another pretender to the making of sleeping bags

David C. sent me the link to a new down sleeping bag from cascade designs. I do not go to the web sites of companies that make what they believe are sleeping bags because I do not believe aside from Wiggy’s there are any other sleeping bags made in the world. I do believe there are many “no sleep sleeping bags” made. The new monstrosity according to the literature was a development of a polar explorer; Eric Larson.

Eric is identified as a polar explorer meaning that he likes to spend time on the ice. What he knows about all of the material components required to make a sleeping bag is non-existent. The following information I have reprinted from the cascade web site. The bag is named polar ranger-20F. The total weight of the bag is 3 pounds and 4 ounces. The price is $689.95 for the regular length and $709.95 for the long size.

“Polar expeditions and high-altitude adventures demand uncompromised warmth. The Polar Ranger was designed with polar explorer Eric Larsen to ensure that every component of the bag was maximized for warmth even in Arctic settings. We engineered the bag with 800-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down^™ and features like a synthetic snorkel hood to help you enjoy arctic expeditions. Explorers like Eric Larsen understand the severity of the arctic cold and they count on the uncompromising performance of the Polar Ranger. Storage sack and compression stuff sack included”.

I would be interested to know who the polar explorers are that actually used this bag. If you were to inquire the information from cascade the answer you would get is BLANK OUT! This BAG WILL NOT GIVE UNCOMPROMISING WARMTH for polar expeditions or high-mountain adventures. I believe under those conditions you are more likely to be taking your life in your hands.

This bag was given backpacker magazine’s editors “prestigious” gear award! In all the years I have known of backpacker magazine I have never known of any of their employees having any knowledge of what it takes to make a sleeping bag. This statement is as true today as it was 25 years ago and all the years in between. However, as I have noted in the past the people who are employed in the outdoor industry are a “clique” covering each other’s back. You might say they are birds of a feather; a group who pretend to have knowledge of the out of doors. "prestigious award" is an utter joke.  

I believe about 25 or so years ago backpacker got 4 sleeping bags given to them to test as they were rated to -20 F and all were down filled and all weighed 4 pounds 1 to 3 ounces. They did want my Ultima Thule but they would not buy it. According to the article all 4 of the guys who tested the bags were marginally comfortable at 0 degrees after about 4 days of testing. This bag weighs 3.4 pounds and is rated at -20F, that tells me no person at cascade to include eric the great polar explorer or anyone at backpacker used this bag at -20 F. eric sure as hell never used this bag in sever arctic conditions.

There are zipper openings on each side of the bag so you can poke out your arms to read or drink coffee. Of course these opening capabilities are very costly and are cold spots.

Having down that has been bathed in a DWR you know the supposed durable water repellent treatment is meaningless. The DWR is not durable and does breakdown and it still does not ward off human body oil so it still deteriorates. But most importantly the down is significantly over rated and does not perform as described.

For anyone out there who is dead set on owning a down bag and has the money to waste, this is the bag for you. There are lots of things you can waste money but nothing as wasteful as this bag.

Cascade designs has been trying to get into the sleeping bag business for 20/25 years and so far they have been as successful a failure as I have ever seen with their sleeping bag program.

Here is the perfect example of a paid representative of cascade saying how good the bag is. I await the multitude of consumers saying wonderful things about this bag.

What follows is an interesting comment sent to me by a customer.

“One thing I didn’t address when I spoke to you on the phone the other day is I am hoping you don’t retire. If you do we are all screwed and will probably die from cold at some point.

Tim”

I guess Tim is unaware of the succession of the company by Marc which I have written about in the past. I can only imagine that Wiggy’s will continue to produce all of the products that have been shown to perform better than all other products for the same purpose after I retire, but that will only happen if I am incapable of continuing.

However, if more and more people chose to order while I am still around that will keep me from going to macdonalds for dinner.