Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag: The Ultimate Kit Review

It isn’t easy finding the right sleeping bag for camping, mountaineering and trekking. With so many brands on the market offering similar products, I was stuck before my Himalayan adventure on what Sleeping Bag to choose. This is where the Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag comes in as a good all-arounder. It is lightweight, with down insulation, water protection and great comfort with an impressive temperature rating down to -16°C. Find all the key specs and details in this review, along with its strengths, weaknesses, and alternatives.

Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag – Kit Review

Overview

The Rab Alpine 800 Sleeping Bag a tapered, 650FP Duck Down sleeping bag designed for mountain adventures. It excels in cold and winter conditions (to a certain degree) with trekking, mountaineering and backpacking the primary activities. Rab’s Alpine Range is built for mountain exploration, whether in the Alps or the Himalayas. One of Rab’s key strengths is the quality down insulation used in jackets, sleeping bags and other down products. I already own the popular Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket, so I looked no further when searching for a Sleeping Bag before attempting the Annapurna Circuit, where temperatures plummet at Altitude. The Rab Alpine 800 is offered unisex with a Regular or Long version and either Left or right-hand side zips.

Technical Specs

• Shape: Tapered Mummy
• Weight: (Regular) 1260g/44.4oz, (Long) 1330g/46.9oz
• Rab sleep limit: -16°C / 3°F
• Insulation: 650F Duck Down (800g)
• Shell & Liner: 20D Pertex® Quantum ripstop outer
• Packed Size: 45cm x 24cm (17.7in x 9.4in)
• Activities: Camping, Mountaineering, Trekking
• Price: £330 / $365

The Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag offers a good warmth-to-weight ratio in a sleek design, and for good value. A synthetic insulation is much cheaper but doesn’t compress as effectively as a Duck down filling. It is filled with 800g of 650FP duck down and covered with a wind-resistant Pertex® Quantum outer with a recycled nylon lining. The shape is engineered to maximise down performance using Trapezoid boxwall baddles for full loft. This helps to eliminate cold spots and increase warmth inside the sleeping bag.

The Chevorn baffle design is unique to Rab, where this pattern offers better stability and spreads the down more evenly around the body. The hood has a 3D-shaped collar with a cinch to trap heat around the opening. Plus down-filled baffle along the zip to prevent heat escaping through the YKK zips. The tapered mummy design aims to remove bulk and weight without restricting movement for a comfortable rest.

My Experience with the Rab Alpine 800

My first decision when buying a premium sleeping bag was to decide on the insulation. Whilst synthetic insulation is cheaper and performs thermally when wet, duck down is warmer and compresses better. The ability to compress the sleeping bag small when packed is perfect for backpacking and trekking. I decided to invest in a natural Down Sleeping Bag and then use a Sea to Summit Compression Sack to minimise the packing space in my Osprey Atmos.

Over the multiple backpacking trips, the Rab Alpine 800 has reliably kept me toasty in extremely cold conditions. With a good quality insulated inflatable mat and a sleeping bag liner, the 16°C / 3°F temperature rating can be pushed. I went as low as -25°C at 4000m in Nepal, which was pushing it, wearing base layers and a down jacket at night. It’s difficult to get a better all-round down sleeping bag for under £350. Since the Annapurna Circuit trip, the Rab Alpine 800 has been a solid part of the Trekking Kit List. And been tested in snowy conditions in Patagonia as well as freezing mountains in the Himalayas, passing each test comfortably.

Tip: A sleeping bag liner will add more comfort, several degrees warmth and keep your bag clean

Key Specs

• Wind resistant 20D Pertex® Quantum nylon ripstop (36gsm) with fluorocarbon-free DWR
• Lining: 20D Recycled Polyamide Nylon (38gsm), Outer: 100% Ripstop polyamide
• 650FP European Duck Down with Nikwax Fluorocarbon-Free Hydrophobic Finish (800g / 28.2oz)
• Weight-saving chevron baffle design on upper torso, reduces down migration and optimises core warmth.
• Trapezoidal boxwall construction with differential cut, to maximise loft and warmth
• YKK zipped internal stash pocket
• 3-dimensional shaped down filled neck collar to seal in warmth
• YKK 3/4 length main zip with down-filled baffle to trap warmth
• YKK Anti-snag zip insert and anti-snag internal zip guard
• Angled foot box for relaxed sleeping posture
• Zipped cotton sack with water-resistant base for home storage
• Drawcord stuff sack included
• Hand-filled in Derbyshire, UK, with virgin down feathers, maintaining loft and quality

Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag – Strengths

• Great warmth-to-weight ratio: A winter-rated sleeping bag that weighs under 1.3 kg for the Regular. It balances warmth, cost and weight efficiently for mountaineering or trekking adventures.
• Weather Resistance: The Nikiwax Hydrophoic feather down treatment dries faster and retains loft well, even in damp conditions, which is useful when camping or in unpredictable conditions. The Pertex Quantum shell, from experience, is a good protective barrier against moisture and wind.
• Quality build & Sustainability: Rab build quality products, with this hand-filled sleeping bag not being an exception. The smart baffle design and integrated zips and pockets provide a highly practical and versatile sleeping bag. The Rab Alpine 800 usescertified Responsible Down Standard fill.
• Affordability: With the caveat, it’s affordable for a premium natural down sleeping bag from a reputable outdoor brand. It offers cold performance for around £330–£350, undercutting pricier rivals.
• Versatile for multi-season use: Great for autumn to early spring use and high altitude activities. It’s rated as 4 seasons, but won’t handle the depths of winter. It can work in summer as well, with the zips open for ventilation.
• Comfort: A silky and smooth inner lining adds to the Rab Alpine 800’s comfort for a good night’s sleep. The baffles are quieter and surround the body to provide consistent warmth with minimal cold spots.
• Lightweight and Packability: For a 4-season sleeping bag to be under 1.3kg is impressive for the £330 price tag. Adding the ability to compress the sleeping bag in the stuff sack when backpacking is a bonus.

Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag Weaknesses

• Moderate down quality: The 650FP duck down quality is solid, but not as lofty or warm as higher-FP goose options. I wouldn’t use this sleeping bag for anything below -20°C.
• No formal EN/ISO rating: The techncial specs use Rab’s in-house Sleep Limit of -16°C / 3°F. In reality, this aligns fairly well with the comfort limit but can be pushed to an extreme limit of around –20 °C from testing.
• Fit may feel snug: The tapered “Alpine” cut edges close to the body and might not suit everyone. I found it had good space to move but people with a broader build or light sleepers might find it snug.
• Basic stuff sack: The included bag lacks compression straps — consider upgrading to a more compact sack such as the Sea to Summit Compression Sack to efficiently pack your backpacke.

Alternatives to Consider

• Rab Neutrino 800 Down Sleeping Bag:
  • Upgraded to 800 FP duck down with better warmth-to-weight and packability.
  • Lower price-point for colder conditions (~–22 °C).
  • Ideal if you still value weight savings but want more thermal performance.
• Rab Andes Infinium 800 Down Sleeping Bag:
  • Top-tier 800 FP goose down with GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper shell and reflective tech.
  • Designed for extreme expeditions — warmer, more protective, but full expedition weight and cost.

Rab Alpine 800 Down Sleeping Bag- Kit Rating

Bottom Line

The Rab Alpine 800 is a premium-value, winter-capable sleeping bag. It offers solid insulation using 650FP Duck down, smart baffle design, and packable convenience—all at a competitive price. While it won’t outperform high-loft expedition winter sleeping bags, it’s a reliable, lightweight all rounder for cold-weather hiking, mountaineering, and multi-season adventures. The Rab Alpine 800 has travelled on various treks keeping me warm in freezing conditions up mountains.