REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight for synthetic insulation
Highly versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as comfortable or as warm as traditional style synthetic bags
Enlightened Equipment Prodigy Review
Enlightened Equipment Prodigy top.
Credit: Enlightened Equipment
RELATED: Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag of 2024
Our Verdict
This is one of the lightest synthetic sleeping bags we've tested. Ordering it is not very convenient, as this bag is not available from major retailers, and only directly from the small manufacturer in MN (made-to-order, involving long delays in delivery). If you can get past the idea of ordering a custom-made bag, you might find this bag a contender. For colder temperatures and soaking wet conditions we prefer the heavier and warmer Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 15 which is available from most major online retailers.
The 15-degree version weighs 31.7 ounces on our scale. This is our top rated bag for wet weather backpacking in warmer temperatures. It is much more versatile than traditional style sleeping bags and it uses top quality insulation that's more durable than most others.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Hands-On Review
Introduction
The Prodigy is the only synthetic quilt we've tested. It uses the same basic design as the company's Revelation down quilt, except it has top quality synthetic insulation that keeps you warm when wet.
Warmth
The 15 degree version of the Prodigy is roughly as warm as the 20-degree traditional style synthetic bags we've tested; in dry conditions the bag is cozy into the thirties.
The Prodigy is limited to some degree by its lack of hood. Hooded bags are warmer and, unfortunately, quilts don't have hoods. We also don't know of anyone that makes a separate synthetic insulated hood. Thus, the synthetic quilt is not ideal for the coldest wet conditions or for hanging around in a tent for days at a time. This author, who has spent over three months soaking wet in Patagonia in synthetic bags, prefers a hooded synthetic bag for extended mountaineering trips in wet conditions where you might be tent bound for one or more days. For backpacking the Prodigy is more than than warm enough. The synthetic quilt is the best tool for lightweight trips where reliability is paramount to success, enjoyment, or safety.
Enlightened Equipment Prodigy bottom.
Credit: Enlightened Equipment
Weight and Packed Size
Synthetic insulation nominally compressible compared to down, but the Prodigy offers the lowest weight and greatest compressibility of any synthetic bag we've tested.
Versatility
Quilts are the most versatile type of sleeping bag. A synthetic quilt offers several advantages for wet weather travel: they can be draped around your body and can be opened up flat, which allows them to dry faster. This latter point is particularly useful on long trips. Unzip the Prodigy and hang it up in the sun or the wind and it dries remarkably fast.
Comfort
The Prodigy is as comfortable as the company's Revelation quilt minus the super soft and cozy benefits of down insulation.
Credit: Outdoor Gear Lab
Value
The Prodigy is a good value for weight and conscious wet weather adventurers. The Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 15 can be found for up to $50 less, but it weighs 12 ounces more.
How To Get It
Enlightened Equipment quilts are not sold by major online or commercial retailers. Order online at https://enlightenedequipment.com/. Read an interview transcript with Enlightened Equipment's founder, Tim Marshall, here.
—Chris McNamara and Max Neale
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