Verdict
Head-to-head · Best 0 Degree Sleeping Bags

Sea to Summit Spark 0F vs Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Sea to Summit Spark 0F comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Gram-counting ultralight backpackers who want the smallest, lightest true 0°F down bag and camp in dry cold. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Sea to Summit Spark 0F
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best 0 Degree Sleeping Bags
Sea to Summit Spark 0F
3 sourcesall derived$679as of Aug 1

The Spark 0F is the ultralight of this group, packing a genuine 0°F-rated bag into about 2 lb 7 oz and a sub-10-liter stuff size. It uses 850+ fill Ultra-Dry down, and reviewers find its temperature rating accurate. Against that: a snug, less-forgiving cut, a thin shell offering little wet-weather protection, and a steep price for the warmth.

Strengths
  • Among the lightest 0°F down bags at roughly 2 lb 7 oz
  • Sub-10-liter packed size, the most compressible bag here
  • 850+ fill power Ultra-Dry treated goose down resists moisture
Watch-outs
  • Snug ultralight cut is less forgiving than the Kodiak or Ibis
  • Thin shell offers little wet-weather protection
  • Pricey at roughly $649-$679 for the warmth delivered
Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C
Ranked #4 in Best 0 Degree Sleeping Bags
Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C
3 sourcesall derived$480as of Aug 1

The Parsec 0F is the warmth-to-weight standout of this group: at 2 lb 6 oz it is one of the lightest true 0°F down bags you can buy. Advnture and The Trek both rate it 4.5/5, praising the loft and the value, while a cold-weather test by Captain Berz put the honest floor closer to 5°F than 0°F. It uses 800-fill down rather than the 850 to 900 fill of the premium bags here, and it costs far less than they do.

Strengths
  • Outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio at just 2 lb 6 oz for a 0°F bag
  • 800-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down resists moisture and dries faster
  • Box-baffled, body-mapped 60/40 down distribution puts insulation where it counts
Watch-outs
  • Still expensive at $490-$570 in absolute terms
  • One real-world cold test recommended a 5°F practical floor, not 0°F
  • Cold sleepers and women may find the honest comfort closer to 10°F

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Sea to Summit Spark 0F

The lightest and most compressible bag here, undercutting the Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F on weight and packed size and far lighter than the Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF, Feathered Friends Ibis ES 0 and Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0, but with a snugger cut and a thin, less weatherproof shell.

Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C

The lightest and best-value true 0°F bag here, beating the Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF, Feathered Friends Ibis ES 0 and Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 on warmth-to-weight and price, though it uses lower 800-fill down than the Kodiak and Ibis and is heavier than the Sea to Summit Spark 0F.

Specs side-by-side

SpecSea to Summit Spark 0FTherm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C
Temperature Rating0°F limit / 14°F comfort0°F limit / 14°F comfort (ISO)
Fill Power850+ Ultra-Dry goose down800 Nikwax Hydrophobic goose down
Fill Weight29.6 oz (840 g)
Total Weight2 lb 7 oz (1113 g)2 lb 6 oz (1.09 kg)
Packed Size9.9 L
ShellUltralight nylon
ZipperFull-length YKK with draft tubeTwo-way YKK side zip
CutSnug ultralight mummy
MaterialNylonNylon
Dimensions83.1"L x 52.8"W
BafflesBox-baffled, 60/40 body-mapped
LengthRegular 80 in
ExtrasPad straps, external quilt loops
WarrantyLimited lifetime
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