Snugpak Softie 9 Hawk Sleeping Bag review
By Tom Calder
A dependable, UK-made synthetic bag whose insulation keeps working even when damp, making it a sensible choice for an emergency kit or an unheated home during a winter power cut. It is heavier and bulkier than a down equivalent, so it earns its place in the car boot or a cupboard rather than a lightweight hiking pack.
- Best for
- A warm, damp-tolerant bag for a home or car emergency kit and cold-weather use.
- Skip it if
- You mainly need a light bag to carry far on foot, or only ever camp in mild summer weather, where…
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Synthetic Softie insulation still warms when damp, a real advantage over down for home and car emergency use
- Genuinely warm to around -5C comfort, enough to see out a UK winter power cut rather than just mild nights
- Solidly built and made in the UK, with a two-way anti-snag zip, reinforced foot and compression stuff sack
Worth knowing
- At about 1.5kg and a fairly bulky pack size, it is heavy compared with down or lightweight bags
- Costs more than budget synthetic bags of similar temperature rating
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Our review
The Snugpak Softie 9, sold as the Hawk, is a British-made synthetic sleeping bag rated by Snugpak to a comfort temperature of minus 5°C and a low of minus 10°C. At 1.5 kg it is too heavy for serious backpacking, but that is not its job: it is the bag you keep for a cold house during a winter power cut, or a car stuck overnight.
What it is
Snugpak's product page gives a comfort rating of minus 5°C and a low rating of minus 10°C, with no extreme figure. The standard length weighs 1,500 g and packs to about 21 by 19 cm in its compression sack; the short version is 1,400 g and the extra long 1,600 g. The fill is Softie Premier polyester, the outer is Paratex Steelplate nylon and the lining is Paratex Light nylon, with two-way YKK side zips. Snugpak makes it in the UK.
Two caveats from Snugpak itself. Its temperature FAQ says the comfort figure assumes you are sleeping lightly clothed, in a thermal base layer or pyjamas, and that the low rating is the temperature at which fit people have used the bag with the minimum of discomfort. The page does not cite the EN or ISO sleeping bag test, so treat the numbers as the maker's guidance rather than a laboratory result.
Why synthetic suits a household kit
A down bag is lighter for the same warmth, but down collapses when it gets damp. Synthetic fill keeps most of its loft wet, dries faster and does not mind being stored compressed for a year in a cupboard or a car boot. For a home that may lose heating for a few days, or a car that may be stuck in snow, that forgiving behaviour matters more than pack weight. Our guide to keeping warm without heating explains how a sleeping bag fits with layers, hot water bottles and shutting off one room.
Minus 5°C comfort is more than most British homes will ever need indoors. An unheated house in a cold snap settles well above freezing for days, so this bag gives margin, and that margin is what lets an older person or a child sleep properly rather than just survive the night.
How it compares
On the sleeping bags page the Snugpak Jungle Bag is the lightweight sibling: 900 g, a comfort rating of 7°C and a built-in mosquito net, made for warm nights rather than a cold house. The Mountain Warehouse Microlite 950 sits between them at 1,400 g and a 5°C comfort rating, for less money. For a grab bag the Blizzard survival bag and the SOL Escape bivvy pack far smaller, but they are shelters for an emergency, not something you would sleep in for a week.
Our verdict
Buy one per person who would struggle in a cold house, and store it loose rather than compressed if you have the space. Skip it if you need a bag to carry on foot, where a lighter down or budget synthetic bag serves better, or if you only camp in summer. If your winter nights are mild and the house holds heat well, the cheaper Microlite will do.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Snugpak: Softie 9 sleeping bag; Snugpak: temperature ratings for sleeping bags (FAQ).
Who shouldn't buy this
You mainly need a light bag to carry far on foot, or only ever camp in mild summer weather, where a lighter and cheaper bag will pack smaller and serve you better.
Key specs
| Comfort temp | -5 °C |
| Season rating | 3-season (4 with liner) |
| Fill | Softie Premier synthetic insulation |
| Weight | 1,500 g |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for An affordable, machine-washable synthetic bag to keep in a home grab-bag or car for cool-weather standby.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
What temperature is the Snugpak Softie 9 Hawk rated to?
Snugpak gives a comfort rating of minus 5°C and a low rating of minus 10°C. It says the comfort figure assumes a thermal base layer or pyjamas, and the ratings are its own guidance rather than an EN or ISO test result.
How much does it weigh and how small does it pack?
The standard length is 1,500 g and packs to about 21 by 19 cm, according to Snugpak. The short is 1,400 g and the extra long 1,600 g.
Is the Softie 9 made in the UK?
Yes. Snugpak's page says it is made in the UK, at its factory in West Yorkshire.
Can I wash it?
Synthetic bags are generally easier to wash than down. Follow the care label; Snugpak's product page does not list washing instructions.
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