What's It For?
GoLite says that the Adrenaline 20˚ is aimed at 3-season fast-packing and alpinism. It's a lightweight, highly compressible down sleeping bag that, coincidentally, has landed best buy awards on the other side of the Atlantic from both Outside and Backpacker magazines, so we were expecting a lot from it.
The Techy Bits
Sleeping bags are all about insulation quality and construction and GoLite has the first sorted thanks to 800+ fill power goose down - down still offers better warmth to weight and bulk ratios than any other filling and is durable as well, provided you look after it. Down's main enemy is water, which can stop it from lofting and reduce it to useless porridgey sludge, so we'd suggest care and a waterproof stuff sac.
Construction is the other crucial factor and GoLite has thought about this too. Baffles are differentially cut box-wall type - smaller inside than out - giving room for plenty of loft. Along with that, GoLite has opted to use waterproof Pertex Endurance fabric at toe and head where condensation often strikes, to supplement the DWR-treated rip-stop Nylon of the rest of the bag. This saves weight over a full Endurance shell, but still protects the areas most likely to get damp from condensation on the inside of the tent and from your breath / drool...
Finally the top end of the bag is unusual thanks to a centrally located 1/2 zip complete with baffle and mummy-style hood. The bag is rated down to -7˚C.
How It Performed
We're familiar with GoLite's packs and clothing, but we'd never used one of their sleeping bags before, but frankly we're dead impressed. First, the construction and the filling both seem excellent, differential baffles help give excellent lofting and there's an even distribution of down all the way round.
We also really like the waterproof toe and hood idea - no worries when you wake up with your feet pressed against the soggy end of your tent, but no excess weight from heavier all-over fabric either. You really can have your cake and eat it.
GoLite has saved weight with a trim, mummy shape - it's not overly snug but the generously proportioned should try before buying - and a centrally-placed half zip. We were initially dubious about this but actually it works really, really well and you never wake up with a zip wedged under your side - something you never really consider until you use another conventional bag, when the penny drops. The only potential downside is reduced ventilation when the going gets warm, but so far it's not been an issue for us.
The close-fitting SkullCap hood works just fine for use as well, though the tiny cordgrip adjusters were a little fiddly, and we can't fault weight or packed bulk, both of which are excellent for the performance and make this a great choice for lightweight warmth.
Verdict
One of the lightest, smallest and best thought out three-season sleeping bags we've used. Touches like the waterproof ends and weight-saving features really do work, as does the central half-zip. Warm, light, compact and luxuriously comfortable.
Buy if... you're after an excellent lightweight, three-season sleeping bag and are prepared to give it enough loving to stop it getting wet.
