Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Valandre Shocking Blue > Jerry Goller > Initial Report

Valandre Shocking Blue
Initial Report
January 16, 2006

Reviewer Information                                                                                     

Name: Jerry Goller
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ' (1.8 m)
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Email address: jerrygoller@backpackgeartest.org
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah 


Backpacking Background

I started camping with my father at age 6 or so. I’ve backpacked, off and on, all of my life. Even in the Marine Corps, I was in the Infantry. I consider myself a light weight backpacker with an average dry pack weight of 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 7 kg), depending on the season and terrain. I backpack year round.

Most of my trips are 2 to 5 days long and in Utah. I also, from time to time, take much longer trips lasting one to two months or more. These trips are usually on the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail.

Basic Product Information

Manufacturer: Valandre
Website: http://www.valandre.com/
Product: Shocking Blue sleeping bag
MSRP: $619.00 US, established by email
Listed weight: 1400 g (49 oz or 3 lbs, 1 oz)
Weight as delivered: 1483 g (52 oz or 3 lbs, 4 oz)
Dimensions: 200 cm (Large) long. 166/144/106 cm (65/57/41.7 in) circumference inside at shoulder/hip/foot
Included Accessories: Compression stuff sack (90 g, 3.1 oz) and a mesh storage bag.
Temperature Rating: -25 C (-13 F) Extreme Rating
Shell Material: Outer Shell: Asahi Kasei Impact 66 ripstop, Inner Shell: Asahi Kasei Impact ripstop, established by email
Down Quality: Goose 95/5 (850 cubic inch per ounce)
Down Load: 768 g (27 oz)
All information is per the Valandre website, unless otherwise noted.

Product Description

This is one of the most beautiful bags I’ve ever seen. It is light for its temperature rating and very well thought out. It has a number of features that, while not unique, are executed to a much higher level than other bags I’ve used.

Let’s start at the top and work our way down. The hood incorporates a differential cut so there is no compression of the down between the inner and outer layers. I also feel that the hood has what appears to be an unusually high loft to it. Valandre certainly hasn’t shorted the hood when it comes to down load.

The drawstrings for closing the hood around the face are conventional in operation but even they have something special about them. The two cord locks for the drawstrings also snap together. They are unsnapped to get into the bag then snapped together. This makes drawing the cords much easier and finding the cord locks, something that can be challenging in a closed up mummy bag, a snap. See photo at right for a detailed photo of the cord locks.

The next unique feature we see is the "Marie Antoinette" collar. This collar is designed to effectively seal around the neck to stop the bellows effect when I toss and turn. It seems to do just that. The side of the collar opposite the opening side of the bad has a zipper to close it up. The side nearest the opening has two strips of Velcro to seal it. Testing will reveal how well this works but I must admit I’m not at all convinced the zipper is needed. I don’t see actually unzipping it. If field use shows that I never unzip it I will probably cut it out and sew the two sides together, after test completion, of course. This will slightly lighten the bag and remove a potential failure point, the zipper. See the photo at left for a detail photo of the collar.

 
The next unusual feature of the Shocking Blue is the foot box. This area has been both raised and angled to allow natural foot movement. It is also differential cut and very generous in both size and fill. That should keep my tootsies nice and warm!

I want to make a comment on the circumference measurements. These numbers just don’t mean anything when I read them. But when I get into the bag I find I have plenty of room, much more than any other mummy bag I’ve owned. My chest girth, including my arms, is 50” (127 cm) and, at 6’ (183 cm), 220 lbs (100 kg) I’m not small or dainty so I’m certainly pleased and surprised at the roominess of this bag.

General Impression

This bag just screams quality. It is soft and luxurious both inside and out. It seems huge but still light. The quality of workmanship is superb. Even with all the tossing, turning, and stuffing I’ve given this bag while inspecting it, photographing it, and trying it on for size I’ve not seen one piece of down escape.  The inner shell is the smallest, tightest ripstop nylon weave I’ve ever seen. I can barely see the squares of the ripstop they are so tiny. The color is a beautiful, soft luminous grey that is very pleasing to the eye. The fabric both inside and out has a very soft hand to it.

I can hardly wait to get it up in the mountains and see how it performs!

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Sleeping Bags > Valandre Shocking Blue > Jerry Goller > Initial Report