Locations/Conditions

During the long-term test period of the last two months, I have tested the EXPED Wallcreeper during several fall adventures. They included backpacking trips to Isle Royale National Park (8 nights) and Craig Lake Wilderness (1 night). In addition, the Wallcreeper was used during a wilderness canoe trip (3 nights) down the Fox and Manistique Rivers in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Total additional nights of testing during this time period amounted to twelve. Total nights during the entire testing period amounted to 29 nights in the EXPED Wallcreeper.

Testing locations included deciduous, pine and boreal forests, rocky island trail and two wilderness river systems. The testing conditions were at low elevation or altitude 600 ft (183 m) to 2000 ft (610 m), with mostly warm to cool conditions and mid-to-high range humidity (50-95 percent). Temperatures ranged from a low of 34 F (2 C) to a high of 81 F (27 C). Mostly dry conditions prevailed, however there were intervals of rain on the first two trips.

Test # 1 (Backpacking Trip) --
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
88 mi (142 km)
September 5-13, 2006
Temps: High 81 F ( 27 C) Low 32 F (0 C)
Sun, Clouds and Rain, Mid-High Humidity

In my field-test report, I noted that I would use the Wallcreeper in the long-term testing period with different shelter types other than a tent that I had exclusively used in the field-test period. For my trip to Isle Royale National Park, I packed a 9 ft (2.74 m) X 9 ft (2.74 m) Silnylon Tarp and a Hennessey Hammock. I also knew I would be sleeping in 3-sided shelters during some of the nights. Several of my nights were spent in the latter. The nights were mostly cool with a low of 32 F (0 C). During the cooler nights the Wallcreeper Sleeping Bag with a temperature rating of 46 F (8 C) for women, didn't alone provide enough warmth for me when used independently. This was to be expected as I normally require a warmer bag for that kind of temperatures due to the fact that I definitely sleep on the cool side. To provide more warmth, I used it in combination with my Hennessey Hammock acting as a bivy over a three-quarter length Z-rest on the shelter's wooden floor. I also wore a light fleece hoody and a light wool undershirt for my top layers and Nylon trail pants and thin insulated pants for the bottom layers. I zipped the armholes shut but kept my head just loosely encased in the hood of the bag. This seemed to be the perfect combination for me on the colder nights. Since I didn't tightly enclose my head it probably was a source of heat loss but with the additional clothes on me it surely extended the temperature rating of the bag.

The nights I spent under a tarp were mostly in the 40 F (4 C) to 45 F (7 C) degree range. I again used the hammock as a bivy under the tarp to keep out bugs and other creatures of the night. I used a three-quarter length Z-rest pad on the earth's surface. I only wore a single layer of clothing during these somewhat warmer nights and used the hood for warmth. The hood on the sleeping bag has an exceptional fit. It is much like a hood on a favorite jacket.

I spent one of the nights sleeping in my hammock in the normal configuration hung between trees. Again I used the Z-rest sleeping pad in the hammock and I wore two layers of clothing. I was very close to being too cold but the low temperature was about 46 F (8 C). The various draft tubes on the sleeping bag worked quite nicely to keep the cold wind outside the bag. It was also very easy to get into the hammock with the sleeping bag already mostly in place (the lower portion cinched around the waist). That is truly a fine bonus when dealing with a hammock that has a bottom entrance such as the Hennesey.

In addition to sleeping in the Wallcreeper, I continued to use the bag as a coat during the cool mornings at camp. I usually left it in place while I ate breakfast and as I packed up camp. It was easy to pack away in my roomy Granite Gear Stratus Latitude Pack minutes before I started hiking. Although I brought another insulated jacket as a spare, it is one of my favorite features of the Wallcreeper. The ability to wear the sleeping bag as a jacket makes it a highly versatile piece of gear.

Test # 2 (Backpacking Trip) --
Craig Lake Wilderness, Michigan
"Weekender"
8 mi (13 km)
September 23-24, 2006
Temps: High 71 F (22 C) Low 49 F (9 C)
Rain, High Humidity
 
For this quick backpacking trip with a friend, I used my Gregory G Pack to carry the Wallcreeper and other gear. I also packed and shared a two-person tent for my shelter. Humidity was very high (85 to 100 percent) and the low temp only reached 49 F (9 C) making it a comfortable night to sleep in the Wallcreeper. I used a  ProLite 3 sleeping pad underneath the bag. I slept with my arms and head outside of the bag while wearing a 100-wt Micro-fleece hoody and Nylon trail pants. I didn't sleep well during the night and I had to get up more times than usual to deal with my restlessness (no fault of the Wallcreeper). The light mist-like rain that fell continuously didn't seem to bother the shell of the Wallcreeper while I wore it on these excursions. The mist beaded up on the surface and was easily wiped away. In fact, even though there was maximum humidity, the Wallcreeper did not appear to pick up any noticeable moisture during the night while lying in the tent either. When I returned home, I took the bag out of the stuff sack and it felt completely dry.

Test # 3 (Wilderness Canoe Trip) --
Fox and Manistique Rivers
Seney, Michigan
October 6-9 2006 
Temps: High: 61 F (16 C) Low 34 F (1 C)
Sun, Clouds, Mid-Range Humidity

Being October in the north country, I expected that the possibilities of cold nights on this trip would be realized. In preparation for the trip, I packed the Wallcreeper in a waterproof portage pack, an extra rectangular-insulated overbag rated at 55 F (13 C) and both insulated pants and jacket. My shelter for this trip was a tent with two mesh-screened sides. In anticipation of low temperatures each night of the trip, I dressed in warm clothing and then slipped into the Wallcreeper with my hands outside the bag. I lay the overbag over me as a blanket. I actually was too hot all of the nights. The lows ranged from 34 F (1 C) to 54 F (12 C). Some of the nights I removed the extra clothing from me or I shed the overbag. I was perfectly comfortable during the warmest night to not have either in place. I didn't close either of the vestibule doors of the tent I was sleeping in during any nights of the trip. For this trip I used two pads, one being a three-quarter length Z-rest and the other was a ProLite 3 pad (three-quarter). The pads were shingled.
 
Summary:

During the entire testing period, I have been fortunate to spend 29 nights testing the Wallcreeper Sleeping Bag in the wilderness. I can't say enough great things about this sleeping bag. Its roominess, accessibility, versatility and comfort are exceptional. Although it is primarily a warm-weather bag, I have used it in combination with both a bivy and an insulated overbag to extend its temperature rating. I am now considering its use as a liner to a winter bag. Even though the bag has seen considerable use and has been packed in many different styles of backpacks and portage packs, it has held up beautifully. I haven't noticed any compression of the down loft nor have I seen any flaws in any of the other components of the bag including zippers and fabric. I have already purchased another Wallcreeper for a friend as it is an amazing bag.
 
In my initial report, I posed the following test questions. Most of them were answered in detail in my field report but the following summarizes my findings:

Materials: 
 
Will the Pertex Quantum Shell ward off any potential water hazards including but not limited to light rain, humidity or condensation - that is, will the shell material keep the down insulation dry from the outside? High humidity was an issue on many days of my trips but the down never got noticeably wet. If the ends of the Wallcreeper touch a tent wall will the moisture seep through the shell? Sometimes my hood would touch the tent wall, but the shell was easily wiped dry with a chamois cloth. Will the Texped PR 58 Rip Stop Polyester Lining deter body moisture and body dirt from filtering into the down insulation compromising its effectiveness? Not a noticeable problem. Will the down insulation retain its loft after being compressed in a stuff sack? Yes

Workmanship:  
 
Do all of the zippers run smoothly and not catch on excess fabric including the draft tubes? Do all of the zippers lock in place? Will the interior tuck-stitch design be finished properly? Is the lining material neatly finished so that it doesn't catch on any clothing? Yes to all.

Performance/Comfort: 
 
Will I need to use a bivy over the Wallcreeper to protect it from moisture/condensation if I am sleeping under a tarp? I did use a bivy but it was needed to add warmth to the cold conditions I was experiencing. Condensation was not an issue.  I would be testing the sleeping bag in different shelters - inside of a tent, under a tarp and in my hammock. If I don't use a bivy or tent will the wind permeate through the Pertex Quantum Shell and make me cold? No, the shell is very finely woven and it kept the drafts out of the interior bag. Will the draft tubes on this bag be effective to prevent heat loss from inside the bag? Yes, they are.  Will it keep cold outside air from entering the bag through the armholes or the center zipper? Yes. Will the draft tube collar keep me nice and sealed in warmth and not let cold air permeate at the neck area? Will the draft collar be easy to adjust if I need to ventilate it a little or pull it tighter to close? The draft collar is exceptional in my opinion. Not only is it easily adjustable, but it has considerable loft in the collar itself. Will the down loft quickly after being released from being compressed in a backpack repeatedly? Very quickly. Will I find that I stay warmer at night because I already trapped my body heat in the bag before retiring for the night? Will I enjoy the flexibility of this bag in its performance as a jacket, blanket or sleeping bag? This is one of the greatest perks of the Wallcreeper. I can't emphasize enough how wonderful it was to stay in the bag and retain body heat while adjusting it into a coat or jacket. I also love the versatility of being able to open the main center zipper all the way and make it into a blanket. Will the drawcord closure at the footbox end of the bag be enough to keep cold air from entering the end of the bag? It's perfect, as the extra fabric bunches up and seals it off nicely. Will the insulated pockets be big enough to comfortably put my hands into and stay warm? Very roomy and  toasty. Will the drawcord be easy to cinch around my waist so that I can wear the sleeping bag as a jacket? Very easy. During what conditions will I need to wear insulated clothing inside the bag to keep me warm? I tried using lightly-insulated clothing inside of the bag when the temperatures hit the freezing level but I became too warm and had to remove them. A couple of light layers were worn occasionally during colder temperatures and this seemed to be perfect for me as I sleep colder than most people. If I do wear extra clothing I realize that it must be properly vented for body heat to warm the interior of the bag. Will the Texped fabric breathe and not hold moisture inside the bag that would make me feel clammy? No moisture problems were noticed. Will the lining of the bag transfer moisture away from the body to the outside to prevent me from being chilled? I would suspect that it did because I never felt clammy except when I was over-dressed. Will the Wallcreeper be sized comfortably so that there isn't a lot of extra space in the bag but there is still enough room to turn from side to side? At first I thought the bag was a bit too roomy but I quickly began to love that aspect of it as I could work the arm zippers from the inside quite easily. The only negative was when I turned from side to side with my arms inside the bag and I didn't have the hood in place on my head that the bag's center zipper would sometimes end up on the side of me instead of directly over the center of my body. This didn't happen when the hood was in place. Will I find the center zipper to be a valuable asset rather than the side zippers that my other bags have? Yes, Yes, Yes, I love the center zipper. It was so much more functional than the typical side zipper as I didn't have to reach totally across my body to open the zipper. It is also great for venting when I was too hot, unzipping it a bit made my core body cool quickly. Does the lining material feel smooth to the touch against any bare skin? Very smooth. When I use the Wallcreeper as a jacket how much insulation will I have to keep on my arms or will keeping the torso warm keep my arms warm too? I generally wore a light 100-wt Micro-fleece hoody over a sports top and this was plenty to keep my arms warm enough.
 
Warmth/Temperature Rating: 
 
Is the 46 F (8 C) temperature rating of the bag fairly accurate for women? I know this is subjective but how does it compare to other products? I currently own similar temperature rated bags in both the mummy and rectangular overbag style. I found the Wallcreeper to be very accurate in its temperature rating compared to other bags that I own. Is the warmth to weight ratio desirable? - The medium version weighs 31 oz (890g). This is a bit more weight than similar bags in the market. Will it be worth it to carry the extra weight? Yes, a few ounces added due to the convenience of extra zippers, pockets, etc. are well worth the weight. Will I need to use more than a Z-rest pad underneath the Wallcreeper to be comfortable at its rated temperature? The Z-rest was fine for temperatures down to 46 F (8 C) while sleeping on the earth or on a shelter's floor. The exception was when I used it with a hammock. However, this is normally the case when using a hammock as I couldn't take advantage of the earth's warmth when the hammock is pitched several feet off of the ground.

Durability:  
 
Will the Pertex Quantum Shell hold up to ordinary wear and tear? Will the zippers remain problem free? Will the 750-Fill Goose Down Insulation retain its height during the test period or will it lose some of its loft quality? Will the lining of the sleeping bag hold up to the wear and tear of constant use? Will the bar-tacked stress points prevent ripping of those areas that are under higher stress such as arm holes? I  have worn and slept in the Wallcreeper for nearly a month. I haven't found any signs of wear or stress and it looks as good as it did the first day I used it.

Fit/Design:  
 
Will there be enough room in the sleeping bag to wear additional insulated clothing if necessary? This bag is very roomy. I had no trouble wearing several extra layers including insulated layers. Will the non-gender rated bag be too big overall for an average-sized women's body? The size is very generous but I do not deem it a problem for warm-weather months. Will the insulated elasticized hood move with me so that I don't end up with my face in the back of the hood when I turn from side to side? This hood is the best designed hood on any bag that I have owned. It fits well and it is just like wearing a hood on a jacket. Will the hood be easy to adjust? Definitely.

Care:  
 
 Will the Pertex Quantum Shell be easy to care for? Will dirt or water wipe or slide right off? Will the Wallcreeper be hard to wash if needed? I don't expect this to be a problem during the four month test period but it will be a factor after an extended period. The shell of the sleeping bag has remained spotless. I haven't felt the need to wash the bag as it had little exposure to dirt or oils. If the Wallcreeper becomes accidentally wet how long will it take to dry? The bag never got noticeably wet.

Special Features: 
 
 Will I find the storage sack made out of ultrafine netting useful for bug protection? It had little use since I often wore my bug shirt on the trail and at camp. Will the Glow-in-the-dark Zipper Pull be an asset if I have to get up during the night? Yes, it was neat to easily locate the zipper pull. I even thought it would be easier if the locking toggle on the bottom of the bag was also Glow-in-the-dark. Will the hand warmer pockets be big enough to stow small gear items and keep my hands warm? Yes, to both. Will I find the zippered arm openings easy to adjust? The significant width of the bag in the chest area makes it very accessible to reach within the bag to close or open the arm openings. My only suggestion would be that it would be better to have two-way zippers on the armholes so that they could be operated from either direction.   
  
 
Pros

• Zippered-arm openings 
  
• Can keep the Wallcreeper on when exiting the tent at night
  
• Can be worn as coat around camp
  
• Temperature rating seems very accurate
• Exceptional fit to the hood
  

Cons

• Two way arm zippers would be neat