• 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.

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 included a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures from lows around 28 ºF (-3 ºC) to highs around 75 ºF (24 ºC) during the 4-month test period. Elevations ranged from sea level to approximately 1,500’ (457 m).

In mid-October we took the boys to Gettysburg to hike the historic trails there. Temperatures ranged from overnight lows just above freezing to daytime highs around 75 ºF (24 ºC), with the occasional threat of light rain. I slept well in my Crazy Creek LEX and used my Big Agnes Insulated Air Core, wearing only a t-shirt and shorts with socks and a cap. The Wallcreeper was perfectly suited to wandering about the wooded outskirts of the campground where we set our tents, as well as the short walk to the restrooms. This walk did, however, point out to me an issue I have with the length. Upon reaching the restrooms, with the purpose of using them, I needed to lift the bottom edge of the now-doubled bag up to about waist high to access my fly. The excessive – for me – length of the bag meant I had about 4-5 feet (~1½ meters) of the bag bunched up between my armpits and my belt line. As the down is quite lofty, and the bag has ample girth, this was a significant amount of material in front of my torso and it obscured my view of the... ummm... target. In deep woods this would not have been an issue, but these were porcelain facilities, so I thought it best to take off the bag for that particular trip until I come up with another alternative. After returning from my morning walk I set about changing clothes for the new day and realized that I was wearing my very own personal changing room... cool. With no need to wriggle around in my hammock I could remain vertical and comfortably change out in the open without violating any regulations or codes of conduct.

Over the weekend of November 10-12, 2006, I met up with some fellow BGT gear testers and a few other hammockers and friends along the AT near Dingman’s Ferry in New Jersey. Night-time temperatures were right around freezing (a little below, I think) and there was thick fog in the mornings, as well as the beginnings of a light rain while we struck camp. What water did get to the bag beaded until I shook it off. I again slept in the Crazy Creek LEX with the Insulated Air Core, adding a MontBell Thermawrap jacket to my usual sleep wear of t-shirt and silk bottoms, and was quite warm all night. The ground around our camp sites had some low brambles that occasionally brushed the bottom edge of the folded bag as I walked to the restroom, but I noted no damage upon investigation.

Things I was 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: Fit. The Large is plenty large enough for me. I am able to get my arms through the openings, and can sleep in any position I wish. Hood. Nicely sized, and warm. Very adjustable. Fabric. Stops breezes. Beads water, at least while fairly new. I have noticed no wear, even after unwittingly walking through a few brambles. Insulation. Lofts well. Warmth. I took the bag a little below freezing with a light jacket on. I could have survived without the jacket, but I was nice and toasty. Zipper. Works well. The glow-in-the-dark tab is helpful. Packability. Packs small. This is good. Stuff sack. I can stuff it fairly easily, but I’ve got strong hands. The fabric is a coated nylon that seems to at least be water resistant. Since I don’t expect it to be out in the elements often, resistant is enough for me.

Things I like [return to top] Fairly light. Comfortable to the touch. I can get in my bag before getting in my hammock. This saves more than a bit of moving around. Things I don't like [return to top] I’d like to see a wider range of sizes, i.e. Medium Regular, Medium Long, Large Regular, Large Long. As it stands, the Large is also Long (by a lot), while the Medium (Regular) is already a little longer than I need. It is nice to have a portable, wearable changing room, though...

Summary [return to top] The Wallcreeper is a great idea, and is very well thought out. I will be keeping it in circulation on trips where my wife is not along (she is allergic to feathers) and weight/volume are less important. For true backpacking trips I will likely switch to a smaller synthetic bag, but I expect about equal use from the Wallcreeper.

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

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