The NEMO Disco 15 trades low weight for room to move. Its hourglass, spoon-shaped cut, zippered Thermo Gill vents and oversized draft collar won it an Editors' Pick from Better Trail, which called it one of the most luxe-feeling backpacking bags it has used. Better Trail and CleverHiker both stayed warm in it in freezing conditions, and both flag the same cost: it weighs about 2 lb 14 oz and packs bulky because of its 650-fill down.
Full review
Built around room to move
Better Trail gave the Disco 15 an Editors' Pick and an overall 4.3 out of 5, scoring comfort 4.5 and features 5. Its tester, who switches sides often while sleeping, found the hourglass shape (62-inch shoulder girth, 57-inch hips) far less restrictive than a traditional mummy, with a spacious footbox. CleverHiker rated it 4.4 out of 5 and describes the same spoon-shaped cut as a strong choice for side and restless sleepers.
Warm, with vents to fine-tune it
Better Trail tested it in a humid alpine hut where nights dipped into the low 30s and stayed warm all night on a basic hut mat. CleverHiker spent a week of 15 to 20°F nights in the Utah desert in it and stayed warm wearing a base layer.
The two zippered Thermo Gill vents on the torso let heat out without opening the main zipper; Better Trail said it had not used another bag with this kind of ventilation and that it works. The oversized Blanket Fold draft collar can be tucked in on cold nights or folded out on warm ones.
The weight and bulk penalty
Better Trail scored warmth-to-weight only 2.5 out of 5. At nearly 3 pounds, with 1 lb 7 oz of 650-fill down and a 14.9-liter packed volume, it is far larger and heavier than 850-fill bags in the same temperature class. CleverHiker reaches the same conclusion and sees it as a crossover bag for car camping and shorter backpacking trips rather than high-mileage, ultralight travel.
Details
Both reviews note the waterproof hood and footbox fabric for tent-wall condensation, a pillow pocket in the hood and an included compression sack. Better Trail found the fabric not the softest it has used, and CleverHiker notes that two Disco bags can zip together.
Strengths
- +Hourglass, spoon-shaped cut gives side sleepers room to change position, per Better Trail and CleverHiker
- +Two zippered Thermo Gill vents release heat without opening the main zipper
- +Kept testers warm on low-30s nights (Better Trail) and 15 to 20°F desert nights with a base layer (CleverHiker)
- +Waterproof hood and footbox fabrics, pillow pocket and a compression sack included
- +Fully recyclable Endless Promise design
Watch-outs
- −At 2 lb 14 oz it is one of the heavier backpacking bags Better Trail has tested in its class
- −650-fill down packs bulkier than 850-fill bags, so CleverHiker calls it a poor fit for ultralight or long-distance trips
- −The roomy interior holds heat less efficiently than a closer-fitting mummy, per CleverHiker
How it compares
The Disco 15 and the Exped Terra 15 both use 650-fill down and are rated around 15°F; the Disco is the roomier spoon shape. It is heavier than the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30 (1 lb 6 oz) and Kelty Cosmic Down 20 (2 lb 7 oz), but lighter than the synthetic REI Co-op Trailmade 25 (3 lb 4.6 oz).
Rating sources
Counts as 4.11/5 in our score — this publisher's 36 scores on the site average 4.38, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 4.10/5 in our score — this publisher's 60 scores on the site average 4.49, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
Our 4.1 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
