Macpac

Sleeping Bag Design
Down Information
Temperature Rating Information
Sleeping Bag Fabrics
Choosing a Sleeping Bag


Sleeping Bag Design
Our starting point is to design sleeping bags that provide the best environment for a better night's sleep. Two factors are critical for a good night's sleep: warmth and comfort.

We crafted the optimal balance of sleeping bag elements (down, fabrics and technical design) to create the warmest and most comfortable sleep imaginable.

Factors contributing to warmth
Premium down carefully distributed in trapezoidal baffles; ergonomically tailored fit; differential cut; twin chamber directional draft tube; premium fabrics that keep you warm.

Factors contributing to comfort
Little things count so we have come up with: soft touch dome closure – no scratchy velcro; heat transfer labelling – no annoying tags around your face; soft touch recessed drawcords – for a soft snug closure; Through foot zippers – no more sweating feet and extra ventilation on those warmer nights, and the zipper construction that allows two bags to be zipped together.

Our sleeping bags have been independently tested to European standard EN 13537.

It's the little things we've considered in designing these bags from the inside out that ensure you get a better night's sleep. After all, the reason you want the warmest and most comfortable sleeping bag available is so you can rest your mind and body to go wherever your adventurous spirit takes you tomorrow.

Baffle construction
All of our sleeping bags are constructed using a trapezoidal baffling system, which delivers a higher degree of warmth and performance when compared to other baffling systems.

Consistent down distribution
The shape of the trapezoidal baffles and their interlocking nature deliver very stable structure. The result is a consistent distribution of down throughout the bag.

Reduced heat loss
In sleeping bags, where the stitching of a baffle wall comes in to contact with the outer of the bag you have a point of conductive heat loss. The offset nature of the walls of a trapezoid baffle minimise this heat loss keeping you warmer for longer.

Draft tube
A twin chamber directional draft tube has been designed to provide maximum efficiency in preventing heat loss through the zip closures.
The draft tube is fixed to the bag so that it lies in the same direction as, and extends past, the zip. This means when the zips come together the draft tube sits firmly across the zip, minimising draft and heat loss.

This unique system is more efficient and considerably less bulky than the traditional double draft tube configuration and minimises zipper snagging.

Down collars
Traditionally down collars have been manufactured using an inner lining fabric and the drawcord encased in a sleeve on the external surface of the collar. Macpac's new design overcomes the limitations of this design by providing a waterproof outer and a recessed drawcord that doesn't pull the collar out of shape, making it more comfortable next to your body.

The Sanctuary series feature a 3D down collar with a recessed draw cord. In this system the draw cord is located in a casing, which is sewn to the internal wall of the bag behind the down collar. When the cord is tightened it works to reduce the overall circumference of the bag providing a soft and snug closure.

The Latitude and Escapade series feature a 2D down collar incorporating soft touch draw cord.

Soft touch drawcord
Soft touch draw cords are used in the down collar and hood closures of most Macpac sleeping bags. The Soft Touch System wraps the draw cord casings in Polar-guard polyester batting to provide a soft and comfortable surround.
For ease of operation all our bags use silicon coated nylon in their draw cord casings.

Down Information

Down keeps you comfortable while you sleep by trapping warm air, heated by your body, within the down plumules. The down plumules form pockets of warm air, which surround you, keeping you insulated and comfortable. The quality of the down is the crucial factor that determines how well your bag will perform. The quality of down is measured by a variety of standards, the most important being fill power which measures loft. Loft is the ability of down to expand and fill the space in your sleeping bag baffles. The greater the loft of the down, the greater the insulating performance.

We have selected different types of down for each type of bag to deliver optimum performance and comfort

Down in Your Macpac Sleeping Bags
Macpac has carefully sourced our down to ensure premium loft, warmth and durability.
Our goose down is of the highest quality. Birds matured naturally in the harsh mountain climates produce down with well-developed and robust plume structures, providing excellent loft and resilience.
The Down in each of our range of bags are:

A number of factors affect your sleeping temperature, apart from the design and construction of your sleeping bag – therefore rating the warmth of sleeping bags is dependent on a number of factors.

Some of the factors affecting your sleeping temperature are:
• Your overall health and personal metabolism
• What you have eaten before you sleep
• Whether or not you had a high-energy day
• The degree of shelter, humidity and altitude
• Whether you are using an effective insulating mat

Temperature Rating Information

The temperature ratings of the sleeping bag are an indication of the minimum temperature that the bag will operate to.
Our down sleeping bags have been independently tested to European standard EN 13537.

Temperature of comfort
Lower limit of comfort range. The temperature at which the person in the sleeping bag is in thermal equilibrium; not feeling cold throughout the entire body. (reference: standard woman in standard conditions; in relaxed posture, such as lying on back).

Temperature of limit of comfort
Lower limit of comfort range. The temperature at which the person in the sleeping bag is in thermal equilibrium; not feeling cold throughout the entire body. (reference: standard man in ’fighting against cold' situation; such as rolled up body posture).

Extreme comfort
Lower temperature extreme where the risk of hypothermia occurs. Situation of high cold stress, which can be maintained for a limited duration of six hours. (reference: standard woman in standard conditions of use; rolled up in the bag to minimise thermal loss through the sleeping bag).

Sleeping Bag Fabrics

Reflex™ LoftPro™

Reflex™ LoftPro™ combines a lightweight 30 denier nylon face fabric with a highly water resistant, windproof and breathable membrane to deliver the necessary protection for your sleeping bag's insulation, even in extreme conditions.

30D VapourLite™
30D VapourLite™ fabric is extremely breathable and highly water repellent. The long lasting water repellant treatment applied to 30D VapourLite™ sheds water over the life of your bag. The ripstop construction and 30 denier yarn create a strong but lightweight fabric (43 gm2).

30D Nylon Taffeta
30D Nylon Taffeta is a high density 30 denier lightweight and highly breathable taffeta fabric.