Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Valandre La Fayette > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report

Initial Report: 2006 Valandré LaFayette Sleeping Bag

Contents
- Product arrival
- Words on the Web
- Product features and construction
- Initial impressions
- Test strategy

It's Here!
The Valandré La Fayette arrived packed inside a 7.5 x 10.75 x 24 inch (19 x 27.3 x 61.0 cm) rectangular mesh storage sack along with a compression sack direct from France with no product tags attached.  I suspect this is because the bag received for evaluation is the first of the new 2006 production run.  Also received was a 2005 model La Fayette for comparison purposes - the 2005 model did have a product hangtag attached that details the product guarantee and care instructions.
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Words on the Web
The Valandré website is nicely designed and relatively easy to navigate.  Each product page provides pertinent product specifications and clear product photographs.  The Product Overview page is nicely laid out and allows for easy comparison amongst the various product lines.  I did note that the statistics are listed for a bag with interior length of 180 cm, however the medium bag is listed as having an interior length of 185 cm.
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Features and Construction
At first glance, the Valandré La Fayette looks like other mummy bags; however, the various design features become apparent upon closer inspection.  The La Fayette is composed of 85 individual parts that come together to form a bag of unique and thoughtful design.

The La Fayette differs from most sleeping bags in the location of its 1/3rd (24.5 in, 87.6 cm) length zipper - which is centered over the chest.  The YKK coil zipper features a self locking slider and has metal inner and outer zipper tabs.  The exterior zipper tab has a 1 x 4 cm (0.4 x 1.6 in) hook and loop strip threaded through it. Instead of a down filled draft tube, drafts are kept out by 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide piece of  hook and loop closure that runs the length of the zipper.  A small triangle of Cordura/polyester fabric is used to reinforce the shell at the base of the zipper opening on both the inside and outside of the bag.  At the neck, a unique stock or guillotine-shaped "Marie-Antoinette styled collar" provides a close seal against cool air.  The collar is sealed with hook and loop strips, and can be tightened with a bungee cord and mating barrel locks.  The differential-cut hood is cinched down using an identical system, however the cord for cinching the hood is not elasticized.  Inside the bag, at the waist, an elastic cord can be cinched down with a barrel lock to help hold the bag in place. 

The La Fayette also features circular baffles throughout the bag and a "high density knee protection system" that together work to keep the down un-crushable and properly distributed, no matter how restless the sleeper.  On the bottom of the foot box, two 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, 4 cm (1.6 in) long webbing tabs are attached to facilitate hanging the bag for storage.

In addition to the rectangular mesh storage sack, the La Fayette comes with black compression sack.  The sack is made out of coated ripstop fabric and is closed with a drawcord and barrel lock.  It is possible to compress the bag smaller once stuffed inside the stuff sack by drawing four 2 cm (0.79 in) webbing straps through triglides and drawing them tightly.  Valandré advises to compress the sleeping bag only during transport.

The main difference between the 2005 and 2006 versions of the La Fayette sleeping bag appear to be the shell fabrics (and color).  At the time of the writing of this report, the trade name for the fabric used in the 2006 model of the bag has not been identified.  The 2005 model La Fayette is red in color with yellow accents and a black interior and features Pertex Microlite fabrics (669RS on the exterior shell and Pertex 666 for the interior) -  the Pertex fabric is down and wind proof and water resistant.  I note that the tag on the 2005 model La Fayette identifies the fabric as teflon treated polyamide.  The hand on both fabrics is smooth, though the exterior shell of the 2005 model La Fayette is decidedly noisy and has less drape than the interior fabric.  The 2006 model La Fayette features a new fabric from Asahi-Kasei in Japan and is a DWR coated Polyamide for the exterior shell, and anti-static treated polyester for the interior.  While there is not much difference in touch (to me anyhow) between the liners for the 2005 and 2006 models, the external shell fabric of the 2006 model appears to be lighter in weight and thickness when compared to the 2005 model.  While it is possible to vaguely see the down through the orange of the 2006 shell, it is not possible to see the down at all through the 2005 shell.
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Initial Impressions
The Valandré La Fayette is well made, with clean stitching throughout.  I did note that there are a few minor finishing details that could be improved upon, though they are only cosmetic in nature.  These details are unfinished edges in both the compression sack and the reinforcing triangles of fabric at the base of the zipper on the sleeping bag.  I am impressed and pleased with the design of the collar, as I have historically always had issues with cold air entering my sleeping bag through that venue.  The La Fayette fits well (though the waist cord lands at my hip rather than at my waist) and is roomier in girth than other lightweight bags I have used.  The roomy fit is a welcome change from other mummy bags - it allows for some movement inside the bag and should allow for layering, should I find myself cold at night.

I do have some design concerns over the La Fayette - while I understand the use of the hook and loop closure on the sleeping bag, I wonder if a traditional draft tube couldn't have been used.  I confess a dislike for hook and loop closure in general, and especially when it can easily come into contact with my clothing or my skin (I find it to be an irritant).  Valandré has mitigated the potential for scratchiness by thoughtfully placing the hook portion facing outward and away from the user in the draft collar.  Some other areas of concern include the double zipper pulls (I think a flip reversible slider might have been a better choice, but testing will tell) and the mating cord locks for adjusting the collar and hood.  Initial investigation indicates that the external zipper pull has a habit of dangling on my nose when fully zipped, and while the mating cord locks make it easy to evenly tension the collar and hood, I found them difficult to connect the correct ones (collar to collar and hood to hood) in the dark, even with the differing cord materials.  Perhaps a learning curve is in order during the test period!
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Test Strategy
During the four month test period, I will be using the Valandré La Fayette on all of my over night trips.  I do most of my backpacking and camping in the desert southwestern United States, and expect temperatures to dip below freezing at night, with temperatures down to the low 20s F (-6 C).  I traditionally wear thin base layers when I sleep, and I tend to sleep cold and also tend to toss from side to side.  I typically sleep inside a tent and on either a closed cell or self-inflating mattress. I will be evaluating the La Fayette in the following:

Versatility - Might I be able to use this sleeping bag as a quilt? Will I be able to use it over a wide temperature range?  At what point will I need to add additional insulation and will I still have enough room inside the bag to sleep comfortably?  (I hate feeling like I'm trussed inside a sleeping bag.)

Comfort - Do I find the fabric soft and comfortable next to my skin?  Does it stay that way, or does it get clammy if I find myself in humid conditions?  Do I stay comfortable and sweat free inside the bag, or does the DWR coating on the exterior shell reduce the breathability of the bag?  Will the hook and loop closure snag on my clothing or scratch my skin?

Ease of use -  Is it easy to adjust the zipper and various cordlocks of the La Fayette in the dark?  I find when I do wake up overheating, I am usually desperate to vent my sleeping bag  - will I be able to quickly and quietly accomplish this with the La Fayette, or will I find myself waking my shelter mate with my struggles?  Is the zipper easy to manipulate, and does it run smoothly without snagging?

Durability and Care - Is the La Fayette easy to pack?  Does it attract dust, dirt and sand?  If I find myself in damp circumstances, will the DWR coating on the outside of the bag suffice to keep the down dry and lofty?  Will the hook and loop closure last over multiple openings and closings?

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My thanks to Valandré and BackpackGearTest.org for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Valandre La Fayette > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report