null
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Post by null on Nov 21, 2021 9:24:44 GMT -8
I'm in the market for a 15-20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. A friend of mine strongly suggested I look at the Apex Climashield product. However, the only such product I can find is a quilt from Enlightened Equipment. When I Google "Climashield Apex Sleeping Bag" the results are full of other sleeping bags, but not Apex. I think I am looking for something like this but Nunatak said they no longer carry this. Does anyone have suggestions about how to get an Apex sleeping bag? If not, are there other synthetic sleep systems that you can recommend? |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Nov 21, 2021 17:34:55 GMT -8
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Post by trinity on Nov 21, 2021 18:05:37 GMT -8
What's wrong with this one? As I read it, he is looking for a bag, not a quilt. Maybe the EE Convert might work? Interesting that so few sleeping bag companies use Apex. There's probably a good reason. If you are set on a synthetic bag, I personally wouldn't worry too much about Apex, I'd get a top of the line bag from Marmot, TNF, Mountain Hardware, etc. The Cat's Meow is still being produced, so I figure it must still be a pretty decent bag (I owned one back in the mid-80s). I would never carry a synthetic bag, but you know enough about the pros and cons of synthetic and down that I am going to assume you have good reason for wanting one. |
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 21, 2021 19:06:31 GMT -8
I have one of these and it was what I used until I bought my GoLite Quilt. I can recommend it if the weight doesn't bother you. |
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kayman
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Post by kayman on Nov 22, 2021 5:42:30 GMT -8
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Nov 22, 2021 8:08:36 GMT -8
I did some research on synthetic fibers when making a summer quilt. Though almost 10 years ago, I think most of the technology still applies.
Essentially, it's "Primaloft" or "Apex" for the higher-end synthetic insulations, but they've both been around long enough for many gear manufacturers to have developed their own proprietary copy-cats. May be why you're having trouble searching for "Apex" bags. For instance, Mountain Hardwear used to use Apex for their Lamina bags but developed their own "Thermal.Q" insulation, which is actually closer to Primaloft technology.
Apex has longer filaments to create loft while Primaloft (and its derivatives) mimics down clusters. Apex comes in sheets, so allows for larger panels, while Primaloft is more like down and requires quilting/baffles to hold it in place. I think Apex is a little heavier than Primaloft but the quilting and baffling make it a wash. There's some opinions out there that say Primaloft is more fragile and loses its loft faster than Apex, but it definitely has that soft fluffy feel like down. Most of the "quilted" synthetic jackets, like the Nano Puff, is Primaloft.
For what it's worth, I made my quilt with Apex and it was super easy to work with. I also use it to line my DIY pillow cases that I stuff with clothing/puffy/etc.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Nov 22, 2021 10:14:46 GMT -8
As I read it, he is looking for a bag, not a quilt. I saw that, but it wasn't clear to me WHY that was the choice. I guess everyone has their reasons, but I'd note that I probably have as many sleeping bags as anyone else around here, and I haven't used a "bag" as anything other than a "quilt" in more than a decade. Since you compress the under-body insulation anyway, you will STILL need a good insulating mattress in temps down to 15-20 degrees - thus the question. (6 one way, half a dozen the other, I GUESS) jazzmom has a good point. Your "fixation" ;^) on something called "Climashield APEX" reminds me of my own experiences chasing garments and bags made with something called "ThermoLite" back about a decade and a half ago when THAT was the "new miracle synthetic insulation". You could probably guess how that went: the brand was just a "yet another synthetic miracle" advertising campaign. I ended up with a couple of ThermoLite jackets and a few bags I use occasionally in 50 degree weather. Nothing special, but they got my money. Essentially, it's "Primaloft" or "Apex" for the higher-end synthetic insulations, but they've both been around long enough for many gear manufacturers to have developed their own proprietary copy-cats. May be why you're having trouble searching for "Apex" bags. For instance, Mountain Hardwear used to use Apex for their Lamina bags but developed their own "Thermal.Q" insulation, which is actually closer to Primaloft technology. Montbell also does the "rename the material" dance a lot, I think. As I recall, they have their own brand names for insulation fill, air-permeable fabric (myth!) and just about anything else you can imagine. Avoiding fees for reuse of copyrighted names, I guess. Just yet another aside: I actually have a Marmot Pounder Plus Primaloft synthetic 25 degree (uh huh) BAG that you would have frozen to death in at 25 degrees even when it was new. Lucky for me, my test of the thing occurred in my own back yard and, yes, I got up at 3 AM (in 35 degree weather) and came inside for A REAL SLEEPING BAG! But, then again, I tend to sleep COLD. (I have used my old Marmot half-zip Hydrogen 30 degree in 19 degrees, but there were other factors.) MY POINT (in case you missed it): I doubt, for instance, that the EE Revelation APEX is good for 20 degrees if it only weighs 34 oz. OTOH, the weights listed in that spec at the location cited above could be "fill weight" - I've run into that before too. I also doubt (w/o firsthand proof) that this "Climashield APEX" is anything other than similar tech renamed for proprietary reasons. (Thanks again to jazzmom.) Let me know if I'm wrong - I've been there before. |
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