and cold seepage) through zipper coils. This sets up an additional insulating barrier to stand guard along the length of the zipper, ensuring that the snug feeling campers get when zipping up the bag stays with them through the night. Coleman also added such features as a ZipPlow zipper tool, which prevents zipper snags by channeling fabric away from the zipper coils, and Zipper Glide tailoring, which makes it silky smooth to zip the bag at the corners.
Sizing
The Taos is a tall sleeping bag, with dimensions of 82 by 32 inches. As a result, the bag fits most people up to 6 feet 2 inches tall. And despite the mummy bag construction, Coleman added a box-foot silhouette to give your feet extra wiggle room.
Also equipped with a two-way zipper for maximum ventilation, the Taos comes with a stuff sack and carries a five-year warranty.
About Coleman
More than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman, and the company he founded would change life in America. A man plagued with such poor vision he sometimes had to ask classmates to read aloud to him, Coleman saw a brilliant light in 1900 in a drugstore window that stopped him in his tracks. He inquired about the light inside and discovered he was able to read even the small print on a medicine bottle by the illumination. The lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline under pressure instead of coal oil. Soon afterward, Coleman started a lighting service that offered a "no light, no pay" clause--a big step forward for merchants who were burned by inferior products that rarely worked--and drew substantial interest from businesses that wanted to keep their lights on after dark.
In the ensuing years, Coleman expanded its product line well beyond lanterns. The company's current catalog is thick with products that make spending time outdoors a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for days on end, comfortable airbeds that won't deflate during the night, a complete line of LED lights that last for years, powerful portable grills that cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more. Coleman has truly fashioned much of our outdoor camping experience, and expects to do so for generations to come.
Amazon.com Sleeping Bag Guide
Sleep Well: Finding the Right Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag technology has come a long way from the days of cowboy bedrolls. These days, there are a number of high-tech materials and designs available to keep you warm during the coldest outings. Here's a short list of things to keep in mind when you're shopping for a bag:
Buy for Cold
It's a safe bet that on at least one of your adventures, the nighttime temperature will drop unexpectedly. That's why it's smart to buy a bag that's rated for the lowest possible temperature you expect to face on your camping and backpacking trips. For summer trips, a bag rated at +35 degrees F or higher will likely do the trick. If you like to camp in higher elevations in the summer, or if spring and fall outings are in your future, consider bags rated from +10 to +35 degrees F. Winter adventurers should look for bags in the -10 to +10 degrees F range, while those on serious winter alpine climbs and expeditions will want a bag rated lower than -10 degrees F.
Keep in mind that sleeping bag manufacturers' temperature ratings only estimate the minimum temperature at which the bag will provide warmth. Take these numbers with a grain of salt, as different folks generate different amounts of heat when they sleep. If you're the type who likes to pile on the covers even on warmer nights, go for a bag that's rated 10 degrees colder. The opposite is true for "warm" sleepers--a 35-degree bag will probably work for you on a 25-degree night.
Goose or No Goose?
The most important component of any sleeping bag is its insulating material. Modern sleeping bags offer two choices: goose down or synthetic. While both materials have advantages and disadvantages, down bags are considered superior because of their phenomenal warmth-to-weight and warmth-to-bulk ratios. While providing great insulation, down is extremely compressible and light. There's a reason why geese can fly and stay warm through the winter. Down also boasts great long-term durability and will typically retain its insulating properties after years of use.
All of that said, there are many high-quality synthetic bags on the market, and synthetic materials are getting better all the time. While a synthetic bag will weigh somewhat more than a down bag at an equivalent temperature rating, synthetic bags perform better when wet. (Yes, the Achilles heel of down is that it loses all insulating properties when wet.) If your trips take you to wet climates, you may want to consider a synthetic bag for this reason alone. Keep in mind, too, that many people are allergic to down, while synthetic bags are non-allergenic. Finally, down is considerably more expensive than synthetic, which might tip the balance for adventurers on a budget.
Bags for All Shapes
Sleeping bags come in two basic shapes that reflect their intended use. Mummy-shaped bags offer the best warmth because they conform to the body's contours. This minimizes the amount of body heat the body must put out to maintain a constant temperature. Many mummy bags are offered in women-specific shapes and sizes, as well. Rectangular bags, while they do offer more room to toss and turn, are less thermally efficient because they contain more open air space. Also, they are typically heavier than mummy bags, and are generally not offered with down insulation, making them best suited for car camping or short backpacking trips.
Pad Yourself
No matter what kind of bag you choose, a sleeping pad is a required accessory. Not only do they provide much-needed comfort when sleeping on the ground, pads also offer crucial warmth for your backside, as the weight of your body compresses--and renders virtually useless--the sleeping bag insulation that lies beneath you.
The Coleman Taos Extreme-Weather Mummy Bag is a great choice for cold-weather sleeping. Featuring 38 ounces of Coletherm insulation, the Taos keeps you comfortable down to 25°F. The double-batt, offset quilt construction eliminates potential cold spots, while the bag's semi-sculpted hood surrounds your head with warmth. The full-length draft tube locks out chilly drafts, while a 2-way zipper provides maximum ventilation when you want it. The Taos bag is designed with a box-foot silhouette to give your feet extra wiggle room. Stuff sack included. Commercial machine washable. 5-year limited warranty.
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