Sea to Summit Traverse Tv3
Rating
Versatility: 6
Size/Weight: 6
Features: 6
Construction: 8
Sleep Quality: 7
OVERALL: 6.6
A good lifestyle bag for hiking and camping.
Sea to Summit typically makes well-constructed products, and their Traverse Tv3 is yet another example. While not as warm as others we tried, the synthetic fill helps keep the price down, and it’s clearly a durable bag that will last you a long time. We also like its unique triple zipper design that helps adjust the bag for warmer or cooler nights.
Best For: Trekking, camping and backpacking
Pros: Durable, lower cost, triple zipper design.
Cons: Heavier and bulkier than others, not as warm.
Verdict: A great versatile choice and something that will last.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Sleeping Experience, Features Analysis, Construction and Durability, or the Final Verdict, or check out how the Sea to Summit Traverse Tv3 compares to others in our list of the Top 5 Sleeping Bags.
Specs:
Packed Size: 14.6 x 7.9 in/ 37 x 20 cm
Weight: 3.3 lbs/ 1.5kg
Fill: Thermolite Synth
Approx Price: $259.00
First Impressions
This bag isn’t the lightest one to carry and is also pretty bulky compared to the others on our list, but it still held up reasonably well in our pack during testing. Given its weight and bulk, however, we’d prefer it as a great option for campers who occasionally hike, rather than for serious hikers.
It is a quality synthetic triple zipper design that features a half-zip arm space for more movement. We like the unique design with triple zipper configuration to adapt to the conditions.
Sleeping Experience
Overall, the sleeping experience was good. Being a synthetic fill, we find it offers a different kind of warmth than a down fill - equally as warm, just less breathable (think about a polyester blanket vs a goose-down duvet). The lining was also nice and soft, so that was a plus in terms of comfort.
It offers enough warmth for the early chilly mornings, and the tapered rectangular shape gave room to comfortably settle in and not feel too cramped - except for in the foot area, where we would have loved a lot more room.
Features Analysis
The key winner in terms of features is the triple zipper design. It means that you can adjust the warmth of the bag for warmer or cooler nights, and believe us, on a hot summer’s night you’re not going to want that much synthetic material wrapping you up in a cocoon of sweat. The triple zipper system alleviates this by helping make the bag more or less ‘airy’, so makes the bag more versatile for use in different conditions.
However, in colder conditions, we found the lack of a neck drawstring was an issue in keeping the warm air in the bag - without being able to draw it more tightly around you, retaining that warmth is a lot less efficient.
Construction and Durability
This is a reasonably priced Sea to Summit bag aimed at people that want something of decent quality and durability without dropping a huge amount of cash. Sea to Summit seems to have perfected this by using well-judged cheaper alternatives (Thermolite Synth fill) that still perform well, married with the quality construction that spans their entire range. In short, it’s a well constructed, durable bag and is exactly what we’d expect of them.
Final Verdict
The Sea to Summit Traverse Tv3 is a practical choice for primarily campers in fairly mild weather. It isn’t the best choice for cold weather, or for multi-day hikers, but it has great versatility for camper/hikers across all but the most extreme conditions. We really liked its zip system, as well as the quality of its construction for a great price.
Why not visit our list of the Top 5 Sleeping Bags of 2024 to see how the Sea to Summit Traverse Tv3 compares?
Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.