Vango Venom 200 Down Sleeping Bag Review

Having previously never owned a down sleeping bag I was looking forward to testing out the Vango Venom 200. The Venom 200 is marketed as a ultralight two season down sleeping bag aimed towards the minimalist enthusiast.

Overall the Vango Venom 200 is an excellent down Summer sleeping bag that offers comfort, warmth and  minimal weight.

Price when reviewed: £93.99

Weight: 655g

Shape: Mummy

My first experience using the Venom 200 was in April during a summit camp in the Mourne Mountains when temperatures dropped to under -2c. Before I go any further I should mention I’m not the best sleeper and require to sleep warm; that aside I’m quite a big lad who usually finds sleeping bags restrictive especially around the shoulders – quite a challenge for the Venom 200 to live up to then!

While the Venom has an extreme comfort rating of -9c I would avoid using it beyond the 5c comfort rating. All sleeping bags are subject to interpretation of their warmth rating, but a number of factors should be considered such: as weather conditions, what sleeping mat you’re using, the clothing you’re wearing, how warm does the individual sleep and how tired the person is.

Regarding upper body space I was able to move comfortably in the sleeping bag even with the hood pulled in tight around me.

The Vango Venom 200 is styled in the mummy shape and weighs 650g. The inner material is polar super soft mini-rip stop nylon, which is comfortable against the body. The outer material is Polar 30D mini-rip stop, which is water resistant. The Venom is filled with 95/5 700 power duck down and has single stitch throughout the bag, which helps to maintain evenly distributed insulation throughout.

Like most sleeping bags the Venom 200 has a left hand half zip opening, which is sturdy and has an internal baffle reducing the risk of losing body heat. The zip is two way and is easily adjusted from inside the bag and has a reflective tab that helps locating it when you’re in your tent.

The Venom’s hood is quite large with a 3D design with multi pull cords which enable you to pull the hood tighter cross the top and bottom of the hood. The hood leaves plenty of the sleeping bag over your head which helps close the barrier of warm air around the sleeping bag.

In a bid to reduce weight Vango have not included a shoulder baffle which I have not missed when I enclose the hood around my head. While some might find the width of the Venom 200 to be excessive, I was more than happy with the extra shoulder space, using any extra material to pull in around myself.

The sleeping bag has a small internal pocket which could be used to store an item such as mobile phone or torch. Alternatively items sensitive to the cold such as camera batteries could be placed here, behind the down, to protect them from the elements.

Washing & Care

While down has an excellent warmth to size/weight ratio, it is much less robust than synthetics and requires good care. With any down product you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any washing or drying. I always store my sleeping bags in my wardrobe using the hanging tabs on the bottom. Sleeping bags should not be stored compressed as this will compromise the insulation.

The Venom 200 is small enough to wash in a washing machine with a gentle hand wash cycle using liquid soap. When drying, be sure to keep clumps from forming by placing a few clean tennis balls in the dryer to agitate the down.

Overall the Vango Venom 200 is an excellent down summer sleeping bag that offers comfort, warmth and minimal weight. The Venom should be ideal for any UK weather from May until August.

Testing the Venom 200 in the mountainous environment allowed me to consider other factors such as clothing, insulation that could be incorporated whilst using the Venom 200 to increase my warmth and comfort.

Pros	Cons
Compact and light weight	Generous comfort rating
Waterproof stuff sac	No shoulder baffle
3D hood design

Buy from SleepingBagsOutlet.co.uk

If you like the look of this sleeping bag, please consider purchasing from SleepingBagsOutlet.co.uk who provided this item for review. As always the provided kit in no way influences our review process.

Click here to buy the Venom 200