What’s it like to spend the night in the new Grüezi Bag sleeping bag?
13.10.2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Siri Schubert
A blend of down and wool? Sounds cosy. I tested the improved downwool Grüezi Bag sleeping bag to see if it lives up to its promises.
I have a romantic vision of camping, where I snuggle into my sleeping bag at night and wake up the next morning warm, relaxed and well-rested. But most of the time, it’s either too hot and stuffy or too cold and damp. Or worse: a combination of both. Either way, temperature fluctuations mean a good night’s sleep is often out of the question.
To be clear from the outset, I’m neither Team Down nor Team Synthetic. Both have their pros and cons. If I know my surroundings are relatively dry, I prefer down. However, if I’m kayaking or sleeping near water, I prefer synthetic sleeping bags because they’re better at handling moisture.
For several years now, there’s been a third option: downwool, which – as the name suggests – is a blend of down and wool. I recently tested a downwool sleeping bag by Grüezi Bag and was thrilled with it.
Now the sleeping bag’s said to be even better. New machines can process the wool to make it as fine and fluffy as down, explains Grüezi-Bag founder Markus Wiesböck. This makes the sleeping bag warmer at the same weight.
Nice size and good weight
Grüezi Bag sent me the black version of the Subzero 2.0 sleeping bag for testing. If the colour’s too dark for you, it’s also available in blue.
At my height of just over 1.60 metres, the two-metre-long sleeping bag has plenty of room. It’s recommended for heights up to 1.75 metres. If you’re taller, you can choose between 2.15 and 2.3 metres.
Weighing just under 900 grammes, the sleeping bag can be packed into a compression sack measuring 18 x 20 centimetres. Generally, three-season sleeping bags weighing between 500 and 900 grammes are considered ultralight. The common concern with wool is that it’ll be too heavy. However, thanks to its processing techniques, Grüezi Bag can easily treat the wool as if it’s down.
Grüezi Bag’s attracted industry attention with its combination of down and wool and now also supplies the blend to manufacturers such as Ortovox, who use it to fill ski jackets, among other things.
What were the nights like?
Autumn’s arrived, and it’s getting dark early. For me, that means cooking a hot meal on the gas stove, brushing my teeth, and, well, personal hygiene. The meadow where I’m sleeping with the landowner’s permission (via Nomady) offers the option of bathing in the nearby lake. I jump in, but not for long so I don’t get too cold. After all, I don’t want to crawl into my sleeping bag shivering.
I quickly feel nice and warm. After the summer, I’m not used to cooler temperatures yet and tend to get chilly easily. So I’m all the more pleased that the sleeping bag feels cosy so quickly.
The comfort temperature’s listed as minus two degrees Celsius. From experience, I know this is usually too low for me. I prefer it warmer. Grüezi Bag founder Markus confirms my impression. He explains that the published comfort temperature is derived from the ISO standard, which is designed to compare sleeping bags. Contrary to what the name suggests, the comfort temperature is the temperature at which a woman who’s 160 centimetres tall and weighs 60 kilogrammes is just about comfortable.
In fact, I’m neither too hot nor too cold all night. The temperatures – which reached a summery 25 degrees Celsius during the day – drop to seven or eight degrees. I feel pleasantly relaxed. The filling of 70 per cent down – certified according to the Responsible Down Standard – and 30 per cent wool provides reliable insulation. The draught collar ensures no cold air gets in. I don’t even have to fasten it. All I have to do is zip it all the way up.
I wake up refreshed the next morning and for the following two days. No sweating, no shivering. Just how I like it.
Good moisture management and more generous cut
The fact that I feel so pleasantly warm’s also due to how the filling handles moisture. Unlike down alone, the mixture doesn’t clump when wet. Sweat’s wicked away effectively because wool absorbs moisture. This means the small amount of condensation on the water-repellent outer shell in the morning doesn’t detract from my sleeping comfort.
The Hohenstein testing institute even determined that the loft – or fluffiness – of the filling improves by almost 30 per cent at high humidity. «That surprised even us,» says the Grüezi Bag founder.
It wasn’t just the filling that ensured a comfortable night. I also appreciate the sleeping bag’s generous cut. This allows me to bend my legs without the bag restricting me. That means fewer nighttime wake-ups and more comfort.
Bags and other details
The zip opens from both sides. The curved shape allows you to air out your feet if they get too warm. The hood has a compartment for a jumper or jacket, which can then double as a pillow. There’s also an inner and an outer pocket for valuables you like to keep close. When it’s really cold, I also like to put my mobile in one of these pockets to keep it warm and conserve battery power.
I also like Grüezi Bag’s commitment to sustainability. The sleeping bag’s free of PFCs – known as forever chemicals – and Oeko-Tex certified. The wool’s mulesing-free and sourced from the Alpine region. The outer and inner textiles are made from recycled nylon.
In a nutshell
A pleasantly warm three-season sleeping bag
The improved down and wool blend of the Downwool Subzero 2.0 has won me over. It keeps me comfortably warm and dry, and the generous cut means I sleep very comfortably. In terms of weight, the sleeping bag’s comparable to a down sleeping bag, but it offers a better body temperature, especially in high humidity.
Details including the hood pocket’s improvised pillow and the thermal collar proved their worth during my nights outdoors. I’d definitely choose a downwool sleeping bag for my next camping adventure.
Pro
- Pleasantly warm even in humid conditions and fluctuating temperatures
- Improved downwool blend
- Lightweight
- No sweating or shivering
- Comfortable size
- Thermal collar
- Pillow pocket in the hood
- Outer and inner pocket
- Foot ventilation
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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