Minimus Down Sleeping Bag

Minimalist design cuts weight, but not warmth. For lightweight camping, mountain marathons, trekking, or as a backup.
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.
5°C / 41°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.
465g / 16oz
Price
$635.34
Minimus Down Sleeping Bag

Over the past twenty five years have tried and tested many bags but as yet I can honestly say, have not found a more comfortable bag.
Jeremy Hastings, Islay Bushcraft.

Size
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Features

  • Exceptional 900 fillpower European Goose Down
  • Lightweight M1 outer fabric
  • Superlight MX inner fabric
  • Box-wall construction for max loft
  • Hood draws up close around head
  • Packed size*: 13 cm x 21cm
  • Footpiece: Ovoid shape to fit naturally to feet & avoid pressure; multibox section covers whole foot area
  • Straight-wall baffles for lightness
  • Stuff-sac & mesh storage bag supplied
  • Colour: Red
  • Options:
    • Water-resistant Ultrashell outer fabric
    • Superlight MX outer fabric
    • Waterproof Dri-LX outer fabric shell (+220g)‡
    • Long or Short zip (protected by single draft tube)
    • Slim, Wide and Extra Wide widths†
    • Short, Long, and Extra Long lengths†

 

*Please note: we make our stuff sacs big enough to allow fairly easy stuffing rather than reducing the bag to the tightest minimum.

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

‡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.

Description:

This is the ultimate down sleeping bag when saving weight is essential: for marathons, as a just-in case back-up item, for bivouacs planned and unplanned, for flexible extra warmth on expeditions, or just for the luxury of carrying a really light pack.

The combination of M1 or MX outer fabric and rare 900 fill-power down gives the sleeping bag true 'marathon' capability [Water-resistant Ultrashell is also available as an optional outer]. To keep it light it has been stripped down to the simple essentials for performance: there's no collar, no zip, no side block baffles. Box walls eliminate the cold lines of a stitch-through, but they're kept very small to save weight, while the box spacing is narrow to ensure good down control.

The Minimus is a single purpose down sleeping bag, effective warmth at the least possible weight. It has tested significantly warmer than several down bags rated at 0°C or below: realistically usage at this temperature is recommended for the dedicated 'lightpacker' or the hardy. Packed size is predictably tiny, 13 cm diameter x 21cm high.

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.

'Best in Test', Trail Running Magazine, Super light sleeping bags test.

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.

Lightweight M1 fabric (weight: 39 gsm)

Lightweight silky microfibre. This close-weave 20 denier fabric is fully downproof, but also light and flexible enough to allow the down full loft. A reliable performer that has been the basis for much of our lightweight gear for some time.


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.

900 Fillpower Down

European goose down of very high quality. A truly excellent down with large clusters, consistent quality and lively long-term 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 sytems. In cross section it looks like this:

More on sleeping bag construction.

"Over the past twenty five years have tried and tested many bags but as yet I can honestly say, have not found a more comfortable bag."
Jeremy Hastings, Islay Bushcraft.

"Some winter climbers venturing into the high mountains may want the extra mental and physical comfort of a sleeping bag ... [and] super lightweight bags are the way forward. Bags like PHD's Minimus ... [are] perfect for this kind of thing."
Andy Kirkpatrick.

"Did the job very well. Recommended! It's been Sahara, Antarctic and now Greenland."
Olly Hicks, who used the Minimus on his 1,200 mile kayak from Greenland to Scotland.

"I wanted to thank you for super-quick service in supplying me with my Minimus sleeping bag in time for the OMM, despite me ringing up only 3 days beforehand. You even modified the one you had in stock to add a zip! Amazing responsiveness and very helpful and friendly customer service. The bag itself performed brilliantly on a very wet and windy Scottish night on the OMM, and I look forward to using it next time".
Bill Welch.

"I have just completed a TGO Challenge, coast-to-coast, crossing Scotland with my Minimus bag. The bag performed superbly, easily coping with temperatures that were nudging towards zero. A very impressive - and very light - piece of kit. Thanks a lot."
Andy Howell.

"I used my PHD Minimus Down Sleeping Bag. I was very impressed with the bag's versatility - whatever conditions I used it in, I was always comfortable. And of course the lightness and compactness are a great help when packing your rucksack for a multi-day outing."
Robin Jones - Imperial College Reru Valley Expedition (Zanskar Himalaya, India).

"Proud owner of a Minimus bag for several years now. Used on various mountain marathons and last May on the TGO Challenge . . . comfortable every night including several above the snowline at 700m. Fantastic piece of gear."
M.B.

"Just to say thanks for another comfortable night in my Minimus bag. Did the KIMM with it last weekend, and woke in the morning to thick ice on a nearby pond, but still warm. Fantastic warmth to weight ratio!"
R.P.

"Both the [Minimus] sleeping bag and [Minimus] vest are of superb quality and great value for money, wouldn't change them for anything, thanks for great products."
R.M.

"The Minimus has been/is a terrific bag. I feature the bag when I do training for the Appalachian Mountain Club and for REI. Even though I get pro-deals on equipment working at REI ... I can't help but buy the best designs! Nice work."
C.K.

"I took it on a 9 day trip ... on a section of the Great Divide Trail. . . Coldest temp was 0 and with sleeping gear on I was just warm enough. Size and weight made it a good value for a summer bag for the Canadian Rockies ... I will definitely continue to make a part of my regular summer gear."
T.B.

"[Your] Minimus is such an excellent product and will be ideal for my Great Divide race ... the longest unsupported mountain bike race in the world."
Bruce Dinsmore.

"I have been extremely impressed with this bag especially its lightness [it] was the envy of everyone [during the Marathon des Sables]. I can can highly recommend this sleeping bag, I wish I'd had one years ago."
Mary Hawarth.

"I've just received a Minimus sleeping bag which I'm delighted with!"
Suze.

"Thank you for ... my Minimus sleeping bag ... it is a very good product with an after sales service to envy. Rest assured I will let all my friends and colleagues know the quality of your company. Thanks again."
P.T.

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