Rab Sleeping Bags NZ — The Complete Range Guide

Why Rab Sleeping Bags Are Built for New Zealand Rab has been making expedition-grade sleeping bags in Sheffield, England since 1981. That British heritage counts for something — the brand was built around wet, cold, unpredictable mountain weather, which maps closely onto what New Zealand trampers deal with on the Routeburn, the Kepler, or anywhere in Fiordland. High humidity, rapid temperature swings, and the ever-present threat of a soaking don't faze a well-made Rab bag. Rab uses premium European down (treated with Nikwax Hydrophobic Down on many models), proprietary shell fabrics, and construction techniques refined over decades of alpine use. The result is a range that covers everything from mild overnights to genuine expedition use in conditions that would destroy a budget bag. You can browse the full range at our sleeping bags collection. The Rab Range — Series by Series Mythic Series — Ultralight and Minimalist The Mythic is Rab's most stripped-back down bag. Available in -6°C and -12°C, it's built for gram-counters who still want proper warmth. Minimalist design, no unnecessary features — just high-fill-power down in a lightweight shell. Ideal for fastpacking, ultralight overnight tramping, and anyone who wants the most warmth for the least weight. Mythic Ultra 120 Modular Sleeping Bag The Rab Mythic Ultra 120 Modular is the one remaining model in the Mythic range and one of the most innovative sleeping bags Rab makes. The modular design allows you to connect and configure multiple bags together — useful for expedition groups and those who want maximum flexibility in how they use their sleep system. At the ultralight end of the weight spectrum, this is a specialist piece for serious users. Neutrino Pro Series — Performance Tramping The Neutrino Pro is where performance meets practicality for NZ trampers. Four ratings available: Neutrino Pro 300 — -4°C, 728g — summer to early autumn tramping Neutrino Pro 500 — -9°C, 915g — three-season workhorse Neutrino Pro 700 — -15°C, 1140g — cold conditions and shoulder season alpine Neutrino Pro 900 — -22°C, 1350g — serious cold weather and winter tramping Hydrophobic down treatment is standard across the Pro range, which matters a lot in NZ's damp hut conditions. These bags are among our most popular for multi-day tramping. Neutrino Down Series — Classic Neutrino Range Two temperature ratings in the classic Neutrino Down lineup: -6°C and -18°C. Proven construction, reliable warmth, and excellent compressibility. A solid choice if you want a no-fuss bag that performs in the field. Alpine Down Series — Versatile All-Rounder The Alpine Down range covers four temperatures: 0°C, -6°C, -12°C, and -18°C. This is one of Rab's most versatile lines — practical for hut tramping, camping trips, and alpine use. Good value relative to the Pro and Ultra series, with a construction that balances warmth, weight, and durability. Ascent Down Series — Robust Tramping Bags The Ascent Down range runs from 0°C through to -24°C, covering five temperature ratings. Durable, reliable, and built to handle rough treatment in the backcountry. These bags are a favourite for trampers who push into cold conditions regularly and want something tough rather than ultralight. The Rab Ascent Pro series offers an upgraded take on the Ascent range — improved materials and construction for trampers who want the proven Ascent platform with enhanced performance. Available in 400, 600 and 800 fill weights. If you're between the regular Ascent and the Neutrino Pro, the Ascent Pro sits in that gap nicely. Ascent Expedition Series — For Serious Cold Two expedition-grade options: Ascent 900 — -18°C, 1530g Ascent 1100 — -25°C, 1725g These bags are for genuine expedition use — think South Island winter routes, high alpine huts, or backcountry ski touring. Substantial fill weights give substantial warmth. Andes Infinium Series — Extreme Cold Two options at the extreme end of the range: Andes Infinium 800 — -23°C, 1375g Andes Infinium 1000 — -28°C, 1590g The Andes Infinium uses Pertex Quantum GL shell fabric and high-loft hydrophobic down for use in the most demanding cold-weather conditions. These are genuine expedition bags. Expedition 1200 — The Most Extreme Rab The Expedition 1200 is rated to -35°C at 1840g. If you're heading somewhere genuinely extreme — high-altitude mountaineering or polar conditions — this is Rab's answer. Not a bag for NZ hut hopping, but good to know it exists if your ambitions go that far. Synthetic Sleeping Bags Down isn't always the right answer. Bag Liners Rab also makes quality bag liners that add warmth and protect your investment. The Thermic Expedition liner and Thermic Neutrino liner are worth considering if you want to extend your bag's temperature range or add hygiene in shared hut environments. Temperature Rating Guide — Which Rab Is Right for You? Rab sleeping bags use EN/ISO temperature ratings. The key rating to look at is the comfort rating (for women) and lower limit (for men) — these are the temperatures at which a standard sleeper will be comfortable through the night. Cold is much harder to manage than warmth, and a bag that's slightly too warm is easy to ventilate. See our sleeping bags NZ guide for more on choosing the right temperature rating. Down vs Synthetic — What's Better for NZ? Both have a place, and the honest answer depends on how you use a bag. Down excels at: warmth-to-weight ratio, compressibility, and longevity when cared for properly. If you're packing your bag into a tramping pack, down almost always makes more sense. Rab's hydrophobic down treatment significantly reduces the traditional weakness of down in damp conditions. Synthetic works better when: you expect genuinely wet conditions and can't dry your bag out, you're on a tighter budget, or you want lower maintenance. Synthetic bags also insulate better when damp than untreated down. For most NZ trampers using modern hut networks and staying reasonably dry, a down bag with hydrophobic treatment (like Rab's) is the right call. For kayak camping, coastal trips, or anyone who regularly gets caught out in serious rain, synthetic is worth considering. If you'd like to compare Rab's range with other quality options, check out our guide to One Planet sleeping bags NZ — another strong brand for NZ conditions. Rab Women's Sleeping Bags Rab's women's-specific bags feature a different internal geometry (narrower at the shoulders, wider at the hips), more fill at the footbox and torso, and often slightly warmer temperature ratings compared to equivalent men's models. The women's range in stock includes: Women's Alpine 400 — rated -5°C — versatile three-season option Women's Alpine -6°C — practical all-rounder Women's Ascent -24°C — serious cold-weather use Women's Andes Infinium 800 — -23°C — expedition-grade warmth These bags aren't just resized men's bags — the women's cut and fill distribution makes a genuine difference to sleep quality, especially in colder conditions. Conclusion Rab makes some of the best sleeping bags available for New Zealand conditions. The range is broad enough to cover everything from summer car camping to genuine alpine expeditions, and the construction quality is consistently high across all series. If you're not sure which model fits your needs, the temperature rating guide above is the best place to start — or come into our store and we'll help you work through it. Browse the full Rab sleeping bags range at Dwights to see current availability and pricing.