Forclaz Trek 900 Down Sleeping Bag Review

Overview

The Forclaz Trek 900 is Decathlon’s house-brand down mummy for three-season and shoulder-season backpacking. It was designed and tested at the company’s mountain headquarters in the Mont Blanc Valley, and it earned Backpacker’s Best Value sleeping bag pick in 2019. The trade-off is plain: it delivers 800-fill warmth and real compressibility for about $150, but it weighs more than the cottage-industry bags that thru-hikers pay twice as much for, and the cut runs narrow.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Fill	800-fill duck down (roughly 85–90% down, 10–15% feather depending on model)
Weight	About 880–985 g depending on size and model (Backpacker listed 1 lb 15 oz; the large was stated at 985 g)
Temperature rating	23°F in Backpacker’s listing; 0°C comfort on the model tested by Tentlife
Packed size	Roughly a large loaf of bread; the large is stated at 34 × 17 cm
Shoulder girth	59 in
Footbox girth	34 in
Zipper	Two-way, double slider
Hood	Fitted, ergonomic
Warranty	5 years
Price	About $150 at launch

Performance

Warmth. Backpacker’s testers found that the bag does not behave like a budget pick and does especially well in shoulder-season temperatures. One tester slept through subfreezing spring nights in Denali after a long day of bushwhacking through willows, without stirring. A UK reviewer at Tentlife took the 0°C version to Scotland’s Isle of Arran, where the porch thermometer read 0.3°C one night. Inside the bag, on an Exped insulated mat, the tester reported being comfortable. Owners of the current MT900 generation tend to reach the stated limit rating only when they add a liner, so it’s sensible to treat the comfort number as honest rather than generous.

Fit and cut. The alpine cut, 59 inches around the shoulders and 34 inches at the footbox, is what saves weight and eliminates dead air. It is also the bag’s most common complaint. Backpacker noted that the regular size runs tight, especially in the footbox. The magazine’s 6-foot tester moved up to the XL, which cost only 3 ounces. Side sleepers who like to draw their knees up will feel the narrowness. A reviewer at Advnture, testing the lighter MT900 5°C bag, also needed time to get used to the restrictive cut. Tentlife’s tester, by contrast, found the large roomy across the shoulders, with space to fold arms.

Weight and packed size. Weight sits in the middle of the pack, not at the front. Backpacker clocked the bag at 1 lb 15 oz, and Tentlife’s large weighed 945 g on a home scale against a stated 985 g. That is competitive against synthetic bags and generic down at this price, but it trails the sub-two-pound 20°F bags from cottage makers. Compressibility is better than the weight suggests. Backpacker’s testers compared the packed size to a large loaf of bread, and Tentlife’s tester squeezed the large down to 26 × 17 cm, shorter than the stated 34 × 17 cm. It occupied little room in a 65-liter pack, next to a mat, liner and inflatable pillow.

Features and durability. The two-way zipper lets a sleeper vent from the foot end, and Tentlife’s reviewer found it easy to work in the dark. Backpacker praised the fitted hood for a snug, warm seal. Decathlon’s in-house down bags use a more robust shell than elite ultralight designs. A review of the current 0°C MT900 describes a 20D polyamide face fabric, which resists abrasion better than the 7D–10D shells common on premium bags. The same review credits a water-repellent treatment on the down. A five-year warranty backs it up.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 800-fill duck down at roughly half the price of comparable boutique bags
• Warm for its weight, with a fitted hood that seals out drafts
• Packs to about the size of a large loaf of bread
• Two-way zipper and a five-year warranty
• Tougher shell fabric than most ultralight bags

Cons

• Regular size runs narrow, particularly at the footbox
• Heavier than premium sub-two-pound bags with a similar rating
• Availability depends on Decathlon’s stock and regional listings
• Rating varies by model, so buyers need to check the exact variant

Who Should Buy This

Three-season backpackers, weekend hikers and first-time down buyers who want real loft without paying $300 or more will get the most from it. It also suits bikepackers and anyone who sleeps rough on their kit and wants a shell that tolerates abrasion. Side sleepers and wider-shouldered hikers should size up, or look at a quilt or a roomier bag. Gram-counting thru-hikers chasing a base weight under 8 pounds will find lighter options, and so will anyone who needs a bag rated well below freezing.

Verdict

The Forclaz Trek 900 is a warm, well-built down bag that costs much less than it should, and Backpacker’s Best Value label holds up. Buy it if the price matters more than shaving the last 200 grams, and size up if the regular looks snug. Weight-obsessed hikers should spend more elsewhere.