• Versatile: Wallcreeper functions as sleeping bag, coat, blanket or as liner when combined with a synthetic bag or bivy sack. Wrap it around a hammock on cool nights and crawl inside.
• 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 strength.
• Ultrafine netting storage sack doubles for bug protection.
• Reflective, glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls.

The Wallcreeper is constructed of a Pertex Quantum outer shell, a ripstop polyester inner lining, and 750 fill power goose down insulation. The hood, back, and side panels on the front are black, while the majority of the front and the entire lining are red. The Quantum fabric is lightweight enough that I can see the down through the red portions. On the left chest is sewn an Exped label, with a Wallcreeper tab and a size tab attached.

The bag is basically a slightly tapered (from the shoulders to the foot) rectangle about 69 in (175 cm) long and 26-23 in (66-58 cm) wide when flat, with a two-way, fully separating YKK zipper running the full length of the front center. A draft tube with black anti-snag ribbon runs the length of the zipper. The lower zipper heads one red tab, while the upper head has two, with the outer tab having a short, partially reflective cord with a glow-in-the-dark tab. At the foot end the bag is open, having a draw cord with two cordlocks to close it while sleeping, or - I suppose - vent it in warm weather. The cordlocks can be attached to each other to create a single loop completely enclosing the foot.

The jacket-type hood is about 12 in (30 cm) high, and has a cinch cord around the perimeter of the opening with the same type of cordlocks that are used at the foot. There is an additional elastic cord that feeds through channels starting just above the user’s eyes and running back behind the head. The cordlock on this cord allows adjustment of the shape and fit of the hood. Where the hood attaches to the shoulders of the bag is a draft collar about 4 in (10 cm) tall that closes with hook-and-loop strips allowing for adjustment.

What makes the Wallcreeper different from most other sleeping bags, even more than the opening at the bottom, are the vertical zippers located on the edge seam at each shoulder. Opening these 12 in (30 cm) zippers allows the bag to be worn like a jacket or - more accurately - a vest. The zippers each have full-length draft tubes like the main zipper. In conjunction with the openings, a black-edged handwarmer pocket is located on each side of the main zipper.

The stuff sack is made of red nylon with a coating on the inside, and measures 14 in (36 cm) long x 8 in (20 cm) in diameter. It has a drawcord with a captive red cordlock, a flap that covers the bag at the top, and a loop of the same fabric on the top edge to allow hanging of the sack. There are two overlapping flaps on the bottom panel that allow the sack to be folded in on itself for storage, with a small loop of draw cord for hanging it while folded this way. Whether folded up or fully deployed, there is an Exped label sewn on that matches the one on the chest of the Wallcreeper itself.

The black mesh storage bag has a bottom panel that measures about 28 x 10 in (71 x 25 cm) and is about 24 in (61 cm) high. It uses the same type of draw cord and cordlock as the stuff sack. The bag is also intended to be used as bug protection and a laundry bag. I do like multi-use items.

According to the attached documentation (and – apparently – the website, although I missed it), the Medium has a shoulder girth and foot girth of 59 and 51 in respectively (150 and 130 cm), while the Large measures 75 and 67 in (190 and 170 cm). I have a girth in the chest/shoulders of 56-57 in (142-145 cm), and I don‘t taper very much, making the Medium just a bit a bit too snug. In my experience, I have found that manufacturers generally produce Medium and Long lengths in their bags with not much difference in width - unless they also produce different widths - but Exped’s Large is truly larger in all dimensions. While I don’t in any way need the significant extra length of a Large (especially since the Medium is sized for someone already nearly 6 in (15 cm) taller than I am) my current more-than-ample girth requires the Large. Sigh...

First Impressions [return to top] Based on the Exped website, I got pretty much what I was expecting, and then some. I missed the dimension comparisons for the different bags/sizes and (as mentioned above) wound up with too small a bag. I like the concept of the wearable bag, and the fact that it unzips completely for warmer weather or to be used as a quilt.

Field Information [return to top] Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly, generally in the wooded areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 45 ºF (7 ºC) to highs around 95 ºF (35 ºC) during the 4-month test period. Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 1,500’ (457 m). Our new Scoutmaster has added monthly hikes to our schedule as well. My wife and I, who between us have 3 high-ranking boy scouts (ages 15, 15 and 16), are also looking into additional camping without the scouts, and there are possibilities of some AT section hikes (two down – many to go!) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with my son as he works towards the Hiking Merit Badge. The bag’s comfort (male) rating of 38 ºF (3 ºC) should make it a good 3 to 3½-season bag for me. To perform similarly to other bags I have experienced, the bag should be able to comfortably take me, nude, easily down to freezing, and even lower with a few extra layers. This will be tested in mostly hammock situations, as I am also testing a hammock for BGT. Speaking of hammocks, it would seem to me that rather than going through the contortions of getting into a hammock then wriggling into a sleeping bag, it would make more sense to get into the sleeping bag first, then get into the hammock. This bag’s design allows for that.

Things I am/will be looking for: Fit. Does it fit me? I may not be tall, but I’m pretty wide. Will I be claustrophobic? Does it move well with me? Does it restrict my sleeping positions? Hood. Is the hood snug? Does it cinch easily, and comfortably, down to fit my face/head? Fabric. Does the fabric breathe well? Is it water resistant (definitely going to want to test this)? Is it wind resistant? How durable is it? Insulation. Does the bag regain loft well/completely after unpacking? Warmth. How cold can it get and still keep me warm, or, at least, comfortable? How warm can it get and still be bearable? Zipper. Is it durable? Does it snag? Will I have difficulty getting into the bag in a hammock (I am testing the Crazy Creek LEX, and own a Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym)? Packability. How packable is the bag? I will attempt to pack this bag as part of my 3-season load in my Deuter Futura 32, or my 4-season load in my Deuter Futura Vario 50+10. Stuff sack. How well does the bag fit in it? Is it easy to compress? Waterproof?

My findings so far: Fit. I will be requesting the Large.

Things I like [return to top] Fairly light. Comfortable to the touch. I can get in my bag before getting in my hammock. This should save more than a bit of moving around. Things I don't like [return to top] None yet, other than sizing (my fault for not reading further).

Thank you for your time. Chuck Kime a.k.a. Fuzzy

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Exped Wall Creeper > Chuck Kime > Initial Report