Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Exped Wall Creeper > Brian Tannehill > Initial Report

Personal Information

Background Information

Product Information

Field Locations

Initial Thoughts

Questions Concerns

Test Plan

Personal Information:

Age: 31
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 7" (1.7 m)
Weight: 185 lb (79 kg)
Name: Brian Tannehill
Date: 23 Jun 06
Email: tannehillclan(at)gmail(dot)com
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Backpacking Background:

I am fairly new to backpacking, but I have hunted/fished/camped all my life in East Texas, Colorado, and California. My young kids (4, 10, 12) limit me to weekend overnight camping trips, or day hikes Geocaching. I am also an avid mountain biker. Currently I live in Colorado Springs, Co at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Pike National Forest surrounds me at 9000 - 14,110 feet (2743 m - 4301 m). Snow can happen 10 months out of the year and summer is the hottest reaching 65 deg F + (18 C), the other months average 45 deg F (7 C).

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Exped
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: http://www.exped.com/
MSRP: $ 238.00 USD
Weight: M:31 oz (890 g)
Packsack: 2 oz (50 g)

Field Locations:

The locations of my tests will mostly be in the Rocky Mountains of Pike National Forest just west of Colorado Springs. Elevations will be from 7000 feet (2134 m) at my house up to around 10,000 feet (3048 m) in the local mountains. Weather at this time of the year is fairly warm. Temperatures will range from a high of mid 80's (26 C) and a low of mid 50's (10 C) through the month of July to mid 60's (15 C) for a high to mid 30's ( -1 C) for the low in the month of October. The terrain is typical rocky mountain terrain for the Rockies with numerous trees to hang from.

My initial thoughts and description:

From the Exped's web site:
Down fill weight: M: 365 g / 13 oz; L: 440 g / 15 oz
Material: Shell: Pertex Quantum ripstop nylon; Lining: Texped PR 58 ripstop polyester; Fill: 750 fill Goose Down
Packed: M: 27x17x15 cm / 11x7x6“; L: 30x17x15 cm / 12x7x6“
Temperature rating: UC = 19°C / 66°F; CW = 8°C / 46°F; CM = 3°C / 38°F; LE = -11°C / 12°F
UC=Upper Comfort; CW=Comfort Women; CM=Comfort Men; LE=Lower Extreme
Fits to: M: 180 cm / 75“; L: 210 cm / 83“

* As a sleeping bag: With arm accesses that open, Wallcreeper is ideal for use while lying in the tent. Center zip is ideal for those who sleep on their sides with less heat rising past the zipper.
* Use as a coat: Secure foot end around waist with cinch cord, join the buckles, and adjust.
* Unique hood is comfortable, insulated, and adjusts easily - all without hindering vision.
* Insulated draft tubes protect arm accesses and stiffener prevents snags. Locking zippers adjust from either side.
* Draft tube collar is comfortably soft, offers complete adjustment, and prevents heat loss.
* Insulated, handwarmer pockets hold personal gear.
* 2-way locking zipper is protected by a snag preventing stiffener and can be managed from either side.
* Close the lower drawcord to make Wallcreeper a sleeping bag.
* Tuck-stitch design.
* Chin guard insulates against cold zipper.
* Insulated draft tube protects zipper.
* Bar-tacked stress points for extra strengh.
* Ultrafine netting storage sack doubles for bug protection.
* Reflective, glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls.

What does all this mean? It means this piece of gear is a multi-funtional piece of equipment. It has many features I have found in my other sleeping bag. It has multiple draft tubes around the zippers, baffles to help keep the down from migrating and creating cold spots and a new stitching technique for the baffles called "tuck-stitching". This method creates three layers of fabric versus just two, that are sewn together for strength. It is also sewn from the inside so it resists snagging on things or sharp objects. This bag has a very comfortable or soft feeling to it. Mainly due to what Pertex calls Quantum fabric. On the hang tag it says "The thread count for this bag is the lightest Pertex ever at 0.9 oz /yd squared (30 g/m squared). This construction offers outstanding strength to weight ratio, excellent durability in the field, and silky softness enhancing the loft of the filling. It also provides 50% less weight with 50% less volume."

I have the size medium, down filled wallcreeper. On the hang tag it says the suggested body size for the medium is 71 in (180 cm) with a girth of 59 in (150 cm). Lengthwise as I am only 67 in (170 cm) tall the bag fits fine. When I have my arms outside the bag it fits fine. The problem comes in when I zip myself up with my arms inside the bag I find it is very tight around my chest/midsection.

I measured myself and I have a 43 in (109 cm) chest. I then measured around my shoulders and across my chest and it measured at 53 in (134 cm). I like to sleep on my back with my hands folded across my chest. Kind of like how people are arranged at a funeral. I can barely get into that position when I start to feel claustrophobic in the bag. I am going to try sending it back through customer service and see if the larger one works better.

I've found the arm slots are large enough for me to get my arms in and out of, but I seem to have trouble zipping them up from the inside.

This thing has an intersting design with the foot box that I can open and close.

Footbox open

Footbox closed

Some of my questions and concerns:

I'm a little confused on the warranty information though. Outdoor Research (OR) is the exclusive North American distributor for Exped. On the OR hang tag it says it has an infinite guarantee, that their products are guaranteed forever. The warranty on the Exped hang tag says they only offer a five year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. "Questions? see your Exped Retailer"

My initial thought was I could carry this bag and use it also like a jacket when I hike. I think it would be better suited for an easy life around camp on those cold mornings and nights. I don't think it would be good to brush up against twigs and limbs while walking through the woods. How hot will this bag be if I decide to hike in it or wear it around camp some?

In the mountains the low temp is still touching the 40's F (4 C). Will this bag handle those temperatures?
How well does the bag seal up around the foot box area and the arm pits?
I am rough on my gear and I snag it on all kinds of things around camp. How well will it hold up against normal wear and tear? Will the bag tear easily (I hope not)?
How well will the bag work as just a bag, in a hammock, and in a tent on the ground?
How well will the bag work in my experiments with wrapping it around the hammock?
How well does the foot box draw string hold up? Will it wear out over time? Will it allow air into the bag?
How well does the bag seal off? In the arm pits? In the foot box? Around the hood?
How accurate is the temperature range rated on the bag?
How will it work as a vest? Is it to warm to hike in? Work in camp in?

Test Plan:

My test plan includes a lot of planned outings in my area. I am still getting acclimated to this area so for now I will only be hiking a few miles with a couple of thousand feet of elevation change. I will be wearing/using this bag between 7000 - 9500 feet (2134 m - 2896 m) in elevation. I am planning a lot of overnighters especially towards the end of this test series to see how accurate the temperature rating is. I will primarily be hiking the Stanley Canyon trail on the Air Force Academy up to Stanley Canyon Reservoir.

Thanks to BGT and Exped for allowing me to participate in this test.

Brian

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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Exped Wall Creeper > Brian Tannehill > Initial Report