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Locations/Conditions

During the last two months I have tested the EXPED Wallcreeper during several summer adventure trips. They included backpacking trips to Grand Island National Recreation Area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior Provincial Park's Coastal Trail in Ontario, Canada. In addition, the Wallcreeper was my sleeping bag of choice for the entirety of a 12-day wilderness canoe trip down the White River in Ontario, Canada. Total nights of testing during this time period amounted to seventeen.

Testing locations included deciduous and pine forest, steep rocky lakeshore trail and a wilderness river system. The testing conditions were at low elevation or altitude 600 ft (183 m) to 2000 ft (610 m), with mostly warm conditions and mid-to-high range humidity (50-95 percent). Temperatures ranged from a low of 42 F (6 C) to a high of 86 F (30 C). Mostly dry conditions prevailed. However, there were episodes of severe thunderstorms during all of these trips.



Test # 1 (Backpacking Trip) --
Grand Island National Recreation Area June 30-July 2 2006
Temps: High 77 F (25 C) Low 52 F (11 C)

 
Preparation

I stuffed the sleeping bag into the provided stuff sack and hoped that it would fit into my small Gregory G Backpack (2700 cu in/48 L). It fit nicely at the bottom of the pack even though I feel this bag could be in a much smaller sack as it takes up more room in my pack than similar bags of the same temperature rating. In fact, I noted in my initial report that an EXPED hangtag suggested that it could be compressed to slightly larger than a 1 L (1.06 qt) bottle. As an experiment I tried packing the bag into a smaller stuff sack that was 2 in (5.08 cm) in diameter less than the provided bag but it was the same length. It took a great deal of effort and it was still much larger than a 1 L (1.06 qt) bottle. Maybe a compression sack would take it to that size. However, this might impact the loft of the down-filled Wallcreeper or lessen its effectiveness.


Inside Out :)

Although I had set up my tent back in the forest upon arrival at my bivouac location, I spent the rest of the evening at the lakeshore well past sunset. I went back to my tent and proceeded to get ready for sleep. I didn't turn on my headlamp when I set out the Wallcreeper on top of my ProLite 3 sleeping pad. I found the cinch cord around the bottom of the bag and closed it up with the toggles. I crawled into the bag and zipped it up part way. Something felt not quite right with both the center zipper and hood but I forgot about it as it was the first night I was to spend in the bag. I fell asleep and I was content to not have the bag completely zipped up and I didn't need the hood for warmth. The low temperature was 52 F (11 C ) which felt very warm. In the morning I was surprised to see that I had the sleeping bag on inside out and the draft tubes were on top. I should have noticed the location of the reflective center-zip pull. I guess I must have been really tired when I crawled in the bag. It was good for a laugh shared with a friend.

The next night was even warmer with the low being 61 F (16 C). The night was relatively calm even though I was set up a few hundred yards from Lake Superior. I arranged myself in the sleeping bag but I only closed the toebox and partially zipped the center zipper. Not being used to "shoulders" on a sleeping bag created by the location of the center zip, I awkwardly got myself in the right arrangement. I turned from side to side many times during the night and the bag stayed mostly in place even though it wasn't zipped.


Test # 2 (Backpacking Trip)--
Lake Superior Provincial Park Coastal Trail
Ontario, Canada  July 7-10 2006
Temps: High 86 F (30 C) Low 49 F (9 C)


Arms Outside

During the first night of this trip, I settled into the sleeping bag with my arms inside the bag. I soon realized I was too hot, so I unzipped the center zip halfway with the easily found glow-in-the-dark zipper and then opened the arm zippers. I brought my arms out and they stayed comfortable outside the bag all night long. I was wearing a 100 wt. fleece hoody and it was the perfect combination. Occasionally I would put my hands into the insulated chest pockets on the outside of the sleeping bag but most of the time my hands were comfortable being outside of the bag. It was ditto for the next night. There was a lot more humidity as it had just rained and a warmer night all around.

During the third night, even though the low temperature was similar to the previous night's temp the air felt a lot colder. I had gotten soaked while hiking so maybe my body temp was lower but anyway I had to put my arms in the bag for the night. Because my hair was still somewhat damp, I had it encased in a fleece hoody, hat and the sleeping bag hood. The roomy insulated hood stays nicely in place with the adjustment features. For this trip I still used the Prolite 3 sleeping pad underneath the Wallcreeper.


Toebox Temperature Regulation

Unlike most sleeping bags, the Wallcreeper toebox can be completely opened. This is an awesome way to regulate the temperature in the bag. I have found that when it is closed or the drawcord is cinched that the toebox effectively seals out cool air. I often cinch the drawcord only part way to produce some warmth but it also provides some ventilation. There are so many ventilating possibilities in this area of the bag alone as the center zip can also be opened from the bottom edge.


Roomy Bag

I find the bag to be extremely roomy when all the zippers are closed. In fact, when I rotate from side to side the bag seems to turn independently and I usually end up with the center zipper somewhere over on one side of my body rather than in the center of it. The shoulder area of the Size Medium sleeping bag measures about 54 in (137 cm) in diameter while my actual shoulder girth is about 41 in (104 cm). It leaves me plenty of room. However, this doesn't appear to be a disadvantage for warm conditions as the empty air space isn't cold. I have worn several layers (shirt, fleece hoody and light shell jacket) inside the bag and have not felt compressed or limited in my movement. I will certainly have a chance to find out if I can wear bulkier insulated clothing inside the bag when the weather soon becomes cooler. Even though I have worn several types of clothing inside the bag the lining material has easily moved over my clothing and allowed me to move freely within the bag.


Easy Exit

During the nights I also decided to wear the Wallcreeper outside of the tent when I had to get up. I just unzipped the arm holes, popped out my arms if they had been inside the bag and un-cinched the bottom, slid it upward and re-cinched it around the waist. It was so cool to still be warm and not have to crawl entirely out of the bag during those occasions. The fact that I can do this while being half asleep amazes me.


Morning Chores

On the last morning it was really cool and damp. l got up early and headed down to the cobble beach to retrieve my bear bag that was hung on a bordering tree. I still wore the Wallcreeper and again I thought how neat it was to be able to stay warm and not have to deal with changing into a regular jacket and losing body heat in the process. I finished my breakfast and when it was time to pack up, I put the sleeping bag away.


Test # 3 (Wilderness Canoe Trip) --
White River - Ontario, Canada
112 mi (180 k), 48 portages
August 5-16 2006
Temps: High 82 F (28 C) Low 42 F (6 C)


Packing Procedure

At first I was a bit worried about taking a down bag on a 12-day canoe trip as my first inclination would have been to take a synthetic bag for safety reasons. I then realized that with my packing techniques the sleeping bag would have little chance of encountering water even if the worst happened and the canoe dumped. I first packed the sleeping bag with the provided stuff sack lined with a compactor bag and secured. It was then encased in a dry bag. On this trip I used a three-quarter length Z-Lite sleeping pad.


No Moisture Build-Up

Weather varied on this trip between warm sunny days and cool damp ones. After using the sleeping bag for twelve days in a row, the bag didn't appear to take on any noticeable moisture. This was especially surprising because the tent I was using had considerable condensation issues with the ends and apex of the tent having excessive condensation build-up during rainy episodes. The sleeping bag didn't make any surface contact with the condensation but it was an extremely humid environment. The Pertex Quantum Shell of the Wallcreeper didn't appear to let any of that condensation enter the bag. The sleeping bag also lofted nicely even though it was tightly compressed in a (compactor bag lined) stuff sack every day of the journey. At the end of trip the loft was incredibly still superior.


Closing the Arm Zippers

During most nights of this trip I left my arms outside of the bag. If I began to get cool in the wee hours of the morning I would close the zippers. I usually accomplished this by bringing my arms one at a time into the bag and closing the first zipper with the opposite hand. After the second hand was inside the bag I would reach across my chest inside the bag and close the second zipper. I suppose I could have instead opened the chest zipper and closed both of the arm zippers but it works effectively for me to do it in the former way and not lose any body heat from the chest area. This most likely will be more important as the weather becomes cooler yet.


Camp Wear
 
I also found the Wallcreeper useful again to add some warmth to my attire sometimes in the evening and morning hours. I was able to sit comfortably in my Thermarest chair kit (Z-Lite pad) without it interfering with my activities or putting stress on the zippers and other constructive features. It also was nice to wear the Wallcreeper while getting a few things done before packing it away to get on with the day ahead of me.


Temperature Rating

The 46 F (8 C) temp rating for females seems right on par. It even feels warmer than another similar temperature-rated bag that I own for those conditions. I have used the Wallcreeper with minimal pad insulation underneath either with a ProLite 3 or a Z-Lite, each being three-quarter length. The insulated draft tubes on the arms and center zippers seem to function well when needed. I haven't had to use the insulated draft collar as it's been too warm so far. Most nights I didn't secure the hood either but just used it loosely over my head if needed.
 
Pros

• Zippered-Arm Openings
• Extensive ventilation possibilities
  
• Can keep the Wallcreeper on when exiting the tent at night
  
• Can be worn as coat around camp
  
• Temperature Rating seems very accurate
  

Cons

• Two way arm zippers would be nice   

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EXPED Wallcreeper-- Thoughts So Far 

During the field-test period, I've had a chance to use the EXPED Wallcreeper Sleeping Bag on an extensive basis totaling seventeen nights in the wilderness. I am extremely happy with its performance in the field so far. I especially love the zippered arm openings and the center chest zipper that allow me to regulate the warmth of the bag. Being able to wear the sleeping bag instead of an insulated jacket is a definite plus. In the long-term testing period, I will look at using the Wallcreeper with additional types of shelters including a hammock, tarp and bivy. With the colder fall temperatures, I will especially pay attention to the various draft tubes for temperature regulation and the use of insulated clothing to extend the temperature rating.
 
Thanks to EXPED and BackpackGearTest for the great opportunity to continue to test the Exped Wallcreeper Sleeping Bag during the final two months.