Australian Hiker

Weight (regular) 1180 grams
Size packed 20 cm x 46 cm
Recommended Maximum User Height 170 cm
Female Comfort Rating -8
Male Comfort Rating -15

Cost $549.99

Sea to Summit Journey Jo II Women’s Sleeping Bag Regular

Sleep Systems

Rating

Rating:	8.1 / 10
Weight	1.4 / 2
Value for Money	1.7 / 2
Durability	1.7 / 2
Warmth	1.7 / 2
Versatility	1.6 / 2

Sea to Summit Journey Jo II Women's Sleeping Bag Regular Review

The one thing that really gets me thinking is what sleeping bag is best for me and with sleeping bag manufacturers really pushing the design and construction boundaries now so its definitely a good time to explore.

Recently I had the opportunity to test out Sea to Summit’s Journey Jo II sleeping bag which has a tapered rectangular shape designed for women that provides a great balance of space and warmth. The Journey Jo II is a 650+ Loft ULTRA-DRY Down™ down sleeping bag which combines warmth and good compression when packed. This bag sits at the lower end of the middle of Sea to Summit’s range. That’s reflected in the weight which is a bit heavy and the price which is very competitive. The Journey Jo II has a range of great features including:

Extra down overall
THERMOLITE® panels under the foot area to help keep heels and ankles warmer
A women’s specific cut that is wider at the hip and narrower at the shoulder
A large internal security pocket for keeping valuables close or batteries warm

So how did it go? The Journey Jo II has a neck tube which sits comfortably and cozily around your neck to eliminate drafts as well as a zip baffle to prevent cold entering the bag via the zip. This is a minor point but I would prefer a hood that is a bit larger to ease snuggling. For me there was a good balance between room to move and closeness that minimises airflow.

The Journey Jo II has a female comfort rating of -8° Celcius. I took it down to around 3° Celcius and I was quite comfortable and warm. However, to get close to -8° Celcius I would need to be wearing thermals and would opt for a thermal bag liner – all of which is reasonable for temperatures in that range. Also when my arms were positioned off my sleeping mat on the cold ground, I noticed the difference in comfort level.

In terms of length, the regular version is designed for people up to 170 cm tall. I am 165 cm and I found the Journey Jo II to be a little on the short side. The long version is designed for people up to 183 cm but that would be too long for me. Maybe I just need to position my feet upright! The Journey Jo II does have a zipper on the foot compartment which allows you to stretch out and cool your toes in warm weather.

Sea to Summit sleeping bags have a handy feature that assists you in navigating their range – the darker the colour in a particular range, the warmer the bag. The Journey Jo II which can take you to -8° Celsius is dark green in colour and the Journey Jo I which is rated to -1° Celsius is light green in colour. This clever bit of guidance is very handy when you’re staring at the wall of Sea to Summit sleeping bags in your local outdoor store.

While this bag has plenty of features as a cheaper bag in the range it uses a lower grade down which makes it heavier and less compressible and it only has two zips whereas the unisex Sea to Summit Ascent II has three. While still a great bag this one less zip reduces the versatility but with that the price is also lower.

So did the Journey Jo II make it to my list of possible sleeping bag options? Yes it did. And at this stage, it is close to the top of the list although I still prefer a lighter weight more compressible bag. If you are looking for a warm high grade bag that doesn’t break the bank and aren’t too concerned about the weight and bulk, then the Journey Jo II is for you.

We Like

Tapered rectangular shape designed for women
Large internal security pocket to keep all your personal bits safe
Zip Coupling which allows you to pair with another sleeping bag so you can snuggle up to your special friend
Lightweight Ultra-Sil™ compression bag and storage cell
RDS 650+ Loft ULTRA-DRY Down™ provides excellent insulation and compressibility
Extra down overall and the under the foot area for extra warmth
Vertical chest baffles prevent down migration and cold spots
Soft touch 20D lining fabric is lightweight and highly breathable, durable 30D nylon shell
Oversized zip draft tube with anti-snag materials
3D side-wall baffle maximises down insulation right to the edge of the bag
Separate foot zip so you can vent hot tootsies

We Don't Like

I would have preferred the hood to be a bit larger – more generous hood sizing would make this bag great
A bit on the heavy and bulky side

Best Uses

A great sleeping bag for most hikers who aren’t looking for an ultralight or ultra compact bag

Buy One

You can purchase the Sea to Summit Journey Jo II Sleeping Bag from Macpac, Snowys, or from Wild Earth

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $549.99 RRP. Keep an eye out for the regular sales that occur and you may get a great deal

Other Versions

The Sea to Summit Journey Jo II Sleeping Bag is also available in a long size that suits people up to 183 cm. If you are taller than 170 cm then move up to the ‘long’ version of this bag
You can also by this bag in the lighter weight Sea to Summit Journey Jo I