Test Application: GoLite Feather Sleeping Bag - André

Application to test the GoLite Feather Sleeping Bag
September 16, 2005

I have read and understood the Survival guide v.1202 (in particular, 
chapter 5) and agree to follow all guidelines within. My signed 
tester agreement is on file.


Biographical Information

Name: André Corterier
Age: 33
Gender: m
Height: 1.85 m (6'1")
Weight: 80 kg (175 lb)
Chest: 100 cm (39.5 in)
Waist: 84 cm (33 in)
"Girth" (as per GoLite online measuring directions): 125 cm (49 in)
Email address: andreDOTcorterierATfreenetDOTde
Location: Bonn, Germany
 

Backpacking Background

I began backpacking in my late teens using Europe's "InterRail"-
System ? weight hardly mattered, as we were on trains a lot. I 
recently rediscovered backpacking and have started out slowly ? 
single-day 15 mile (24 km) jaunts by myself or even shorter hikes in 
the company of my little daughter. I am getting started on longer 
hikes, as a lightweight packer and hammock-camper. I've begun 
upgrading my old gear and am now shooting for a dry FSO weight 
(everything carried From the Skin Out except food, fuel and water) of 
about 10 kg (22 lb) for three-season camping. Not quite there yet.


Why and how I want to test this (Test Plan)

Oh, my ? where do I start? I believe I posted somewhere that I 
couldn't test a "super sexy sleeping bag" (hints about which have 
been thrown around with reckless abandon) if "super sexy" meant being 
able to keep me warm when it gets *way* cold. It doesn't do that 
around here and I have no need for a portable sauna (it's hilly 
enough around here to make me sweat). Instead, I opined, what I 
really needed was an "around-freezing" type of sleeping bag, a little 
warmer for summer (the Chrysalis call came just right ? for the other 
hemisphere, I almost bought it this spring), a little colder for 
winter.

Boom! ? Here comes this bag, showing me just how deep I put my foot 
in my mouth. I'd say that this is about as "super-sexy" a sleeping 
bag as they come ? and *absolutely perfect* for my kind of hiking!

Intriguing, too ? there might be "issues". I'll get to those.

But first: I'd want to take this bag on all my late fall to early 
spring expeditions (it would be *the* thing to let me continue my 
mini-adventure solo trips all through the winter) (wait- there's a 
kid's bag called in that temperature range, too - <gets giddy with 
excitement> <due to a supreme effort of will, calms back down>).

In late fall and early spring (even winter), though the night time 
low temperatures are invariably below freezing, much of the 
precipitation encountered is rain (sometimes sleet), and there tends 
to be a good bit of condensation in our tent and even on the 
underside of my hammock's tarp (when pitched low, as is my custom). 
Not wet enough to mandate a synthetic bag, but an environment in 
which a good DWR coating can be seen to do an appreciable job ? or 
fail to do so. Temps can get a little lower, too ? down to -10 or 
even -12 C (14 or even 10 F) ? but this is rare (and, should it be 
encountered, should be just the ticket to see whether the Terra 
Jacket, possibly combined with my pile vest, winter weight long johns 
and a buff or balaclava, can extend the usefulness this far). (Our 
record low was below -20 C/sub-zero F, but should it ever get there 
*and* I be out when it happens, I'll put all my clothes on and hike 
out.)

Much more often, temps will be in the -3 to -5 C range (23 to 26 F). 
This should be just right for the bag (if it's a conservative 
estimate, or the nights be warmer still, there's that foot vent?).

So, anyway ? this is obviously my bag. Made, from what I gather from 
the website, just to fulfill my needs. But ? did the manufacturer 
succeed in actually doing so? Only a test can tell?


Particular Features:

-       Temperature Range:
(obviously). Nighttime low temps in the probable testing period 
(let's call it winter for short) will be from just below freezing to 
the bag's rating. I may experience a night or two below it, and 
almost certainly ? either at the beginning or the end of the testing 
period, depending on the shipping date ? will experience a night or 
two with temps just above freezing. So: Will I be comfortable at 
those temperatures? (I'll be sure to have a thermometer along to be 
able to accurately report on temperatures and will also report on 
wind ? though I try to stay out of that.) Will I be able to adjust by 
wearing clothing or venting, to find my perfect temperature range? 
(Will it be my "home away from home"?)
-       Foot Vent:
Intriguing. I wasn't sure ? for a moment ? whether I'd really need 
the "Long version", when I'm *this* close to the medium ? do I want 
to heat another 5 inches of length and carry the additional weight? 
Well, it appears as though having this bag one size too small doesn't 
mean being cramped, it means there'll be hole in the foot end. 
Thanks, I'll take the long version. I wonder, though, whether having 
to slide down far enough to stick my feet out will result in a 
problem with the zipper's reach? I'll let y'all know. And ? when I 
don't intend to vent, will the baffles (there does not appear to be a 
zipper) really overlap well enough to prevent heat loss? Will I feel 
a draft on my naked feet? (I'd *hate* that ? but I guess there are 
always socks.)
-       Ergonomic Hood:
and five pieces of it, too. Intriguing (again ? did I mention I'm 
intrigued by this bag?). I shall assume (until I see it, at which 
point I'll report on this) that the hood isn't in five pieces. I 
guess five pieces were cut and sewn together to create an "ergonomic" 
(well-fitting) hood. The hood is at the other end of the Foot Vent, 
and could also be considered the "Top Vent" ? giving rise to the same 
questions: Can I vent well when I want to do so, and can I prevent 
heat loss when I don't? Only, of course, heat loss via the head is 
greater. And, cold feet result in lesser circulation there to 
preserve body heat, while this option does not exist for the head ? 
it'll be kept warm until acute hypothermia sets in. So insulating the 
head is more important ? and the approaches GoLite has chosen for the 
ends seem to mirror this difference. Excellent ? if done right. I'll 
let y'all know. (This will include whether I feel that heat from the 
body area is allowed to seep up and escape via the face opening.)
-       Zipper:
Yo, that's a short zipper. Less weight ? and more importantly, less 
area which needs double baffles and still poses the risk of heat 
loss. All good ? only difficult to get in. Especially for a hammock 
camper. But I'll get to that below. Primarily, I'd like to know 
whether this gives better venting opportunities: I've sometimes felt 
that with a side zipper I tended to have one shoulder too cold and 
the other too warm. Does a center zipper avoid this? (It should, 
shouldn't it?) Can I open and close the zipper from the inside? (I'm 
not sure if the center position helps there?) And will the dual draft 
tubes protect not only the zipper (as the website states), but 
protect me from heat loss? Will a number five zipper work (or will I 
have difficulty getting out of it quickly (GoLite doesn't even 
*claim* it's snag-free) ? will it be prone to snagging?
-       Material:
Obviously, it needs to be down proof. I won't be bothered by finding 
a very few bits of down having escaped the bag during the four month 
testing period (though I will mention the fact), but if enough 
escapes to make me fear the bag won't last for more than five years, 
that would be bad. And will the "face" material stick to the 
hook'n'loop fastener on the entry of my hammock? Will it really allow 
moisture to sit on it (and be prompted to evaporate by what little 
heat escapes through five inches of loft)? Will the inside material 
feel ? well, nice? Or ? not? Subjective, yes, but ? still relevant. I 
think.
-       Down:
I won't inspect this (unless it escapes, see above). But will I 
really get five inches (thirteen centimeters) of loft ? I like to 
carry my bag only slightly compressed (I generally have enough room 
in the bottom of my Vapor Trail to do this), but will likely have to 
really compress it at least once. How soon does it regain its loft? 
(I generally shake it up a little in my hammock and then let it sit 
there while I get everything else squared away to sleep ? that should 
suffice.) (I don't usually sleep where I cook, so I do want this bag 
to get "there" in the few minutes before I enter it ? though if it's 
only a 4.5 in (11.5 cm) by the time I get in, I guess body heat will 
take care of the rest.)
-       Gymnastics:
Just how hard will getting in and out of this bag get? With "trim" 
fit and a short zipper? I know I won't be able to use my usual 
method ? laying the bag into the hammock open so far that I can sit 
in the open part, put my feet inside and zip it up. I guess I'll have 
to stand in the entry, pull the bag up around me and then lie down. 
This may make getting onto my pad(s) (I'll have to use both of mine 
below freezing) more challenging. And will the Foot Vent be a problem 
when I stand on it? On the ground? I may have to stand on my pack or 
something to keep the dirt out - especially if it's wet. I will also 
camp on the ground (sigh?) with my daughter (in a tent), so I'll also 
be able to evaluate this from a ground-dwelling perspective.


Testing Location and Probable Conditions

In this region, the probable test period (October to January, or 
maybe November to February) will typically see temps between -5, 
maybe -10 C (25, maybe 14 F) and 15, maybe 20 C (60 F). For 
precipitation we'll have fog and drizzle as well as rain in fall, 
some snow in winter. Fall tends to be windy.

I plan a few overnighters for the test period ? quite a few, if I get 
this bag (which will both allow and prompt me to do this more often 
in the colder half of the year), but have nothing concrete planned 
yet (no big hikes planned yet during the test period). I hike in 
hilly, forrested terrain which starts a 15 minute walk from where I 
live and extends for about 30 km (20 mi) in most directions. This 
includes hikes in the Kottenforst State Park, the Siebengebirge 
Nature Preserve (Seven Mountains ? bit of a misnomer there, they top 
out at 461 m / 1512 ft), the River Rhine and the Ahr Valley. 
Elevations range from 60 m / 200 ft to the above-mentioned 461 m / 
1512 ft, paths tend to be well-maintained though I do not always 
stick to them.

There are many paths I haven't seen yet, but I am catching up. My 
overnighters tend to be ?mini-adventure" solo trips. Often, it's a 
distance I could cover in one long day, which I prefer to cut into 
two half days by starting Friday afternoon. Lets me get some solo 
backpacking done without impacting my family time too much.

I am getting my daughter into the whole outdoor thing and have 
succeeded to let her test with me (we ? especially she ? are eagerly 
awaiting the arrival of the Molehill Mt. Jacket). This will mean 
she'll want to do more of the outdoor thing (the group campout with 
her daycare center was a huge success) and so I'll be getting this 
bag out a good bit. We may start on the balcony or in the garden, but 
I guess for a sleeping bag a night out is a night out, no matter how 
far from home.

So I can (and do) promise a good bit more than at least two nights 
spent out during the FR phase and at least another three during the 
LTR phase. 


Should I be chosen for this test, I would require the bag in "Long" 
size and "Trim" fit.


My past Owner Reviews:
- Jack Wolfskin "World's End" tent at http://tinyurl.com/2w8vu
- Jack Wolfskin "Iceland Men" Jacket at http://tinyurl.com/yt4lg
- Jack Wolfskin "Texapore Mesh Hat" at http://snipurl.com/92wr
- Salewa Protection Windstopper Gloves at http://tinyurl.com/6k9pz
- Victorinox Outrider at http://tinyurl.com/6fspv)
- MacPac Kauri Backpack at http://tinyurl.com/bymsq 


Completed Tests:
Ursa Designs Clikstand Stove Set, at http://snipurl.com/92wt
C.Crane PakLite LED flashlight, at http://tinyurl.com/3rlo3
GoLite Wizard Jacket, at http://tinyurl.com/6783m
Dahlgren Light Hiking Socks, at http://tinyurl.com/63joq
Antigravitygear blue cozy cover, at http://tinyurl.com/6sqp2
Ibex Roaster boxers, at http://tinyurl.com/3vk8p

Current Tests:
 
Ibex Wool Glove Liners (LTR posted), at http://tinyurl.com/3wwd7
(LTR at http://tinyurl.com/dsxtx if not yet uploaded)
SmartWool microweight Tee (FR uploaded), at http://tinyurl.com/8d8yq 
Spyderco Salt-1 folding knife (not yet received)
Ground Terra Jacket (not yet received)
Molehill Mt. Hooded Fleece (with my daughter) (not yet received)

 
I am currently active as a Mentor and a Monitor (monitoring the Black 
Diamond Terra CF Hiking Poles test).

Thank you for considering my application.

André





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