Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Bask Trekking Sleeping Bag > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report

Initial Report - Bask Trekking Down Sleeping Bag

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 3" (1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond,California

Email: jns170@yahoo.com

Date: 5/27/05

Biography:

            Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper.  Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about three years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and the Southwest. I spent five days packing in Grand Canyon, which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information:

Bask Trekking-N-M Sleeping Bag (Left zip)

Manufacturer: Bask Company LTD

Year of Manufacture: 2005

URL (Canada) :www.baskcanada.com

Listed Weight: 2.8 lb (1.3 kg)

Measured weight: 2.7 lb (1.2 kg)

Measured weight of stuff sack: 5 oz (.14 kg)

MSRP: CA $269

Size: Medium

Fabric: Shell - 100% Nylon / Liner - 100% Nylon / Insulation - Russian goose down

Color: Shell - Black (9009) / Liner - Grey

Item number: 1992-9009

Temperature Rating: Comfort: +15/-5° C; Extreme: - 15°C (per Bask website)

Features: (per Bask website)

Separable zip allows adjoining left and right sleeping models.

Flat hood Zip is covered with a down baffle.

Special anti-snag tape prevents fabric snagging zipper.

Zip end is secured with Velcro.

Included compression stuff sack

Product Description:

The Bask Trekking sleeping bag is made in Moscow Russia. Most of the tags that came on the bag are in Russian. I cannot translate Russian, so I have only included the information from the tags that I can understand. The Bask bag has a 100% Nylon Tactel shell and a 100% Nylon Tactel liner. The fabric for this sleeping bag was produced by Sofinal, which is one of the largest and most advanced textile companies in Europe. The insulation is 85% down and 15% feather. The Fill Power (F.P.) is 650 +/- 5%. The tags that came with the bag do not list the temperature rating, but the Bask Canada website lists the temperature rating as "comfort: +15/-5° C; Extreme: - 15°C". The medium Trekking sleeping bag is the typical mummy bag tapered shape. The bag measures 93 in (236 cm) in length and 31 in (79 cm) at its widest point. The bag is divided into a dozen 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide segments to help the insulation stay even and in place. The foot box is 20 in (51 cm) at its smallest point and 11 in (28 cm) high. There are two loops on each side of the foot box for hanging the bag up to dry. The Trekking bag has a 70 in (178 cm) left side zipper that can be used from both ends and can be mated to another sleeping bag. This bag has a 6.5 in (16.5 cm) draft collar that is 27 in (69 cm) in diameter. The draft collar has an elastic cord with a push button to adjust the diameter. The top of the bag also has an elastic cord that can be adjusted. Each of these elastic cords allows the bag to be almost completely closed. There is a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long by 3 in (7.6 cm) wide Velcro flap to close over the zipper at the top of the bag. This sleeping bag features NIKWAX TX 10i elastomer fabric waterproofing. There were no care or washing instructions provided in English for this bag.

There is a black stuff sack that is included with the Trekking bag. The stuff sack is 19 in (48.3 cm) long. This sack is tapered from 9.5 in (24 cm) wide at the bottom to 13.5 in (34.3 cm) wide at the top. There are four 1 in (2.5 cm) wide compression straps that can be tightened with plastic buckles. The straps are 17 in (43 cm) total length. The compression straps only extend to within 6.5 in (16.5 cm) of the top of the stuff sack. There is a fabric flap and a cord closure at the top of the sack.

Initial Impressions:

When I first received the Bask Trekking bag, I immediately opened it and got in. The Bask Trekking bag is very simple in its design. There are not any extra bells and whistles; excess cords, pockets, etc., which I like. The shape is the standard tapered mummy style, with a flat hood and draft collar. The zipper operates in both directions which will be convenient for adjusting airflow through the bag if I use it in warmer temperatures.. This bag is designed to be mateable but the zipper does not run the full length of the bag. The end of the zipper stops about 14 in (35.6 cm) from the bottom of the bag. This design seems strange to me and looks like it would be difficult to sleep in if it was connected to another bag and person. This may not be a feature that I will have a chance to test, as my camping partner does not have a mateable bag yet. The Bask bag fits me, although I have a couple of concerns. I received the medium size bag that is 93 in (236 cm) long. I am only 63 in (160 cm) tall, so the bag is about 13 in (33 cm) too long. Further use will determine if the extra length is an issue. Extra space is always nice, but it can cause pockets of cold air to accumulate. The hip area is another concern for me. The Bask Trekking bag is not offered in specific men's and women's styles that I have found. The hip area is a little tight at only 27 in (69 cm) wide. I tend to roll around and like to curl up on my side while I sleep. Further use will determine if the lack of hip space will be a problem. I tested the elastic cord closures on both the draft collar and the top of the bag and have a few concerns. While I like the fact that both of these cords almost completely close the top of the bag, there is a considerable amount of excess cord left hanging. The excess cord seems like a potential strangling hazard, if in the least, a nuisance. These cords also seem like they would be difficult to use in the dark, especially if trying to get out of the bag.

After I initially tried out the Bask bag, I stuffed it back into the black stuff sack to see how small I could compress it. I was disappointed because the smallest I could compress the bag to was about 11 in (28 cm) long by 9 in (23 cm) in diameter. I am concerned that if I use the included stuff sack I may have a problem fitting this bag to my pack. The sleeping bag I have been using is a Kelty Lightyear that compresses to the size of a roll of paper towels. I may experiment with using other smaller stuff sacks for the Bask bag if this proves to be a packing problem. The Trekking sleeping bag does not have a foot vent and further testing will determine if this is something I miss having or is something I can do without.

I was not able to choose the color of the sleeping bag but I think that having a black bag will make it easier to dry because it will absorb more sun. This could also be a negative feature, because the fabric could break down sooner. I don't typically leave my gear out in the direct sun or exposed unless I need to dry it. I do expect this bag to get wet because I do a fair amount of backpacking when it rains. I do not purposely go out in wet conditions, but if I have something planned I don't let it deter me. I live near the California coast so there is fog throughout the year, which produces a fair amount of condensation. This bag comes with NIKWAX fabric protection to waterproof it and I think I will be able to test this feature thoroughly.

The Bask Trekking bag comes with a guarantee against manufacturing defects for one year. There is a tag that comes with the bag stating that if there is a defect, the bag can be returned and will be repaired or replaced. If the bag is accidentally damaged, Bask will repair it for a fee.

Test Plan:

I will be testing the Bask sleeping bag in a wide variety of climates and situations. One of my favorite spots to backpack is in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur, California. This spot is located near the coast in the redwood forest. I camped at this spot earlier in the year and hope to make another trip there in the next couple of months. Another one of my favorite spots in the redwoods is Big Basin State Park. I day hike often and backpack in Big Basin on overnight trips several times a year. The terrain in both of these areas varies from redwood forest, to chaparral, to riparian habitat. The camping area in both places is thick redwood duff. The climate in these areas is as varied as the terrain. Some areas are very dark and damp and it is very common for heavy fog to blanket the park in the morning and afternoon. Temperatures in Big Basin can be in the low 30 F (17 C) and as high as 95 F (53 C). The park elevation ranges from sea level to almost 2,000 ft (610 m).

I backpack on many overnight trips in Castle Rock State Park, which is located at about 1,800 ft (549 m) on the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I backpack in this area frequently throughout the year because it is only about forty five minutes from where I live, and is a great spur of the moment spot. This area is a blend of grasslands, lush forest, chaparral, and riparian habitat. The hiking trails have a tough sandstone and chaparral terrain. The climate of Castle Rock is much like that of Big Basin State Park, it can change from low temperatures and fog to very arid and hot very quickly. A calm day can turn into an extremely windy night.

I recently backpacked at one of my favorite spots, Point Reyes National Seashore. I try to backpack in Point Reyes a minimum of two times a year, at least once in the spring and once in the fall. When I go to Point Reyes, I always stay at least two nights so that there is plenty of time to explore and day hike. This area is located along the coast of Northern California where the weather and temperatures can vary greatly during the day. It is very common for Point Reyes to have heavy, wet fog and temperatures that range from the low 30 F (17 C) to the high 80 F (44 C). I think this would be a great area to test the waterproof abilities of the Bask bag because there is always a lot of condensation in the morning. The campsites that I usually set up at are in a grassy field on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.

During the test period for the Bask Trekking sleeping bag I will be backpacking and car camping on extended trips to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most of the areas that I visit and camp in the Sierras are sub alpine and are located between 2,000 ft (610 m) and 9,000 ft (2,743 m). Some of the areas that I like to backpack in the Sierras are near Lake Tahoe and Yosemite Valley, where there are endless trails to explore. The climate of the Sierras is varying and unpredictable. It may snow at any time of the year. Rain is always just around the bend and the wind can pick up in an instant. These areas feature large masses of exposed granite, meadows, rivers and pine forests. There are so many great places to backpack within five hours of where I live that it is always hard to decide where to go next, but I try to backpack about once a month. I currently have plans to head out in a couple of weeks and I am just trying to decide where I want to go. I look forward to trying this sleeping bag and I am interested to see if it can be used in many different situations and seasons.

What I will be testing the Bask Trekking sleeping bag for:

Durability:

I will be testing the Nylon Tactel fabric the shell and liner are made of for its durability and strength. I will be testing the construction of the Bask bag to ensure that all of the seams and stitching hold and that they don't fray and loosen over time. I will be observing how durable the down fill is and how well it holds up after being condensed on a regular basis. I will be testing how well the zippers perform after prolonged use, and if the companies claim that their special anti-snag tape prevents fabric from snagging in the zipper is really true.

Performance:

I am interested to see if this bag can be used year round and what temperature range it works in. I will be testing to see what the lowest temperature to comfortably use this sleeping bag is and what the maximum temperature is.

Ease of Use:

The company claims that this sleeping bag features anti-snag tape to prevent the zipper from snagging. This could be a really great feature if it works. There is nothing worse than trying to get in or out of a sleeping bag and having the zipper snag. So far it has been easy to pack this bag into the stuff sack but I am concerned about the overall bulk and I will see how easy it is to pack in my pack.

Comfort and Fit:

When I first tried out the Trekking bag, I noticed the fabric was soft and I am interested to see if it stays this way after it has been used and washed several times. My initial fit of this sleeping bag brought up a few concerns about the length and hip width and I would like to see how I feel after spending a night in it. A major concern is whether I stay warm when sleeping in the bag on cold nights and if the sleeping bag is so warm that I am not comfortable using is it in the summer.

Maintenance:

I am interested to see how easy the fabric is to clean and if it dries easily. There were no care instructions provided in English so I am not sure how to wash this bag. I am assuming the care instructions would be like those for any other down bag. I try to take care of my gear but if the fabric does tear, I want to see how easy is it to repair.

Water resistance:

The Bask Trekking bag comes with NIKWAX waterproofing. Down has to be thoroughly dried if it gets wet so I am hoping this feature helps to keep the bag dry. I will be observing how well the bag resists water and condensation and how long the bag takes to dry if it gets wet.

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Bask Trekking Sleeping Bag > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report