Selk’bag Nomad wearable sleeping bag review

REVIEW – There’s always someone in any household that’s always cold. If you don’t know who that is in YOUR home, it’s probably you! Well, we’ve got that someone where I live, and I’ve got the ultimate in cozy-wear: The Selk’bag Nomade wearable sleeping bag.

What is it?

The Selk’bag Nomad is a wearable sleeping bag with pockets, vents, zip off booties, and even a built-in balaclava face covering.

What’s in the box?

The Nomad comes with a compression sack, which reduces its volume when not in use. It feels a little bigger than a basketball when compressed like this.

Hardware specs

The Selk’bag Nomad’s outer shell is made from 100% post-consumer recycled material fibers. The Primaloft Black Insulation ThermoPlume delivers the warmth equivalent of 550 fill power down.

• Shell: 100% recycled polyester fabric
• Lining: 100% recycled polyester fabric
• Insulation: Primaloft Black ThermoPlume
• Weight: Small 3.6 lbs, Medium 4 lbs, Large 4.4 lbs, X-Large 4.8 lbs.

I received a Medium at just under 4 lbs (with stuff sack). Pretty close!

What size should you get? Here’s the Selk’bag chart:

Design and features

After unpacking, it definitely looks like someone made a body suit out of a sleeping bag. Here’s my wife (5’4″, 105 lbs for reference). Based on the chart, we chose a Medium. Note on the right she’s not wearing the booties. More on that later.

There’s a pair of zippered hand pockets that join in the middle, if you really need to rub your hands together for warmth.

I almost missed this, but there’s a cell phone pouch! Of course! It would probably fit a small tablet or paperback book, too.

Need to vent off some steam? Each leg has a zippered vent with mesh.

Each sleeve has an elastic hand closure to keep drafty cold air out.

You can zip the booties off if you like. My wife noted that the booties had a more durable “sole” which was great for walking, but sometimes, you just want to go with socks, or maybe wear suitable footwear around camp.

The Nomad model has a very clever built-in Balaclava sewn into the rear of the hood. However, my wife had the hardest time putting it on while wearing the bag because she’s just nearly at the max height. It would probably be easier to slip it on first before suiting up. But it’s there if you need it.

Here’s the Balaclava, deployed.

Performance

In testing, my wife “heated up” pretty quickly. It’s the tail end of summer in San Francisco so it’s not tremendously warm, but it’s not really sweater weather either. She definitely agreed the Nomad will be a go-to item when the weather cools down.

She had a much easier time without the booties zipped on, because at 5′-4″, she’s close to the listed max height of the Medium (5′-5″). With the booties on, the crotch tended to get a little snug. She thinks she’ll just skip the booties around the house. If crotch roominess gets in the way, ditch the booties or try a different size.

She also noted the sleeves were a little long on her. I personally think you’d rather have sleeves be too long vs. “there’s not enough.”

What I like

• Cozy!
• Shell and lining made from 100% recycled materials
• Comes with a compression sack
• No more hearing “I’m cold”

What I’d change

• If you’re at the height limit of a certain size, crotch comfort may be an issue.
• More colors to choose from would be cool

Final thoughts

My wife has laid claim to the Selk’bag Nomad. It’s hers now. That’s a pretty good endorsement from the person “who is always cold”.

Price: $249.00
Where to buy: Selk’bag and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Selk’bag USA