We’re long-time backpackers and campers, but Eureka’s Dual Temp sleeping bag was new to us, and may be to you, too. What’s it all about? Eureka’s hybrid Dual Temp design combines two different types of insulation on the chest and back of the bag, creating a sleeping bag with two different temperature ratings.
To use the appropriate temperature rating for your situation, simply turn the bag over. It’s that easy. The side with thicker loft is the colder weather rating, and the side with thinner loft is designed for warmer temperatures. This video by Eureka explains it well:
Eureka makes the dual temp in three types: the 10/30, 20/40, or 30/50 (which we tried). All come in a compression stuff sack for easy storage and backpacking, and all come in regular or tall. They’re tapered to reduce bulk, and feature a foot box to maximize comfort while sleeping out on the trail. All the duel temps are made using Eureka’s signature Rteq insulation: a blend of four unique polyester fibers, each chosen for its specific characteristics of denier, loft, weight, and thermal efficiency. The lining is peached polyester, which was a happy surprise: it feels more like cotton than the typical nylon. (This means that when you slide into the bag, it isn’t freezing to the touch. Nifty, no?)
The nitty-gritty: the duel temp is 72″x33″x26.5″ (in the regular version) and its carry weight is 2 pounds, 13 ounces. The shell is comprised of polyester ripstop and polyester taffeta (with the ‘warm to the touch’ lining inside). You get a nice draw cord to seal in warmth, and an interior pocket (sized to fit a small flashlight, chap-stick, etc). A nice extra are the insulation tubes that keep warm air in. The stuff sack size is 8.5″x17.5″. There are nice two-way zippers on all models. The color of the 30/50 we tried is fern green and forest green, and the stuff sack is black.
So how does the dual temp compare to our ‘regular’ backpacking mummy bags? It’s a bit bulkier, but surprisingly, not by much (maybe a few ounces and inches). With the compression straps on the stuff sack, we’re definitely able to carry this bag on backpacking trips. It’s also roomier than a traditional mummy bag. Consider the dual temp a hybrid in two manners: it’s a cross between a camping bag and a mummy bag as well as a cross between a cold climate bag and a mild climate bag.
I used the bag our first time out, but my 13-year-old has since claimed it: he says the extra bulk strapped to his pack is worth how soft it is, and he prefers its roomier fit…he feels claustrophobic in a mummy bag. We’ve taken it out in mild Oregon weather, using the 50 degree side, and were completely comfortable, and flipped it to the 30 degree side for some chilly nights in Yosemite’s High Sierra trails. Since most of our sacks are rated at 30 degrees or less anyway, for us, the value of the dual temp is the comfort it provides in warmer weather, not in colder weather. Is this comfort essential? In other words, could we camp in 50 degree summer nights in our 30 degree bags? Sure. We always have. But it’s certainly nicer to use the dual temp’s 50 degree option.
At $109 for the 30/50 dual temp (or $119 for the long), it’s definitely worth purchasing if you camp in varying climates. If most, if not all, of your camping and backpacking take place in the same region, however, I’d opt for a sack that is more specialized. We’ll be using the dual temp quite a bit, since we live in a mild climate but do a lot of camping in the mountains. Pick up a Dual Temp at the Eureka site, Sunny Sports, Cabela’s retail stores, or check for it at Amazon for under $100.
