Cumulus Mysterious Traveller 500 Features & Specification

Our cheapest large Cumulus sleeping bag. Very light, very warm, very small pack size. Fantastic warmth-to-weight ratio.

• 500g of 92:8 Polish Goose Down insulation with 680+ fill power;
• Fill Volume: >11333 cubic inches;
• Pertex Ripstop Microlight Shell – 46g/m², with DWR+ treatment;
  Insulated neck baffle;
• Top side construction: Trapezoid;
• Weighs 1145g. Packs down to 15 x 15 x 30 cm.
• Length: 225cm;
• Width Shoulders / Foot (cm): 80/52;
• Comfort Temp. = -7°C
• (Temperature rating confirmed by independent lab testing at Leeds University)

Features common to all Cumulus Sleeping Bags:

• Full length YKK two-way zip with zip together compatibility (even different models);
• Anti-snagging, insulated zip baffle;
• Cowl hood and 1 hand operated drawcords;
• Inside pocket & hanging loops;
• Compact fully-featured stuff sack;
• Mesh storage bag.

Mysterious Traveller Sleeping Bag Construction

The Cumulus Mysterious Traveller 500 sleeping bag’s construction is the Trapezoid, which is very well regarded for promoting down loft and also reducing cold spots.  Due to the overlapping tendencies of the trapezoid styles some people state that it is even better than the boxwall construction in reducing cold spots.

Mysterious Traveler 500 Down Sleeping Bag

Goose Down Filling

The Mysterious Traveller 500 uses high quality Polish goose down.  Polish down is regarded by many to be the best in the world for it’s lofting properties and resilience.  The -7°C comfort temperature is therefore reached far more easily with less weight.

Pertex Outer and Inner

The choice of outer and inner is the Pertex Microlight, a very lightweight form of Pertex that is soft to the touch and provides hard durability for its weight.  Using tightly woven yarns the Pertex can actually retain more heat when used in sleeping bags, and thus reduces the need for additional down.  And, if that wasn’t enough, it also packs down to a very small size too.

Mysterious Traveler 500 Reviews and Tests

Technically speaking, the Mysterious Traveller range is sold as the ‘standard’ range of sleeping bags by Cumulus sleeping bags, but ‘standard’ being a relative term makes this bag still truly top quality.  Different members of the CheapTents.com team have made these tests in order to give a wide coverage of opinion.

Test 1: 27th January, Brotherswater, Cumbria, 1°C or less, 190m altitude.  Sleeping on a Thermarest in Tent.

As the sky was clear, it was late January and you’re on a hill in Cumbria, you can’t expect anything more than cold temeratures but at least it wasn’t raining!  Before going to sleep the temperature was 1°C, but in reality it could well have fallen over night, however the tester said that they were ‘toastie warm’ throughout the night.

Test 2: 31st April, Near Newtown Wales somewhere(!), 5°C, sleeping in a barn

The sleeping bag was used in relatively warm conditions to what it was designed so if anything there was a need to open it from the word go as it was too warm, but saying that once that had been done it was perfect.  The stuffsack and packsize are excellent, with shape and cosmetics closely behind.

Test 3: 28th May, Lyn Anafon, Carneddi, Snowdonia, 5°C or less, 510m altitude, Sleeping in a bivi bag on a Karrimat.

The weather was dry but windy (4-50mph with 70mph gusts), but in the sheltered(ish) bivi spot the winds might have been as low as 20mph.  If anything, it was too warm closed again, but opening-up the side and and the bivi bag created some ventilation which was absolutely perfect – how biviing is meant to be!  Full marks for packsize, features, shape, stuffsack and cosmetics!

Conclusion

For the warmth that the Mysterious Traveler retains, it is an exceptional sleeping bag.  It is not the lightest sleepign bag of the Cumulus range but is certainly great value.  Currently they retail at £180 which is really spectacular value for a lightweight sleeping bag that comfortably reaches -7°C.

Cumulus Quantum 200 Down Sleeping Bag Features

Firstly, let’s start with the technical specification of the Quantum 200, features include:

• Extremely lightweight without stinting on features.
• Tiny stuff sack
• 200gms of 96:4 Polish Goose Down insulation with 870 fill power;
• Fill Volume: >5800 cubic inches;
• Pertex Ripstop Quantum 30gms/m², with DWR treatment;
• Top side construction: Boxwall;
• Weighs 495g. Packs down to 11 x 11 x 25 cm.
• Length: 217cm
• Comfortable for people up to 6’1″ tall
• Width Shoulders / Foot (cm): 75/50;
• Comfort Temp. = 0°C
• (Temperature rating confirmed by independent lab testing at Leeds University)

Features common to all Cumulus Sleeping Bags:

• Full length YKK two-way zip with zip together compatibility (even different models);
• Anti-snagging, insulated zip baffle;
• Cowl hood and 1 hand operated drawcords;
• Inside pocket & hanging loops;
• Compact fully-featured stuff sack;
• Mesh storage bag.

Sleeping Bag Construction

The Cumulus Quantum 200 takes advantage of an advanced form of construction, called Boxwall design.  Boxwall sleeping bags benefit the user by avoiding cold-spots, typical of stitched through construction.  Other sleeping bags from the Cumulus Quantum range are constructed using the marginally better again trapezoid design.

Goose Down Filling

The Cumulus Quantum range uses what is the best quality down available.  Diamond Grade, white, Polish Goose Down provides the best warmth to weight ratio available in any form of down.

Cumulus Quantum 200 Sleeping Bag

Pertex Outer and Inner

The outer is made from Pertex Ripstop Quantum, a featherweight form of Pertex which has the best strength to weight ratio of any sort of Pertex.  It is 25-50% lighter than other forms of Pertex, soft as silk and has the smallest packing volume of any form of Pertex.  A superb material.

Quantum 200 Review and Tests

The Cumulus Quantum 200 bag is a spectacular sleeping bag, and having tested it in a variety of conditions, it’s clear to see the value too.

Test 1: 28th October, Stoodley Pike, Pennine Way, 402m altitude, Temperature 8°C or less.  Sleeping in a tent and on a Thermarest.

The conditions on this particular dry were very, very windy which as you know always seems to reduce the temperature to what your thermometer reads!  These were great conditions for testing a sleeping bag of this nature.  The overall impression by the tester was that the pack and stuffsack size were both excellent, as were the features and cosmetics, although for a larger build person it was a little snug – this is typical though of ultralight sleeping bags, and should only be a concern for someone with an atypical build.  In the conditions, the testee was more than comfortable and the temperature could well have fallen some more before that would have changed.

Test 2: 22nd July, Great Hill, West Pennines, 381m altitude, Temperature 10°C or less.  Sleeping in a bivi bag on a Thermarest

At the start of the night the sky was very clear and it only started raining at dawn.  using the sleeping bag in a bivi bag would be a very typical example of how a serious lightweight backpacker might decide to use it, so we thought that this test was excellent.  There was nothing during the night that made the testee think that the sleeping bag would not be comfortable to 0°C or even less.

Test 3: 23rd September, Pendle Hill Summit, off Bowland, 577m altitude Temperature 12°C or less. Sleeping in a tent on a Thermarest.

The weather conditions were very foggy, with strong winds and heavy showers, although being in the Cumulus Quantum was more than a match for anything thrown at it.  As snug as a bug in a Cumulus Quantum 200!  Feedback was excellent in regards to it’s appearance, tiny stuffsack, pack-size and it’s features.

Conclusion

This is a sleeping bag with an exceptional list of features – one which any serious backpacker, or someone seeking an ultralight sleeping bag with top-spec qualities, would appreciate.  For a backpacker with a fuller figure it might be a snug fit, but take a look at the measurements first and you should be fine.  Pair it up with a bivi bag and a Thermarest and you’ve got yourself an incredibly warm, lightweight, compact sleeping bag – a truly highly recommended sleeping bag!  If you need any more details on the Cumulus Quantum 200 sleeping bag, or any other down sleeping bags for that matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Cumulus Ultralight 200 Sleeping Bag Review

Firstly, here’s the specification break-down for the Ultralight 200 features:

• Cumulus’ lightest down sleeping bag after the Quantum 200.
  Extremely light; warm; packs down to almost nothing.
• 200gms of 92:8 Polish Goose Down insulation with 680+ fill power;
• Fill Volume: >4533 cubic inches;
• Pertex Ripstop Microlight Shell – 46gms/m², with DWR+ treatment;
• Top side construction: Boxwall;
• Weighs 590g. Packs down to 11 x 11 x 25 cm.
• Length: 217cm;
• Width Shoulders / Foot (cm): 75/50;
• Comfort Temp. = +3°C
  (Temperature rating confirmed by independent lab testing at Leeds University)

  Features common to all Cumulus Sleeping Bags:

• Full length YKK two-way zip with zip together compatibility (even different models);
• Anti-snagging, insulated zip baffle;
• Cowl hood and 1 hand operated drawcords;
• Inside pocket & hanging loops;
• Compact fully-featured stuff sack;
• Mesh storage bag.

Sleeping Bag Purpose

Sleeping bags are not designed simply to keep you warm at night.  They are also designed to be durable, fit people of different sizes, be ligtweight, water-resistant at times, and more.  They naturally need the right properties for the right tests.  Somebody going backpacking in Asia needs a different form of sleeping bag to that who is going camping in the Lakes during mid-winter.  So for this reason we would like to highlight the core purpose of the Ultralight 200, as we see it.

The Cumulus Ultralight 200 is a sleeping bag for those looking for the benefits of a lightweight sleeping bag but do need need it to reach especially low temperatures.  If you’re looking for a warmer sleeping bag that is too extremely light, the Cumulus Quantum range is probably best.  The Cumulus Ultralight 350 however does reach a comfort temperature of -3°C, but as a comparison, the Quantum 450 reaches -10°C at a marginally lighter weight of just 770g.  These figures are helpful when considering what your purposes and priorities are, as they do not include budgets.

Microlight Ripstop Pertex

The choice of outer and inner is the Pertex Microlight, a very lightweight form of Pertex that is soft to the touch and provides hard durability for its weight.  Using tightly woven yarns the Pertex can actually retain more heat when used in sleeping bags, and thus reduces the need for additional down.  And, if that wasn’t enough, it also packs down to a very small size too and is soft to the touch, creating a cosey warm sleeping bag.  Microlight Pertex is downproof, it has a water repellant treatment and is incredibly durable.

Testing the Ultralight 200

In UK conditions, it’s a really good test when you use a bag throughout the summer.  The following sumary has been taken from a culmination of results from: May right through to late October, really testing a 200 weight bag in the full spectrum of British weather conditions!

Good Conditions

Test 1: Great Hill, West Penines, 22nd July, Minimum Temperature: 10-12°C.  Sleeping in a Bivi Bag on a Karrimat.

Great conditions for biviing: dry, light breeze and only slight rain overnight.  In fact, if anything the sleeping bag began to get too warm, so had to be unzipped half-way during the night, although was perfectly comfortable by then.  Used the Ultralights hood as an extra pillow too – bonus!

Test 2: Pendle Hill, Trough off Bowland, 9th September, Minimum Temperature: 10-12°C.  Sleeping in a Bivi Bag on a Karrimat.

Some gusts and low-lying mist but toastie warm.  No need for layers, liner or need to draw the hood.  Very comfortable indeed.

Worst Conditions

Test 1: Loch Enoch, Scotland, 6th May.  Minimum Temperature: 3-5°C.  Sleeping on a Thermarest in a 2 skin tent.

In the worst of conditions, the Ultralight 200 is can deal with temperatures of +3°C, but add a gale and it is being tested to it’s maximum.  In this case, it was being tested as Loch Enoch in a tent with a mesh inner which naturally reduces it’s insulating properties and can create an extra chill factor from the wind.  It was tested almost to it’s limit in these conditions, but still hung-on in there and provided a good night’s sleep. Other feedback from this test arrived at the conclusions of simplicity in style, the stuffsac creates an incredibly compact sleeping bag pack-size and has an excellent shape for all-night comfort.

Test 2: Stoodley Pike, Penine Way, 28th October.  Minimum Temperature: 8°C or less.  Sleeping in a Bivi Bag on a Thermarest.

During this test, there was no rain but incredibly strong winds – likely to be gale force.  The sleeping bag was perfectly comfortable throughout the night though, once shelter from the winds had been found!  Being inside a bivi bag in the Ultralight 200 was a great way to test it in such poor conditions as 8°C when the winds up can make it feel like 0°C at times!

Overall Conclusion

The key success to the Cumulus Ultralight 200 is in it’s simplicity.  This is not a sleeping bag for expeditions, nor one for those wishing for a multi-season sleeping bag, but for 2 season use, it provides an excellent lightweight option, great for backpacking and those wishing to keep their pack weight down to a minimum, whilst being comfortable and warm over night.  Thumbs up from the CheapTents.com team!

Cumulus sleeping bags are incredibly well known now for their excellent insulating properties, incredible lightweight features and are great choice for people looking for excellent quality at an excellent price.