For the Down Hugger 800, #3 if the lowest temperature where you stay does not drop below 5°C, #2 if it does. Choose the number by matching comfort temperature, not usable temperature, to the lowest temperature. By the official numbers, the #3 is 568g with a comfort temperature of 5°C, and the #2 is 768g with 1°C.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
This series' dividing line is between #3 and #2. From #7 to #3, going up one number adds only 56 to 66g and the packed size goes only from 2.4L to 3.0L. The moment you go up to #2 it adds 200g and 1.7L, so I first decide only “will I use it on nights below 5°C,” and if not, I stop at #3.
Key points
- The weight added to lower comfort temperature by 1°C is 22.0g from #5 to #3 and 50.0g from #3 to #2. For the same 1°C, the winter side is more than double the weight
- Comparing the same #3s, the Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 is 3g heavier and about 1.93 times the price. The synthetic Seamless Burrow Bag is 365g heavier and about 0.56 times the price
- The Long is for heights up to 198cm. At #3 the difference is 64g and JPY 2,500, and the packed size goes from 3.0L to 3.8L
What is in this article (11 items)
- The difference between the Down Hugger 800 #3 and #2 is 200g and 4°C
- How I judged it
- Down Hugger 800 comfort temperature, weight and price by number
- How to choose the number: match the lowest temperature to comfort temperature
- Differences from sibling series (compared at the same #3)
- Similar sleeping bags you can buy on Rakuten
- What I like and things to watch
- Sizes
- Conclusion: the first one is #3
- Who is it for?
- FAQ
The difference between the Down Hugger 800 #3 and #2 is 200g and 4°C
If the lowest temperature on the night you stay does not drop below 5°C, choose #3; if it does, choose #2.
mont-bell's Seamless Down Hugger 800 is a sleeping bag that is warmer the smaller the number. Going from #5 to #3 adds 66g. But going from #3 to #2 adds 200g.
When you sleep in a tent more than half the year, a sleeping bag is something you put away every morning and unfold every night, so after temperature I look at the capacity (L) when packed.
How I judged it
The first thing I looked at was comfort temperature, 5°C for #3 and 1°C for #2. Subtracting from the neighboring numbers, the weight added to lower comfort temperature by 1°C was 22.0g from #5 to #3 and 50.0g from #3 to #2.
More than double. What I wavered on was the packed size: whether to make the #2, which grows from 3.0L to 4.7L, the first one. I still recommend #3 because 3.0L is where it stops fitting.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
mont-bell Seamless Down Hugger 800 #3
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 33,000 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by up to JPY 51,764 between shops. Prices change daily.
Down Hugger 800 comfort temperature, weight and price by number
Scroll the table sideways →
| Number | Comfort / usable | Weight | Packed | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 11℃ / 7℃ | 446g | 2.4L | JPY 23,500 |
| #5 | 8℃ / 4℃ | 502g | 2.4L | JPY 25,500 |
| #3 | 5℃ / 0℃ | 568g | 3.0L | JPY 29,500 |
| #2 | 1℃ / −5℃ | 768g | 4.7L | JPY 37,000 |
| #1 | −3℃ / −10℃ | 918g | 5.7L | JPY 44,800 |
| #0 | −8℃ / −15℃ | 1,149g | 8.1L | JPY 50,000 |
| EXP. | −12℃ / −20℃ | 1,483g | 11.1L | JPY 65,000 |
Comfort temperature is the temperature at which a person with low metabolism and low cold tolerance can sleep in a relaxed position, and usable temperature is that at which a person with high metabolism and high cold tolerance can sleep curled up. If you sleep stretched out, the number to read is the left one (the comfort and limit temperature article).
How to choose the number: match the lowest temperature to comfort temperature
There is one way to decide. Choose the number whose comfort temperature is the same as or lower than the lowest temperature where you stay. In the Japan Meteorological Agency's normal values (1991 to 2020) for daily lowest temperature, Karuizawa in October is 6.3°C for #3 and Tokyo in December is 3.8°C for #2.
For lowland spring to autumn only, #5 will do (Tokyo in November is 8.8°C), but the difference from #3 is 66g and 0.6L, so if I plan to go to autumn highlands, I take #3.
The numbers other than #3, and the Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 and Down Hugger 650 in the table below, are bought at the official online store.
Normal values are smoothed over every day of the month, and there are days colder than this. mont-bell also writes that the listed temperature may differ from how it feels, and does not recommend use in the danger temperature range.
Cold from the ground is stopped by the mat, not the sleeping bag, so decide together with the mat R-value article.
Differences from sibling series (compared at the same #3)
Scroll the table sideways →
| Series (#3) | Comfort / usable | Weight | Packed | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seamless Down Hugger 800 | 5℃ / 0℃ | 568g | 3.0L | JPY 29,500 |
| Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 | 5℃ / 0℃ | 571g | 3.8L | JPY 57,000 |
| Down Hugger 650 | 3℃ / −2℃ | 695g | 4.7L | JPY 26,400 |
| Seamless Burrow Bag (synthetic) | 5℃ / 0℃ | 933g | 6.8L | JPY 16,500 |
Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900: The difference is fabric. It is a model wrapped in waterproof breathable fabric, 3g heavier than the 800 and about 1.93 times the price. It is for people who sleep in winter when condensation on tent walls gets on the sleeping bag; in a dry tent, the 800 is enough.
Seamless Burrow Bag: The filling is synthetic fiber, the maker writes it can be washed in a household washing machine, and it is 365g heavier than the 800, with about 2.3 times the packed size and about 0.56 times the price. This is for family camping carried by car rather than on your back.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
mont-bell Seamless Burrow Bag #3
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 18,900 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by up to JPY 23,800 between shops. Prices change daily.
Similar sleeping bags you can buy on Rakuten
I line up two down sleeping bags from other brands (numbers are the same official listings as in the quick-table article). Sea to Summit's Spark -1C is 493g with a comfort temperature of 4°C, 568 − 493 = 75g lighter than the #3, but at JPY 64,790 it is about 2.2 times the #3's price.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Sea to Summit Spark -1C
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 64,790 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily.
NANGA's Aurora Tex Light 480DX has a comfort temperature of 0°C, about 870g and JPY 55,000, about 302g heavier than the #3 and 5°C lower in comfort temperature, so it is a candidate for people who look at nights around a lowest temperature of 0°C.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
NANGA Aurora Tex Light 480DX
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 49,500 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by up to JPY 55,000 between shops. Prices change daily.
What I like and things to watch
What I like is the construction. This series removes the baffles that divide the down and holds it with threads strung inside (spider yarn). The maker explains this reduces needle holes at seams and makes cold spots from thin down less likely.
This part is a weak point. The amount of down is not written on the product page, so the only things to compare are temperature and weight. The fabric is a thin 15 denier, with water repellency but not waterproof.
Size
The Long is for heights up to 198cm, and at #3 it is 64g heavier, JPY 2,500 more, and the packed size becomes 3.8L.
Conclusion: the first one is #3
#2 only for people who use it down to winter lowlands, and #3 for everyone else. Rakuten also has listings higher than the official price. Compare prices.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
mont-bell Seamless Down Hugger 800 #3
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 33,000 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by up to JPY 51,764 between shops. Prices change daily.
Who is it for?
It suits people who want their gear light and small. The #3 is 568g, 365g lighter than the Burrow Bag, and packs smaller too.
If you carry by car, the Seamless Burrow Bag #3 at the same temperature costs JPY 13,000 less. If you are short by just 2 to 3°C, you can also add insulated clothing, a cover or an inner sheet.
FAQ
Down Hugger 800 #3 or #2: which should I pick?
#3 if the lowest temperature does not drop below 5°C, #2 if it does. The #2 is 200g heavier.
Should I choose a Down Hugger 800 by comfort temperature or usable temperature?
By comfort temperature. The #3's usable temperature of 0°C is almost the same as the next warmer #2's comfort temperature of 1°C.
Can the Down Hugger 800 #3 be used in winter?
Down to a lowest temperature of 5°C. Tokyo in December (normal value 3.8°C) falls in #2 range.
Gear in this article
Ads & images: Rakuten IchibaSources (21 official pages)
- mont-bell official: mont-bell sleeping bags (explanation of series and temperature listings)
- mont-bell official online store: search results for “Down Hugger”
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 EXP.
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #0
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #1
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #2
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #3
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #5
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #7
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 #3 Long
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Down Hugger 800 Women's #3
- mont-bell official online store: Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 #1
- mont-bell official online store: Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 #2
- mont-bell official online store: Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 #3
- mont-bell official online store: Dry Seamless Down Hugger 900 #5
- mont-bell official online store: Down Hugger 650 #3
- mont-bell official online store: search results for “Burrow Bag”
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Burrow Bag #3
- mont-bell official online store: Seamless Alpine Burrow Bag #3
- Japan Meteorological Agency, past weather data, normal values (by year and month): Tokyo
- Japan Meteorological Agency, past weather data, normal values (by year and month): Karuizawa
