Touring - Exped Wallcreeper Sleeping Bag + thinking about Big Agnes

My old down sleeping bag (which is over 15 years old now! :eek: ) is in need of replacement. I am in no hurry but I did went shopping for sleeping bags recently. I have seen the Exped Wallcreeper (http://www.orgear.com/home/style/exped_or/exped_bags/exped_ultraltdwn/WDN) at my local MEC and was very intrigued by what appears to be a very interesting design... especially for hammockers.

http://www.orgear.com/product_images/13030_401_l.jpg

I have also noticed, online this time, the different Big Agnes sleeping bag (http://www.bigagnes.com/str_bag_home.php) which integrate a camping mattress to the construction of the bag itself, saving weight and making for a more comfortable night.

I am generally quite conservative in my choice of gear but these two designs are quite appealing to me, especially when considering the fact that I just bought a camping hammock.

Do any of you have comments about these two sleeping bags? Other options to suggest? Do you know how wide they are (I am fairly big for a cyclist)? Do you see any problems with them for touring?

Note: although I will mostly use my sleeping bag for touring, I intend to use it for canoe trips and short hikes.

try the exped out, its pretty narrow, but the concept is most excellent. I had a sleeping bag by marmot like that back in the early nineties, it was the rightous campground BOMB. Wake up and make coffee in your sleeping bag. middle of the night calls of nature, very ease.


i think it rocks, if you want one like that but bigger, feathered friends will make you a big one, the rock wren or the winter wren.

I don't know if it's the model they used or what, but those pictures cracked me up. It looks like a very versatile sleeping bag design. It solves the problem of not wanting to get out of your sleeping bag on those cold mornings. Also, where does the leg part of the bag go when you're wearing it like a big parka vest?

My brother just looked pretty closely at the Big Agnes and ended up deciding against it. He said the weight savings were negligible compared to similarly rated sierra designs bag, plus having to use the proprietary BA pad was a downside.

Bekologist, thanks for the info on feathered friends, it looks like a very nice cie to deal with... maybe a bit more pricey though.

Jonsam, the legs are simply folded inside.

Kesroberts, it is a problem but I wonder if it is possible to retrofit other sleeping pads to fit the Big Agnes.

Bekologist, thanks for the info on feathered friends, it looks like a very nice cie to deal with... maybe a bit more pricey though.

Jonsam, the legs are simply folded inside.

Kesroberts, it is a problem but I wonder if it is possible to retrofit other sleeping pads to fit the Big Agnes.

I have a Big Agnus. You don't have to use the Big Agnus pad. Any pad that is wide enough will fit in the sleeve on the bottom of the bag. The Thermorest pads I have fit in there nicely. That said, there are advantages to the Big Agnus pad. It is lighter and packs much smaller than a Thermorest. It's small enough that I carry the pad in the stuff sack with the bag. It is also thicker (by about an inch) then even the thickest Thermorest pad. The only downside is that you have to inflate it. But I've not found that to be a problem.

The Big Agnus bag is also very roomy. I have a Sierra Design 0F bag which is warm but very confining. The Agnus I have is a 30 F bag and it is nice and roomy. I wouldn't use it at high altitude but for warm weather camping it's a good bag.

try the exped out, its pretty narrow, but the concept is most excellent. I had a sleeping bag by marmot like that back in the early nineties, it was the rightous campground BOMB. Wake up and make coffee in your sleeping bag. middle of the night calls of nature, very ease.


i think it rocks, if you want one like that but bigger, feathered friends will make you a big one, the rock wren or the winter wren.

I went to MEC today and tried the exped wellcreeper (the synthetic version, not down) and its quite large! Much larger than my actual sleeping bag (which was of the lightest type you could buy 15 years ago, hence quite narrow). The more I looked at it, the more I thought it was a good idea. I love camping in the fall season but always find it hard to get out of the tent in the morning.

I love my Big Agnes Crystal. I can't sleep in traditional mummy bags because I end up rolling all night as I try and get additional but non-eistant leg room. With the BA, I am extremely warm and have all the leg room that I need.