1/3/08 - A couple of years ago, when Mel from Kifaru let on that they were developing a new sleeping bag, I knew that it'd be something different from the rest and worth the wait. The Regulator is truly an integrated sleeping bag 'system' from start to finish, not an upgrade, addition nor retrofit to an existing product. When it was finally introduced, Kifaru did not disappoint. True to their "Modular and Multifunctional" motto, Kifaru's Regulator™ Sleeping Bag System introduces a revolutionary new concept to sleeping bags and sleep systems, offering a thoroughly modular design, using the finest shell material and synthetic insulation available. Every component is designed to be versatile, rugged and extremely light weight.

Patrick Smith, Kifaru's owner, spends much of his time testing his designs and gear in the wilderness. How much time is something few people appreciate or know. I asked him during a recent conversation: "Do you think you spend more time in a sleeping bag or your bed?" He had to think about that one for a second, and answered "I'd say about the same". Patrick's designs are based on years of personal experience in the outdoors, and the Regulator System is no different.

Overview - The Regulator System consists of two primary bags; the Base Bag, and the (MOB) Modular Over Bag. Each has a multitude of choices. This unique system lets you mix and match different combinations, and "regulate" your sleep system for any given environment like no other, with a temperature range of 80° + fahrenheit down to -50°. It literally covers all bases.
The Base Bag can be used as stand-alone product, or can be enhanced with layers of MOBs.
The MOB can also be used as stand-alone sectional bag, or the user can pick and choose components of the MOB to layer over the base bag.

Materials
Insulation - Like their Woobie, the Regulator System uses Climashield Continuous Filament Insulation. Specifically, Climashield Combat Insulation, which is the Berry Amendment version of their XP Insulation. It is a continuous filament fiber, synthetic insulation that is very compressible, thermally efficient, and does not need to be quilted, laminated or glued to the shell fabric. It also drapes well, and conforms naturally around the body. It's also water resistant and fast drying. The Climashield insulation consists of thousands of continuous strands of polyester, spread into a naturally interlocking insulation. The fibers stay put and do not migrate. The raw insulation comes in rolls, much like fabric does - it's not loose clumps of material like filling or feathers.

RhinoSkin Shell - The material used as the shell for both the Base Bag and MOB is Kifaru's proprietary Rhinoskin™ fabric, which is an extremely light and tough ripstop material with DWR (Durable Water Repellant) to shed moisture. The Base Bag and MOB use Foliage green Rhinoskin on the outside and Camo Green 483 on the inside. RhinoSkin™ weighs only .9oz sq yd, and is a little lighter than Pertex Quantum, yet was proven 2-3 times more puncture proof and tear resistant in testing.

Regulator Base Bag

The Regulator Base Bag is a 'relaxed mummy' style - tapered, but much roomier than the typical recreational mummy bags. Typical mummy bags can be quite restrictive, and might sacrifice some comfort for light weight, but the Regulator Base Bag is built for long term living in difficult terrain and conditions, where restful sleep is more important than making the bag as light as it can possibly be. That being said, the materials used in the construction of the Regulator system produce an extremely lightweight bag in terms of its warmth to weight ratio.

Temperature Ratings - The Base Bag is available in two comfort ratings, a 40°F bag and a 20°F bag (meaning either bag should be comfortable down to those temperatures. Note that comfort ratings can be subjective and will depend on the individual.)

Size - The Base Bag is also available in two sizes, Regular fits up to 6' 1" tall, and Long, which fits up to 6' 7". Both have the same circumferential measurements: Chest 66.5", hip 62" and foot 43.5". The toe box is big enough to accommodate boots or store extra items.

Weight - The weights of the Regulator Base Bags are as follows:

	Bag only	Stuff Sack	Total
Reg +40° Base Bag	1 lb 7.5 oz	2.5 oz	1 lb 10 oz
Reg +20° Base Bag	2 lb 4 oz	2.5 oz	2 lb 6.5 oz
Long +40° Base Bag	1 lb 8.5 oz	3.5 oz	1 lb 12 oz
Long +20° Base Bag	2 lb 6 oz	3.5 oz	2 lb 6 oz

Features - Shown here is the regular length +40° Regulator Base Bag. I was surprised at how light weight is it, at only 1 lb 7.5 oz. You'd never think that it could compress down into the size that it does. There are two circumferential (wrap-around) zippers sewn at approximately the hip and ankle positions. These are for attachment of the individual MOB sections, and aren't used if you don't have an MOB. The main zipper is on the left side, and on this bag is 46" long. It's of the two-way type, and can be opened from the bottom for ventilation when it's fully zipped up. Inside, the zipper is protected with a thickly insulated draft flap. At the top of the zipper is a velcro-secured tab. This can be used to secure the top of the zipper opening while leaving the zipper partially unzipped for ventilation. At the bottom of the bag is a hang loop.

The face opening has a drawstring around it, adjusted with a cord lock on the right side of the face. The hood (top) or neck (bottom) drawstrings can be independently adjusted. The hood drawstring is tubular (round) cordage and the neck is flat cordage so the difference can be felt in the dark. The top of the bag has an anatomical shape to form a hood around the head when the drawstring is cinched up. Sewn around the opening is fabric tape with plastic snaps spaced every 3" on it. These are used to snap the Base Bag to the MOB upper face opening. They're not used unless you have an MOB. Inside the bottom of the face opening is a draft collar. This is large, shaped to fit around your neck and shoulders, and well insulated to keep the cold out. The face opening can be cinched up until it's almost completely closed. Note that in the photos below, I've placed a red jacket inside for contrast to illustrate the size of the opening. The red colour is not part of the bag.

Observations/Notes - At a little over one and a half pounds, my +40° Base Bag is about the same weight as my Snugpak Softie Merlin 3, which falls into the same rating category, but that's where the similarity ends. Not only does the insulation feel more substantial on the Base Bag, it actually works at its rated temperature. I had been disappointed with the Merlin; granted it's a summer bag, but temperatures in the desert can plunge even in the warmer months, and the Merlin was not up to the job.

It just happens that only chance I've had since I got the Regulator System to use it in chilly weather was at 40°-41°F. It hasn't dipped lower yet where I live. I picked the windiest night to try out the different components of the Regulator, starting with the Base Bag. Winds were gusting 25-35 mph that night which made it seem a lot colder than it was. I was wearing a medium-weight long sleeved Beyond Clothing top and a gridded fleece PCU Level 2 base pant (like a lightweight sweat pant), and wool socks. I'm sure at some time or another that you've heard that you should "sleep as close to naked (or with minimal clothing) when using a sleeping bag to ensure that your body heat warms it up as efficiently as possible". Personally, I have not found that to be true and I think it's just an old wives' tale. I've tried it both ways and was warmer the more layers I had on inside a bag. I also felt more comfortable with at least a silk-weight layer on, and it also helps keep the inside of the sleeping bag cleaner. Plus, it makes getting out of the bag to take a piss in cold weather less daunting if you've got clothes on.

I used a Thermarest sleeping pad. For me I find some kind of sleeping pad is essential to insulate my body from the cold ground, and also the small rocks, stones and twigs that seem to dig into you in the middle of the night. The sleeping bag insulation is flattened where your body contacts the ground and cannot insulate efficiently. Stepping into the Base Bag from the howling wind and zipping it up was like putting a force field around me. The RhinoSkin shell is completely windproof, so although I could feel the wind buffet the bag against my body when it blew, not one iota of it made it through and the wind became of no consequence. Like the Woobie I reviewed below, the moment part of the Base Bag fabric touches you, it immediately warms up. I'm not a big guy - 5' 7" and 155 lbs, and found the regular length Base Bag roomy enough for me to squirm around and not feel constricted at all. The Merlin has a much narrower profile and if you roll over or move, the bag moves with you. With the Base Bag, I'm able to move inside it. No straight-jacket feel here.

The draft collar worked very well, and protected whatever part of my face it covered. I preferred, however, to cinch the face opening up leaving enough for ventilation, and snuggle down inside the bag, with the opening nearer the top of my head. It created a little micro-environment inside the bag, in which I felt comfortable. My feet always tend to get cold, and this time they weren't warm, but weren't cold either. I'd have to say that the 40° rating is pretty accurate - I was warm enough to fall asleep inside the bag. If I wanted a little more warmth, I would probably wear a slightly heavier base layer. Given the weight of the Base Bag, I was impressed.

 

Draft collar

 

MOB (Modular Outer Bag)

Now this is where the Modular part enters into the equation. The MOB (Modular Over Bag) concept represents a new departure in sleeping bag technology. Built of the same materials as the Base Bags, they literally come apart to perform many tasks; and constitute the framework for the System's name; Regulator.

A complete MOB consists of three sections - the Upper section, the Mid section and the Foot section. They can be purchased as separate sections, or as a complete stand alone bag. In stand-alone bag mode, the ventilation capability is unmatched - horizontally, at both the waist and the feet, and arm holes on both sides as well. The MOB can be used as an overbag with the Base Bag as a temperature enhancer, as a whole or in parts. The MOB upper and middle sections can also be worn as a garment.

Temperature Ratings - The MOB components are available in four comfort ratings, 40°F, 20°F, 0°F and -20°F. This means that when used as a stand-alone bag, a complete MOB is comfort rated to those temperatures. All the components can purchased separately and temp ratings mixed and matched.

Size - The MOB is also available in two sizes, Regular fits up to 6' 1" tall, and Long, which fits up to 6' 7". Note that on either MOB, only the foot section is longer. The upper and mid sections are the same length for both regular and tall sizes. Since the MOB is designed also as an overbag, it's roomier than the Base Bag. The circumferential measurements are as follows: Chest 71", hip 71" and foot 48".

Weight - The weights of the complete MOBs are as follows:

	Reg length	Long length
+40° MOB	2 lb 2 oz	2 lb 3 oz
+20° MOB	3 lb 5 oz	3 lb 7 oz
0° MOB	3 lb 13 oz	4 lb
-20° MOB	4 lb 12 oz	5 lb 3.5 oz

Main MOB Features - As mentioned before, a complete MOB includes the three sections which zip to each other - Upper, Mid and Foot. Shown below is a +20° MOB. The upper and mid sections have left side zippers which allow them to open completely. Each section on the 40° and 20° MOBs have their own built-in stuff sacks.

 

 

MOB Upper Details - The MOB Upper does double duty by converting to a vest, but more on that later. The MOB upper face/hood opening has the same type of dual drawstring adjustment discernable by feel as the base bag - the top/hood drawstring is round and the neck drawstring is flat. THE MOB upper has a large neck/face gaitor sewn to the neck. It stows inside out of the way when the MOB is used as an overbag. The gaitor is adjustable for height and folds in half onto itself to the front using the two vertical velcro strips to provide a double insulated throat collar. The same velcro strips secure to strips sewn to the side of the face opening. The top of the gaitor has a drawstring for adjustment for a tight seal against the face.

The plastic snaps around the perimeter of the face opening are there for attaching the MOB to the Base Bag. There are plastic snaps on the side as well, in addition to the side zipper. The snaps can be used to close up the side of the bag instead of the zipper, and can be 'blown out' if a rapid exit from the bag is needed. An internal stuff sack is sewn below the face gaitor. At the bottom of the upper section is a drawstring for cinching it tight around the waist. On the right side of the upper is a zippered arm hole.

 

Zipper and plastic blow-out snaps

MOB Mid and Foot Sections - The Mid and Foot sections zip together, and to the Upper section to form a complete MOB bag.

The weights of the individual MOB components are as follows:

	Upper	Mid	Reg Foot	Long Foot
+40° MOB	1 lb	13.5 oz	4.5 oz	5.5 oz
+20° MOB	1 lb 7.5 oz	1 lb 6.5 oz	7 oz	9 oz
0° MOB	1 lb 12 oz	1 lb 9 oz	8 oz	11 oz
-20° MOB	2 lb 2 oz	1 lb 15.5 oz	10.5 oz	1 lb 2 oz

The section zippers wrap around the circumference of the MOB, and each one is protected with a padded flap. The zippers between the Upper and Mid sections, or Mid and Foot sections can be partially opened for ventilation, even with the side zippers completely closed. This provides unmatched choices for ventilation in a sleeping bag.

The Mid section opens out flat with the full length side zipper. It also has the blow-out snaps which can be used instead of the side zipper for a quick bag exit. There's a drawcord at the bottom of the Mid section, at ankle height, which is used to cinch it up above the knee if you're using it as an extended garment. An internal stuff sack is sewn at the top of the mid section. By itself, the Mid section forms an insulated tube that can be slipped over your legs. Opened up flat, it's large enough to use as a throw or wrap.

The Foot section is roomy to accommodate boots, and also has a built-in stuff sack. Note that these stuff sacks do not compress the sections much. Inside the bottom of the Foot section is a velcro tab that threads through the Base Bag's hang loop to when the MOB is used as an overbag.

Observations/Notes - Using the MOB as a stand-alone sleeping bag is pretty straightforward. Even so, I would definitely recommend that the new MOB purchaser familiarize themselves with the adjustments and features before they use it in the field. I found it really helped to figure out and practice how to adjust and tweak everything from inside the MOB. At first, I was fumbling with the insulated neck gaitor, trying to get it attached to the sides of the face opening. It was all over the place as I was trying to zip up the bag. Keeping it folded down in front on itself before I got into the bag kept it out of the way until I was ready to use it. To attach it to the face opening, I found it easier when the opening was fully open (before the drawcord had been cinched). This ensured that I had an 'unscrunched' length of velcro on the face opening to match up to. I played around with tightening the neck, hood and gaitor drawcords independently to see what effect they'd have. All this helped when I did it later in the dark outside. Inside the house, it gets HOT with the MOB on, which is why I did some of the familiarization with the MOB upper only, instead of the whole thing assembled.

Needless to say, the 40° temperature I tried this out in was no match for the +20° MOB. Warm and comfy, wearing the same garments. I tried out the different components of the Regulator over the course of the same night - first the Base Bag, then the MOB, then the MOB plus Base Bag. Again, instead of exposing my face to the cold air, I 'tented' the top of the MOB upper over me and cinched up the face opening. I found the internal stuff sacks very handy for storing little things inside the bag when using it. I kept my Petzl LED headlamp (one of the items I consider a 'must have' in the field) to help me see what I was doing inside the bag and to check things out. You can easily keep a bit of water, some snacks etc in an easily accessible place and they won't get lost or end up at the bottom of the bag. The Mid section stuff sack was most easily accessible for me.

The MOB is roomier than the Base Bag, and allows for even more activity inside. With the MOB tented over me, I could sit up and read or write in a notebook stored in the Mid section stuff sack, wearing my headlamp. As mentioned above, the MOB has more than adequate ventilation. No longer are you restricted to the face opening or side zipper. The MOB also has the right side zippered arm opening, and the Mid section side zipper which opens to the ankle. You can have the MOB upper zipped up completely and the Mid section side zipper opened up, or either one or both wrap-around Foot and Mid section zippers partially opened for ankle and waist ventilation. All zippers can be operated from inside or outside the MOB.

 

Foot MOB section

 

MOB used as a garment - Leave that puff vest at home! The Upper section of the MOB can be worn as an insulated vest. MOB insulated sleeves (not shown here, available separately) can also be added. This allows you to leave your insulated vest or jacket at home, saving weight and pack space. Worn as a vest, the MOB has an insulated draft collar, adjustable hood, drawcords at the waist and zippered arm holes for a versatile outer garment. Due to its shape, it 'tents' over the head and body, unlike a tailored parka, to trap air pockets and provide superior warmth. The MOB hood will also fit over a helmet. A velcro tab at the rear of the hood allows adjustment of the peak and the eye opening in front. The dual drawcords at the hood adjust the hood opening and the neck.

At the front of the MOB upper is a hand pocket with a smaller internal notebook pocket, sized for Kifaru's little notebooks. Patrick is never without one. The Upper works great when pulling OP/LP duty, and keeping warm while still having your fighting gear on. The MOB is roomy enough to fit over 2nd line gear or body armour. The side openings are large enough for you to reach in and access pouches under it, but they're placed a bit high and might require some wrangling around. The MOB upper can also be worn with the arm holes zipped up, and your arms inside for warmth. When taking breaks after long humps, put on the Upper MOB over your gear to keep from chilling down. The Upper MOB works equally well in the hunting and expedition world. Hunters on-stand will recognize the many benefits.

The Mid section can be attached to the upper for an ankle-length insulated garment. Using the drawcord at the bottom of the Mid section, it can be hiked up and cinched around the waist in case of activity. When wearing the MOB Upper and Mid as a garment, the blow-out snaps can also be used in lieu of the side zippers if the garment has to be doffed quickly.

Observations/Notes - "What the hell is that?" was my wife's reaction when she first saw me wearing the MOB around. "Hey, it's the MOB Upper used as an insulated vest" I said. I'm not even going to bother to repeat her response. Anyways, it works. When I first put on the MOB Upper, it really felt like I was putting on my bed comforter. But, after a few quick trial-and-error adjustments of the various drawcords and the velcro peak adjuster in the back, it started to feel more like a garment than a tent. The blowout snaps or left side zipper can be used, and you can either zip it while it's on, or pre-adjust it and slip it over your head and body, which I found easier. The drawcord around the waist cinches up to trap warm air. While I found the fit a bit more awkward feeling than a regular fitted garment like a parka, I got used to it quickly, and hardly noticed it after a bit. The front 'kangaroo' hand pocket is located high in order to clear a waistbelt if used with a pack. The hood can be worn up or down.

With the Mid section attached, this created a very warm ankle length insulated garment. Moving around with the Mid section lowered can look amusing, as you don't have much length in your stride and end up walking like a geisha. For that reason, the blow-out snaps might be more practical if you think you'll need to get up and walk in a hurry. If I need to move around, I'd just hike up the mid section and secure it around the waist - it only takes a couple of seconds. The Upper MOB section combined with the Mid makes the perfect 'relax around the campfire' garment under the stars.

 

MOB upper only

 

Base Bag + MOB - The complete system

As an overbag - The MOB enhances the temperature rating of the Regulator Base Bag. This is where it gets a bit more involved. For example, a 40° MOB provides 25° of enhancement (added insulation) to the base bags. The combination of a 40° MOB on a 20° base bag brings the combo down to -5°. The same 40° MOB used over a 40° Base Bag brings the combo to 15°. Each of the four MOBs add different amounts of enhancement to the base bags; the comfort ratings for the various combinations are summarized below in °F:

	MOB + the 20° Base Bag	MOB + the 40° Base Bag
+40° MOB (25° enhancement)	-5°	15°
+20° MOB (45° enhancement)	-25°	-5°
0° MOB (55° enhancement)	-35°	-15°
-20° MOB (70° enhancement)	-50°	-30°

To use a complete MOB as an overbag for the Base Bag, the Base Bag is simply placed inside the MOB. The velcro tab inside the bottom of the MOB foot section passes through the hang loop on the outside of the bottom of the base bag. This keeps the Base Bag connected to the MOB at the bottom so it doesn't pull out. The row of snaps around the face opening on the MOB upper is snapped to the corresponding snaps on the Base Bag, which keeps them attached at the top. No other means of attachment is necessary. The Base Bag can be zipped up inside, or left unzipped, and the MOB zipper used only. Note that when the Base Bag is snapped to the MOB upper, the MOB face/neck gaitor is folded inside out of the way, and the Base Bag's draft collar is used.

Adding Sections - If you don't want to carry a complete MOB and Base Bag, you can also bring along specific sections. Say for example your feet usually get cold. Just bring the Foot section along and zip it to the Base Bag. Both the Upper and Foot sections will attach to the Base Bag using the wrap-around zippers on the Base Bag. The Mid section alone will not. Through Patrick's experience, he found that there was just about no circumstance where you'd only want the Mid section only. If anything, having the Upper and Foot MOB sections attached to the Base Bag without the Mid section would be sufficient. If you want the Mid attached to the Foot section, or Upper, you can still attach it to either and slip the assembly over the Base Bag. It just won't be secured by zippers.

Observations/Notes - Given that the +20° MOB by itself was more than comfortable in 40° weather, the MOB over the Base Bag was downright toasty. That was to be expected since the combination of +40° Base Bag and +20° MOB is rated to -5°. Definitely not even close to testing the capabilities of the combo, but then I'm limited by the weather conditions.

I also tried attaching only the Foot section to the Base Bag, and found that it made a huge difference in overall comfort of the Base Bag. I even took my socks off; they were that warm after a bit. For someone like me who normally has cold feet, the Foot section might be only MOB section needed to make the difference if you're on the borderline and close to the temperature rating of the bag.

 

MOB upper and foot sections on base bag

 

Regulator Stuff Sacks

Kifaru didn't stop at the bags when it came to innovation - they developed brand new stuff sacks for the Regulator system. The Regulator stuff sacks are an important part of the Regulator System, not an afterthought, and were developed along with the System over the past two years. Most compression stuff sacks compress the contents longitudinally - along the length. What you end up with is something shaped like a volleyball. Not the easiest shape to pack or lash anywhere. Kifaru went the other route, and instead designed the Regulator stuff sacks to compress circumferentially ONLY. This was done to work specifically with a backpack, where it is much easier to pack a longer, slimmer shape than a round, ball-like one. The compressed Regulator stuff sack can be stowed at the bottom of the pack or put in external pockets alongside the pack. It can even be stowed under the lid like a sleeping pad.

The Regulator stuff sacks are made of the same featherweight coyote brown waterproof sil-nylon that the MOB stuff sacks are made of, reducing bulk and weight. Spaced at intervals along the length of the sack are five wrap-around cords, which are guided by three channels of sewn-down webbing. Polypropylene cordage is used (that doesn't loosen up when wet), as well as ITW Line Locs, which serve as locking cams. No big, bulky buckles are needed. The cords have binding tape pull loops sewn at the ends to assist in tightening them. A grab handle is provided at the end.

To use the stuff sack, the item (MOB or otherwise) is stuffed into the sack and the opening drawcord pulled shut. Each of the circumferential cords is then tightened - I found that it works best to start with the middle one, then tighten each incrementally, tightening and compressing the bag more each time. The loose ends of the cords are stowed in a neat little pocket on the outside. What you eventually end up with is a very tightly compressed, clean, cylindrical package that fits neatly and tightly inside most packs. It also provides support and rigidity for the pack.

The webbing on the outside also serve as lashing slots, for lashing the stuff sack to the outside of a pack with a lash kit, or even using the pack's compression straps. The Regulator stuff sacks can be used with any bulky garment or item - other sleeping bags, etc, not only the Regulator system. Anything compressible will be reduced to a fraction of its expanded size.

The Regulator stuff sacks come in three sizes to cover any mix of Regulator bag components. Click here for a stuff sack spec chart for full details on dimensions, weights and compatibility.

To illustrate the packability of the compressed Regulator stuff sacks; in the photos below, a 20° MOB, 40° Base Bag and an uncompressed Woobie all fit into Kifaru's smallest backpack, the XRay, with a little room left over.

 

Base Bag only

 

True to its name, the Regulator Sleeping Bag System allows you to mix and match components depending on your needs, preferences and environment. Made in the U.S.A., it has the typical Kifaru quality of workmanship and materials we've come to expect, as well as the innovation and testing behind it.

Like most of the products that Kifaru offers, it's not inexpensive. But if you spend time out in the field, there are some things (like boots) you just don't go cheap on, but try to buy the best you can afford. The difference between a comfortable night's rest out in the field, or the sleeplessness of an uncomfortable one is usually only appreciated the next morning. Which one will you have the next time out?