Mountain Equipment Revamps Entire Sleeping Bag Collection for 2017

Pickering, ON (February 15, 2017) — Mountain Equipment, designer and manufacturer of outdoor apparel and accessories, has completely redesigned its sleeping bag collection to reflect technical innovations in down insulation, optimized construction design and new fabric technology. The new sleeping bag collection will be available at retailers in North America starting April 2017.

“Mountain Equipment’s new sleeping bags are a result of considerable scientific research, lab testing and computer models combined with extensive field testing in some of the world’s most challenging conditions,” says Matt Fuller, Mountain Equipment’s Product Engineer who holds a PhD from The University of Leeds in the use of down. “Our sleeping bags have evolved to reflect the changing trends in the outdoors and are more user and environment focused than ever before.”

If not used effectively, even the most exceptional down can be rendered useless. Mountain Equipment’s product engineers have invested significant time in optimizing the down density in each bag and in each baffle. Each bag is constructed in a way that achieves thermal performance, compression resistance, migration control, comfort and longevity. Mountain Equipment uses a combination of baffle structures ranging from Trapezoid Baffles, to vertically aligned V-Baffles, to Slanted Box-Wall Baffles that optimize and maintain loft to insulate to its fullest potential.

Mountain Equipment also realizes that the first line of defense for a sleeping bag is the fabric, so several fabric technologies including GORE ThermiumTM, Mountain Equipment’s DRILITE® LOFT water-resistant fabrics, as well as PlasmaTM lightweight fabrics, are used, depending on the end use.

Other sleeping bag features that are unique to Mountain Equipment’s new collection include:

• EXL® elasticised stitching in the baffles is a patented technology developed to minimize dead air space around the body. It pulls fabric closer to the body and away from the down, allowing it to loft without adding weight.

• Down Control Hoods feature 5 or 7 separate baffles to make them more anatomically shaped, lighter, more thermally efficient, and easier to adjust.

• Lode-LockTM closure system reduces heat loss with interlocking full length zip baffles and collars with an auto-locating magnetic fastener instead of a traditional snap for one handed quick release and better heat efficiency.
• Trapezium 4 and Trapezuim 6 foot boxes offer 4 or 6 baffles within the footbox construction that reduces seam lines in the foot box, where heat is often needed most, and reduces overall weight by 20% compared to a traditional footbox. The patented BullseyeTM and Sharks ToeTM design restricts down migration and offers a comfortable fit around the foot.

Mountain Equipment has also made a genuine commitment to using ethically sourced down in its sleeping bag collection. In 2009 Mountain Equipment became one of the first outdoor brands to introduce independent auditing for its down supply chain. Today, every Mountain Equipment sleeping bag contains a unique code that can be entered into the DOWNCODEX website to trace the down that is used in that specific bag. Consumers can not only identify the source of the down, but also view the audit and test results relating to that batch.

Mountain Equipment’s 2017 sleeping bag collection has five series to accommodate a wide variety of outdoor athletes and enthusiasts.

EXTREME EXPEDITION SERIES: Engineered to withstand extreme cold in the most hostile environments on Earth. These bags are built specifically for the needs of explorers and mountaineers.

EXTREME ALPINE SERIES: These lightweight protective bags provide confidence for self-supported trips in remote locations.

EXTREME LIGHTSERIES: The lightest, most efficient bags developed for alpinists, ultra-distance backpackers and mountain athletes. Bags in this collection are under 2lbs.

GLACIER SERIES: For climbers and backpackers, these bags offer true all-around performance and protection for unreliable conditions.

HELIUMSERIES: For backpackers, cycle-tourers and trekkers, these bags are efficiently sized, comfortable and lightweight. Whether it’s a road trip or an extended trek, Helium bags offer all around performance and is destined to be Mountain Equipment’s best selling series.

About Mountain Equipment:

Mountain Equipmenthas been creating some of the finest mountain clothing and equipment in the world since 1961. The North American office opened in 2011 and is now part of Outdoor & Sports Company, Inc. specializing in designing and marketing technical outdoor clothing and equipment, including GORE-TEX® and down insulated outerwear and a full range of sleeping bags.

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