Hispar 500 Down Sleeping Bag

Mountain lightweight for cold conditions. Ideal for fast ascents and quick travel.
Typical Operating Temperature
Guideline minimum temperature. Sleeping Bag TOT: you should get a night’s sleep, under normal circumstances. Clothing TOT: you should feel warm enough, assuming low/moderate activity. Sleep System TOT: relates to full system. For more details, see our Technical Briefing.
-15°C / 5°F
Weight
For clothing, weight is for size: M. For sleeping bags, weight changes with selected length/width. N.B. there may be some variation in the weights of finished products.
915g / 32oz
Price
$1,097.86
Hispar 500 Down Sleeping Bag

The lightest bag tested yet warmer than some ... the Hispar 500 is my favourite of the bags tested.
Chris Townsend, Winter Down Sleeping Bags test, TGO Magazine.

Size
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Features

  • Rare 950 fillpower European Goose Down
  • Water-resistant Ultrashell outer fabric
  • Superlight MX inner fabric
  • Box-wall construction for max loft
  • Short zip protected by double draft tubes
  • Pack size: 20 x 34 cm†
  • Straight-wall baffles for lightness
  • Side block baffles to prevent down shift
  • Extra down channels along each side ensure side insulation
  • Oval footpiece to fit naturally to feet and avoid pressure
  • Mummy hood draws up close around head
  • Collar seals in warmth at neck
  • Stuff sac with mesh storage bag
  • Colour: Gold top, charcoal base
  • Options:
    • Waterproof Dri-LX outer fabric shell (+250g)‡
    • Slim, Wide and Extra Wide widths*
    • Short, Long, and Extra Long lengths*
    • Full zip (left or right)
    • Further customisation available via our Design Your Own Sleeping Bag service

†Please note: We make our stuff sacs big enough to allow fairly easy stuffing rather than reducing the bags to the tightest minimum.

‡Please note: The optional waterproof Dri-LX outer provides an extra seam-sealed outer shell to the bag. While a shelled sleeping bag is not designed to be used alone in heavy rain (the hood area is open to the elements) the shell does protect the bag when it is used outdoors without a tent.

*Please note: For all length or width options, we change the amount of downfill to keep the warmth (TOT) the same.

Description:

Ultralights for the mountains are the first words we put to the Hispar sleeping bags and it's hard to find a better way to describe them. Starting with our superlight MX inner fabric and the pared-down design features of the Minim range, we have added some of the extra elements from the Baltoro/Diamir bags to bring these new bags up to mountain specifications, while keeping weight to a minimum.

The combination of this design with the exceptional quality of our 950 down almost sends the new Hispar range off the scale for warmth/weight performance

  • The straight-wall baffle system (as used on the Minimus) is the lightest available.
  • The close-fitting mummy hood borrowed from the high-performance bags brings a snug protective feel.
  • A short zip with a double draft tube is standard on these bags (a zip is necessary with a mummy hood).
  • Side block baffles have been inserted to prevent down shifting between top and base.
  • The outer V baffle at each side protects the side seams and increases the inner/outer differential to allow the down full loft.
  • A simple internal collar completes the technical specifications.

The weights of the Hispar bags are graphic evidence of the effectiveness of this specific design. With the performance of our 950 down these bags deliver exceptional levels of warmth per gram.

The optional waterproof Dri-LX outer provides an extra seam-sealed outer shell to the bag. While a shelled sleeping bag is not designed to be used alone in heavy rain (the hood area is open to the elements) the shell does protect the bag when it is used outdoors without a tent, for example in a snow-hole or under a tarp.

Picture shows Hispar 600, Hispar 500 is slimmer.

Winter Down Sleeping Bags test,
TGO Magazine.

Dri-LX (weight: 64 gsm)

At just 64gsm, Dri-LX is our lightest 2-layer breathable waterproof rip-stop nylon fabric. Its remarkably low weight not only makes for a lighter load, but also reduces pack size. Its excellent waterproofing qualities are in part due to how it can be taped at the seams to create a waterproof shell for sleeping bags and clothing.

Ultrashell (weight: 40 gsm)

One of the lightest of PHD's coated materials. This ripstop nylon provides complete wind block and good water resistance at minimal weight. Ultrashell gives an excellent upgrade to performance with very little weight penalty.

Superlight MX fabric (weight: 32 gsm)

A mini-ripstop nylon with excellent tear strength, MX is the pick of the superfine 15 denier downproof materials. We have tested lighter fabrics, but most have had significant drawbacks, while our confidence in MX is based on several years of extensive use in both our ultralight and our high mountain gear.


Sleeping bag zips

  • No zip: The standard design on our lightest bags with open hoods. The simplest/lightest system which is a must for adventure racers. Up to 140gm (5oz) lighter than a full zip with draft tube.
  • Full zips: Full zip bags ventilate well, so they can be used over a wider range of temperatures.
  • Short zips: Short zips are lighter and pack smaller than full zips. A short zip & draft tube is up to 85gm (3oz) lighter than the full version.
  • Our full briefing on sleeping bag zips.

950 fillpower down

A newcomer to our range. European goose of rare quality. A high value alternative at the top levels of performance. More on our down insulation.

Construction

This bag has an insulating straight wall baffle system throughout (no straight-through stitching). Straight wall is the lightest of all baffle systems. In cross section it looks like this:

Side V channels, and double draft tubes behind the zip optimise insulation.

More on sleeping bag construction.

"The lightest bag tested yet warmer than some ... The Hispar 500 really does deserve the description 'Ultralight' ... The loft really is astonishing for such a lightweight bag ... the Hispar 500 is my favourite of the bags tested."
Chris Townsend, Winter Down Sleeping Bags test, TGO Magazine.

"I took a PHD Hispar 500 on a 10-night trip to the Patagonian ice cap. The Hispar's lofting ability was extremely impressive. The bag's outer was pleasantly resistant to tent condensation and sleety drizzle. At only 900g its warmth-to-weight ratio seems unbeatable. Worth every penny for icy wild camping."
Chiz Dakin, Review in Trail Magazine.

"I used a Hispar 500 Down Sleeping Bag on the Imperial College Reru Valley expedition. The Hispar 500 has an excellent temperature range, and was comfortable both on a glacier at 5700m and at basecamp on the valley. It packed small, was incredibly light and hugely versatile."
Jonathan Moodie - Imperial College Reru Valley Expedition team leader (Zanskar Himalaya, India).

"The Hispar 500s were very warm, light and packed with relative ease. Even with condensation and freezing on the outer surface of the bag (-20C), very comfortable sleeping temperatures were maintained in the bag."
Jonathan Phillips, Imperial College, Obra Valley Expedition (GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA).

"Thank you for the fantastic equipment. Everything (including the Hispar 500 down sleeping bag) was above and beyond what was required and fended off the elements perfectly."
Graham B, on a trip to Aconcagua.

"I'm very pleased with my Hispar 500."
Jake L.

"It gives a nice snug fit without being too restrictive. What really impressed me was the amount it lofts, the 1000 down appears to really do its job. Once out of its bag it grows and grows and grows! It's amazing that such a light bag can be so fat. I was sad enough to weigh it with it coming in at 935 grammes with stuff sack, pretty light for a -15 C rated bag with a water resistant shell. I can be an outdoor shop customer from hell inspecting every seam and stitch of everything I buy (usually being pretty unimpressed by the poor construction of kit these days and often finding fault). However so far I have not found even so much as a loose thread."
Review at Backpackingbongos.

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