Review: JR Gear Helium 750

A no-frills sleeping bag, designed for hiking, with a versatile temperature rating for colder conditions and an attractive Rand-to-gram ratio.

Key information

Price (at time of writing): R5619
Weight: 1257g (with stuff-sack)
Temperature rating: Comfort: -3°C
Dimensions: 210 x 80 x 50cm
External fabric: Microtex R/S (Outer) and Microtex 5000 (Inner)
Filling: 600+ fill-power 90/10 white duck down

Design

The JR Gear Helium sleeping bag range has a comfortable 3D contour mummy shape that aids in heat retention and weight saving. The 3d cut of the foot box also prevents the sleeping bag from tensioning over your feet and compressing the down.

There is a zipper and chest baffle to reduce heat-loss, and for the slightly warmer evenings, the zipper is bi-directional, allowing for ventilation around your legs while still keeping cool air off your chest.

There is a sleeping pad sleeve underneath the sleeping bag, which, when slid over your sleeping pad, reduces the chance of sliding off your sleeping pad as well as allowing you to turn in your sleeping bag with greater ease.

The compression sack has a clip-buckle on one of the compression straps, which, although minor, made removing and re-stuffing the sleeping bag just that little bit easier. It’s the little things…

There is no internal pocket for storing cold-sensitive items, like batteries, so, in colder conditions, those items will need to lie loose, or be kept in a jacket pocket.

Sizing

I’m 1.86cm tall and of medium build and the sleeping bag fit me perfectly, with some room to move. It only comes in one size, so taller people might be out of luck.

Temperature rating

The -3°C comfort rating is spot on and a versatile temperature rating for most of South Africa’s cooler conditions. Light base layers and a half-open zip works fine at 5°C and if things drop below -3°C, just add extra layers and a beanie.

As always, the warmth of the sleeping bag is reliant on a sufficiently insulated sleeping pad. I camped in the snow, below Du Toits Peak, and was very comfortable in -2°C conditions in the Helium 750, paired with a JR Gear insulated inflatable mat.

Cons

No real cons to speak of, other than the lack of internal storage.

Conclusion

A light-weight sleeping bag with a perfect temperature rating for most of South Africa’s conditions and a very good Rand-to-gram ratio. What’s not to like? If you’re looking for a new sleeping bag, the JR Gear Helium 750 should be high on your list.

This sleeping bag was provided for review purposes by Ram Mountaineering and can be purchased from Drifters.