Zenbivy Bed Review

Thinking about buying the Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag? Read our detailed review first to see whether it’s the right option for you!

The Zenbivy Bed is a premium sleeping bag for cold weather camping. It’s available in three temperature ratings, all of which are suitable for sub-zero temperatures.

It’s also a two-piece sleeping bag with amazing versatility and a popular choice among avid campers. Read on to see what’s the hype about the Zenbivy Bed, and figure out if it makes sense for you!

Warmth

The Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag is available in three warmth ratings and the 10º one is the warmest of them all. It’s suitable for temperatures as low as 10º F, making it the perfect sleeping bag for camping in cold weather conditions.

That’s the limit rating for this sleeping bag; the comfort rating is 20º F, which is still very cold. The two other Zenbivy Bed sleeping bags have limit ratings of 25º F and 30º F, and they’re both cheaper than this one. It’s also worth noting that the bag rated for 30º F features synthetic insulation, so it’s a slightly better option for use in wet weather.

Insulation

The main reason why this sleeping bag manages to be warm enough for sub-zero temperatures is the quality duck down insulation. It has a fill power rating of 700, which is amazing for a sleeping bag. Duck down with this much fill power is normally used in gear designed for extremely cold weather, so this is a really good thing.

Also, the ratio of down-feather is 85/15, which just makes the sleeping bag even better. The fill ratio you get on average is 60/40, and this is for jackets and sleeping bags that are made for mild to cold weather, like a classic winter jacket.

The higher the ratio of down, the warmer the item is. The fill ratio of this sleeping bag is essential in its cold-weather performance.

Physical Features

Most of the warmth of a sleeping bag comes from its insulation, but that’s certainly not the only important factor. There are other things to consider such as the shape of the sleeping bag, how well it traps heat, how good the zippers are, and more.

The Zenbivy Bed bag features the Kylie-Curve shape, which is a design proprietary to this brand. It’s patent-pending, and it consists of a drawstring at the top edge of the quilt, which lets you cinch in the quilt and create a dome shape. It will pretty much wrap itself around your body and trap all the heat inside.

Also, it’s important to note that this is a two-piece sleeping bag. It attaches to any standard matters (not included with purchase), and there are several ways you can use it. The quilt has zippers on either side plus down the center and you can create a mummy sleeping bag with the Zenbivy Bed if you zip up all three of those zippers.

You can also unzip one side zipper so you can move freely in the bag or just let some air in. The zipper in middle allows for the creation of a foot box, but it’s entirely up to you whether you use it or not.

Comfort

The Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag is extremely comfortable and that’s because you can easily adjust it until you make it as comfortable as you need it to be.

The materials used for the bag are soft and lightweight, plus the quilt is very puffy and comfortable. Even the liner is made from Polyester Pongee, a fabric that feels just like a classic bedsheet you would use at home.

Another reason why the bag got such a high comfort rating is its versatility. You can use it as a mummy bag or just like a mattress and a quilt – the fact that you can decide which shape works best for you is precisely what makes the Bed so comfortable in the first place.

The reason why I knocked off a few points for the comfort of the sleeping bag is that you don’t get a mattress with it. It’s a two-piece bag with a bottom part that’s functional only if it’s secured to a mattress, so you will need to purchase a sleeping mattress if you don’t own one. It’s compatible with all regular mattresses, but it works best when used with one of the brand’s options.

You also don’t get a pillow with the bag – it’s another item that you need to be comfortable in a sleeping bag and that you need to purchase separately if you don’t already own one.

A mattress, pillow, and a few other items are included in Zenbivy’s Bed bundles, so consider getting one of those if you really like this sleeping bag but don’t have the other necessary gear.

Portability

Down compresses very well so the Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag is extremely portable. It can be folded to take up very little space, and it weighs a little more than 3 lbs. The exact weight of the sleeping bag depends on the size you get, and it ranged from 3 lbs 5 oz for the smallest bag to 4lb 1 oz for the extra-large bag.

It’s worth noting that the dry sack and compression caps aren’t included in the purchase of the Zenbivy Bed, and you kind of need to be able to compress the bag. You can fold it and put it in a compression sack you already own, but the Zenbivy dry sack is specifically designed for this sleeping bag.

The brand’s compression caps are also a great purchase since they’re able to compress the dry sack even further. The compression caps can reduce the size of the packed dry sack by as much as 50%, which is amazing if you’re trying to make the most of the space in your backpack.

The downside is that you’ll have to buy everything separately if you don’t grab the bundle, and the sack and caps aren’t exactly cheap.

Extra Features/Versatility

The Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag has several optional and extra features that make it extremely versatile. The downside is that most of those are not included with the purchase of the sleeping bag, and you will need to pay extra if you want to get the most out of the Zenbivy Bed.

The two-piece design means you cannot use it without a mattress. Zenbivy makes two mattresses that are compatible with the Bed sleeping bag, so there are a couple of options to choose from, depending on your personal preferences.

What you do get are a fitted sheet and a top quilt, which can be used independently of each other. That’s pretty cool since you pretty much have a cozy blanket that you can just wrap around yourself when you get chilly, without having to get inside a sleeping bag. Other optional features are a dry sack and compression caps, which make it easier to carry the sleeping bag.

The side zippers also count as extra features since they make the bag much more versatile. You can turn it into a classic mummy sleeping bag or you can set it up like a proper bed with a blanket on top – the versatility of the Zenbivy Bed is truly great, and one of the reasons why you’ll never want to use a different sleeping bag when you get used to this one.

Value

Value for money depends on what you’re looking for and how often you will use this sleeping bag. If you need a basic sleeping bag that’s suitable for cold weather camping, this likely isn’t the best option for you. It’s a pricey sleeping bag, and if you want to get into the flexibility of the Zenbivy bed systems, it easily gets very expensive.

On the other hand, if you’re specifically looking for a sleeping bag that’s suitable for extreme colds, the Zenbivy Bed is worth every penny. Especially if you would rather spend a lot of money on one quality item that you will be able to use for nearly every camping trip for years to come.

The bed systems are what make this sleeping bag so amazing, and they’re great value for money because they increase the versatility of the Bed. They are also more value for money than the sleeping bag alone because you will get every single item you need to set up a warm and comfortable bed.

Verdict

Should you purchase the Zenbivy Bed sleeping bag? It depends on what you’re looking for in a sleeping bag.

If you are specifically looking for a high-quality item for camping in extreme colds, then definitely pick up the Bed. It’s even better if you get one of Zenbivy’s bundles since you’ll get every item you could possibly need for comfortable sleeping in extreme colds.

But it’s an expensive sleeping bag so it’s really not a good solution for campers on a budget or those of you who would settle for any kind of a sleeping bag. If the Zenbivy Bed is too pricey for you, be sure to check out our related posts that feature dozens of more affordable options!

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