The Vango Nitestar Alpha 250 sleeping bag delivers proper three-season comfort for UK camping trips, DofE expeditions and festival weekends. Built around Alpha insulation - a 50/50 blend of polyester and siliconised hollow fibres - it traps air both between and within the fibres to maximise warmth whilst keeping pack size manageable. The offset construction technique layers the shell and lining stitching in different positions, which eliminates those cold spots you'd typically find along seam lines. Temperature ratings follow ISO 23537-1:2022 certification, meaning the numbers you see have been lab-tested rather than estimated. The mummy taper cuts unnecessary fabric from the foot end, improving thermal efficiency and reducing what you're carrying. Polair Hex fabric on the outside provides a 68D polyester shell that's tough enough for regular use, whilst the 190T brushed microfibre lining feels genuinely soft against skin. A 3D anatomically shaped hood with drawcord adjustment lets you seal in warmth on cold nights or loosen things off when temperatures rise. The insulated shoulder baffle works with the hood system to stop heat escaping from the neck area. You'll find an auto-lock two-way zip that won't slide open whilst you're asleep, plus zip guards with anti-catch piping and an insulated baffle running the full length to prevent heat loss. Internal storage keeps your phone or headtorch within reach, and hanging loops let you air the bag out properly between trips.
This sleeping bag appears on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Recommended Kit list, which tells you it meets their criteria for reliability and value on multi-day expeditions. Young people completing their Bronze, Silver or Gold awards often choose it because it balances warmth, weight and budget sensibly. The siliconized coating on the hollow fibres does two jobs - it stops the insulation clumping together after compression and adds a degree of water repellence if condensation builds up inside your tent. Regular campers appreciate how the horizontal stitching keeps the fill evenly distributed, so you're not left with thick patches in some areas and thin spots in others. The woven zip pullers make operation straightforward even when your hands are cold, and the whole package compresses down enough to fit in a rucksack without dominating your pack space.
Whilst the Nitestar Alpha 250 handles spring through autumn camping confidently, you'll want additional layers or a warmer bag for proper winter conditions below freezing. The mummy shape works well for heat retention. Vango includes this model in their best-selling Nitestar Alpha range because it hits a practical middle ground - warm enough for cooler nights, light enough for backpacking, and priced reasonably for families buying multiple bags. The Polair fabric lining genuinely makes a difference to comfort compared to standard nylon linings, particularly if you're camping in just a t-shirt. Pack it in its compression sack between uses and the synthetic fill will bounce back reliably season after season.
Vango Nitestar Alpha 250 Sleeping Bag Features
- Polair® Hex Fabric - A strong, durable yet soft touch 68D polyester shell fabric with an embossed hex grid finish.
- Polair® Fabric Lining - A super soft and comfortable 190T brushed polyester microfibre lining that's incredibly warm and soft to touch
- Alpha Insulation - A lightweight 50/50 blend of polyester and siliconized hollow fibres that trap more air between and within the fibres to increase warmth retention whilst retaining compressibility. A siliconized coating reduces friction to prevent insulation clumping and increases water repellence.
- Offset Construction - A double layer design that offsets the shell and lining stitching to reduce cold spots and increase warmth retention.
- Mummy Shaped Sleeping Bag - Tapers from the shoulders to the foot, reducing pack size and increasing thermal efficiency
- 3D Hood - Anatomically shaped to provide greater comfort and reduce heat loss. A convenient drawcord closure allows for flexible adjustment in varying temperatures.
- Horizontal Stitching - Evenly spaced to hold insulation in place and ensure even distribution throughout
- Insulated Shoulder Baffle - Helps retain heat within the sleeping bag. A convenient drawcord closure allows for flexible adjustment in varying temperatures.
- Zip Guard with Anti-Catch Piping - Helps to prevent the zip from snagging on the lining, allowing easy opening and closing
- Insulated Zip Baffle - Prevents heat from escaping along the zip, reducing cold spots within the sleeping bag.
- Auto-Lock Two-Way Zip - Seals in warmth and provides adjustable ventilation. Auto-lock prevents the bag from opening during the night and can be accessed from inside the bag
- Woven Zip Puller - Allows you to quickly and easily move the zip
- Internal Pocket - Provides convenient storage for small items
- Hanging Loops - Allows you to easily hang your bag for quick and easy drying
- ISO 23537-1:2022 Certified - Extensively tested to meet industry standard temperature ratings
Specifications- Weight : 1.6 kg
- EN13537 Comfort : 2 °C
- EN13537 Extreme : -21 °C
- EN13537 Limit : -4 °C
- Suggested Usage Max : 20 °C
- Suggested Usage Min : -2 °C
- External Chest Width : 85 cm
- External Foot Width : 50 cm
- External Length : 210 cm
- Maximum User Height : 190 cm
- Internal Chest Width : 83 cm
- Internal Foot Width : 48 cm
- Sleeping Bag Shape : Mummy
- Performance : 3 Season
- Fill Type : Insulite Alpha
- TOG Rating : 10
- EAN : 5059474017064
- Colourway : Forest Green
Frequently Asked Questions
The Nitestar Alpha 250 carries ISO 23537-1:2022 certification, which means its temperature ratings have been independently lab-tested rather than estimated by the manufacturer. The specific comfort, limit and extreme ratings will be marked on the product label. ISO testing measures how different body types respond to temperature, giving you reliable guidance on which conditions the bag handles effectively.
Yes, this sleeping bag appears on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Recommended Kit list. It meets their criteria for reliability, appropriate warmth-to-weight ratio and value across Bronze, Silver and Gold award levels. The combination of packability and three-season comfort makes it practical for the multi-day expeditions required at each award tier, particularly for spring and summer assessment trips.
Alpha insulation uses synthetic fibres that continue insulating when damp, whereas down loses its loft and warmth when wet. The 50/50 blend of polyester and siliconized hollow fibres traps air effectively whilst remaining more affordable than down alternatives. Synthetic fill also dries faster and requires less specialist care. Down provides better warmth-to-weight ratios at the premium end, but synthetic insulation like Alpha makes more practical sense for UK camping where condensation and rain are regular considerations.
Offset construction layers the outer shell and inner lining with stitching positioned in different places. Regular sleeping bags stitch through both layers in the same spots, creating seams where insulation compresses and cold spots develop. By offsetting these seams, the Nitestar Alpha 250 maintains continuous insulation coverage across the entire bag. You end up with better heat retention and fewer cold lines running across your body during the night.
The Nitestar Alpha 250 features a two-way auto-lock zip system. For zipping two bags together you need one left-hand zip and one right-hand zip model. Check the product specifications to confirm zip orientation before purchasing if you're planning to create a double sleeping bag. The zips need to be compatible types running in opposite directions to connect properly along their full length.
Synthetic sleeping bags like the Nitestar Alpha can be machine washed on a gentle cycle with specialist sleeping bag cleaner or mild soap. Use a front-loading machine rather than a top-loader with an agitator. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent residue, then tumble dry on low heat with clean tennis balls to break up any clumping. Air the bag fully before storage and keep it loosely packed in a large breathable storage sack rather than compressed in its stuff sack. The hanging loops let you dry the bag properly between trips to prevent moisture buildup and maintain insulation performance.
Mummy bags like the Nitestar Alpha 250 taper from shoulders to feet, reducing internal air space that your body needs to heat. This design improves thermal efficiency and cuts pack weight and size. Rectangular bags offer more internal room for movement and feel less restrictive around the shoulders, but they're heavier, bulkier and allow more heat to escape. For backpacking, hiking or DofE expeditions where pack space matters, the mummy shape provides better performance. For car camping where weight isn't a concern, rectangular bags offer more comfort for restless sleepers.
The specific packed dimensions will be listed in the technical specifications section. Alpha insulation compresses reasonably well for synthetic fill due to its hollow fibre construction and siliconized coating that reduces friction between fibres. The bag comes with a compression stuff sack that reduces volume for transport. Whilst it won't pack as small as equivalent down bags, the compression is adequate for fitting in rucksacks alongside other camping gear for multi-day trips.
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