NEMO Nocturne 15

Finally a sleeping bag that I don't feel restricted in. The unique shape provides room to move and stretch while keeping the weight down and staying warm.

I have used this sleeping bag for almost a year. I am 5'8" and purchased the "men's" version of the bag because the "women's" version felt too short. Temperatures ranging from 20's to upper 70's F during the night. Varying humidity including rainy, snowy, and very dry weather. Over this time I have not had any issue with wear or cold spots.

I use the provided storage sack when not in use. The included stuff sack did not compress the bag small enough and was not waterproof so I substituted a Sea to Summit waterproof compression sack when backpacking. The bag quickly regains its loft when unpacked. 

The unique shape of the bag is ideal for me as a restless side sleeper. I have enjoyed the ability to move around easily without feeling restricted like a traditional mummy bag. The added blanket flap is nice to snuggle with and it is easily folded back if it is warm. The feel of the blanket flap and interior fabric of the bag is soft to the touch.

The pillow sleeve allows you to tuck in clothes to form a pillow and they stay put. There is a small pocket near the top of the bag but it is so well hidden I couldn't find it at night so I don't use it. The two way zipper allows for unzipping the bottom so a foot can be stuck out.

The foot of the bag has a breathable waterproof covering which I did not test. I also did not test the how waterproof the down treatment was. In normal use using the customary precautions to keep a bag dry I experienced no issues with dampness with the bag. 

At temperatures down to the mid 20's I was comfortable sleeping in a light wool shirt and shorts. For lower temps I would probably need to use wool baselayer pants to achieve the same comfort level. On warm summer nights I open the bag up and use it like a quilt otherwise it is too hot. I think the 3-season rating is appropriate for the bag. 

The bag is well constructed and has held up well during use this year. The only negative with the bag itself is the tendency for the zipper to snag when unzipping. It catches the inside fabric of the sleeping bag relatively easily if you unzip quickly. The fabric has not shown any damage from the few times it snagged, but appears somewhat fragile. I am careful now to run my finger ahead of the zipper to keep the material out of the way. 

The bag has exceeded my expectations. I had anticipated cold spots due to the shape but I have not had that experience. I greatly appreciate the non-claustrophobic feel of the bag. The weight of the bag and compress-ability are added benefits.

Though the bag is not for everyone, I would highly recommend it to those that find a mummy bag too confining and it is exemplary for active side sleepers.   

Update 7/9/2015

After using this bag extensively on the AT, I can happily report it still exceeds my expectations. I unfortunately did have the experience of having my tent get swamped with water on multiple occasions and this bag repelled water for the most part. The foot of the bag repelled all of the water. The areas where the down did get wet, I found dried out fairly quickly but most importantly the bag overall retained loft and kept me warm. 

Like to snuggle? This bag's for you! Starting my AT thru hike in March made the need to stay warm and cozy critical to my ability to stay the course and NEMO delivered: the unique figure-eight shape, blankey-like material around the neck, and generous hooding made even the coldest nights conquerable. Debating, though, if such a warm bag is the best choice for these summer months...

There were some incredibly cold nights on the AT in the first weeks on the trail and NEMO's Nocturne 15 kept me thriving despite my extreme sensitivity to such weather. Being cold was among my top fears of setting out on this adventure and I am so grateful that the unique "spoon" design allowed me to both sleep and sit comfortably tucked into a warm oasis.

Okay, maybe the hand warmers I tucked between my knees while sleeping reinforced my sense of remarkable warm coziness, but the quality of down used in this bag kept that feeling strong until I could muster the can-do energy I needed to get out of my tent. In fact, this bag is so cozy that I chose it over sheets when recently staying with a friend who lives near the trail. Only concern: Will this bag be too warm for July and August?

Not sure if I should acquire the men's or women's Nocturne, I actually called the company and received excellent advice that the men's version would allow me extra inches to sink down and pull the hood completely over my head, which I did on more than one extremely cold night. I am 5'6" and that is the exact length of the women's version. Thankfully, I've detected no drafty or cold spots after more than three months of nightly use.

There have only been a handful of times my bag has gotten moist because of extreme weather and a leaking tent. In those occasions, I was delighted to find that hanging it while preparing breakfast and breaking down camp allowed the material to dry out quickly. (Thank you, Trail Gods!)

I received this bag as a gift after researching many, many, many options and have used it consistently since setting out from Springer Mountain. So far, all design features are living up to their promise despite my hard-on-gear hiking style. While my tent has begun to leak and my rain paints have ripped in three different places, my Nocturne bag is in tip-top shape delivering night after night of quality sleep.

Did I mention the blankey-like material that I can tuck in or out of my neck area as if I was snuggling up in my bed at home? Next to the shape, that is perhaps my favorite feature.

My less-than-real issue: Why is this bag's shape called spoon-shaped?!? It's really a figure-eight or infinity symbol shape.

My single real concern: Hopefully I continue to love all the cozy design elements as summer temperatures heat up in July. It's tricky to find one bag that can fill all of the needs of a 2,000+ mile quest!

Final word: While certainly not the most cost-effective choice, it IS a fantastic investment if you're worried about being cold. Snow, hail, ice, winds: I've now slept through them all and woke ready to conquer another blessed day on the trail.

Very roomy sleeping bag, excellent to sleep on your side with one knee pulled up. The flap is great for heat regulation and for snuggling. The pillow pocket is a nice finishing touch. Haven't tested it in cold temperatures yet.

I still have to test this bag in cold temperatures, but as the summer is coming up, this might take a while. So far this bag seems great. It's very roomy. This was a really important factor for me as I have spend sleepless nights in my tent because I couldn't move around in my sleeping bag and it was too cold to zip it open.

I tend to sleep on my side and move around a lot, so this bag is great for me. Even though I'm 180 cm, I decided on getting the large version, and I'm glad I did, as I think the regular would have been a bit too short for me.

It doesn't compress as small as some bags, but that isn't something that bothers me that much, as I usually have enough room in my backpack. It is a little bit heavier than some bags, but for me the extra grams are worth it for a good night's sleep.

The last part of the zipper is a bit difficult to close, but so far the velcro kept it in place once it was closed. It's a bit of a luxury, but I love the little flap at the top. It's great to cuddle into and to tuck yourself in.

All in all, so far I'm really happy with this bag and would recommend it to people who are side and/or restless sleepers.