Alpkit Pipedream 400...loft issue?

[ateallthepies]

Just received some gear from Alpkit and would like a bit of advice please?

The issue is with the down filling or lack of it in the torso area. The underneath is worse than the top. There is plenty of loft in the hood area then from the neck down to the belly it diminishes then in the leg area it is OK again and the foot area is very good.

This being my first down bag I'm not sure what's what but do realise this is the lightest bag with the least fill but something just does not seem right. I have tried to re-distribute down around the baffles but there doesn't seem to be much there to begin with?

I weighed my bag with it compressed into the light weight stuff bag and got 769 grams which would be about right as the spec states 750 gram bag weight plus the stuff sack so wonder if I'm being too critical?

Have not contacted Alpkit yet as I wanted some advice from users here first who may have had similar concerns.

Thanks,

Steve.

 

[Pierr]

The underneath has less filling by design. The thinking is that down underneath the body gets compressed and does not isolate anyway. That's your mat's job. Quilts push that to the extreme since there is no insulation underneath at all - and they work very well.

What sounds more surprising is that, if I understand your description all right, the belly would have less insulation on the upper side.

 

[Shewie]

Send it back to Alpkit mate, if it's a dodgy one which has slipped under the QC standards then they'll swap it for you. They have had a few issues with the production runs out in China.

I've had nothing other than good service from Alpkit over the years so I'd expect them to sort it out for you.

I've got both the PD 400 & 600 and haven't noticed anything like what you describe.

 

[ateallthepies]

Ta for the replies,

Maybe it is just me and not knowing what a down bag feels like? Seems a very un-substantial amount of filling so maybe it's normal? It does have loft everywhere of at least an inch at minimum to several at most.

I get the bit about the underneath as it will be compressed by bodyweight and you loose the insulation properties when compressed and the foot end having more fill could be to protect the extremities more?

Guess I will have to use it and see if it's OK before I complain as it could be purely my inexperience and the thing is normal?

Steve.

 

[Shewie]

I'd ask them anyway mate, they're a good bunch of guys who'll be happy to help.

Give them a bell and put your mind at rest

 

[BillyBlade]

I think Shewie is on the money here. I have an Alpkit bag, and it's nothing like you describe.

I'd be on the phone I think.

 

[kiltedpict]

I have two Alpkit bags and they both have equal fill all over. Their customer service is renowned for its high standard!

ATB

KP

 

[ateallthepies]

Yes think I will ring them. Took some pics to show you what I mean...

Loft is 4 inches at chest to 7 inches at feet!

Steve.

 

[bikething]

Is it loft at the foot end? or just the shape of the bag - On my skyhigh 1000 the foot is box-shaped to allow room for your feet

 

[ateallthepies]

Not sure if the bag has a foot box but it looks like it does and it is very well insulated and definitely has the most down and loft from foot to thigh then it gets less to the neck?

I have tried pressing with my hand with the same pressure at the foot, thigh and chest area and definitely it feels like there is less down higher up? Also I tried dropping a 1 pound weight from an inch above the bag and it instantly bottomed out at chest height but still had 4 inches of loft underneath at the foot end. Very scientific test I know!

Have sent Alpkit an email so will see what they say, tried several times to phone today and got no one in. I really like the bag apart from the loft issue. Perhaps they thought they were filling an 800 at the foot end and realised it was the 400 model at the head end? So I could have extra stuffing for free but I wonder if I send it back will I get one back that has less filling all over

Steve.

 

[Shewie]

The 400 isn't overly fluffy, compared side by side to my 600 it's half the bag

Mine's airing out after the weeks trip so I'll try and get some pics tomorrow

 

[ateallthepies]

Thanks, I would appreciate some pics from a fellow user.

I know pics can lie but my bag looks nothing like the one in the Alpkit pictures on their site http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16415&category_id=286 . Their 400 shows a very plump bag with a sort of oval cross section throughout. Mine has this plumpness at the top and bottom baffle ONLY and the rest is flat?

Some better pics of mine...

Steve.

 

[Shewie]

Now you've taken those other shots it looks exactly the same as mine, the footbox and neck baffle give it that uneven looking shape.

Maybe you were expecting the kind of loft of a 4 season bag? Have you used the 400 much yet? It was frosty on Wednesday night when I was out and I was still toasty warm.

 

[ateallthepies]

Well I used it last night and the forecast was about 7- 10 degrees C and I was warm enough so not a good test.

My main concern was with the apparent lack of fill in the three baffles below that puffy neck one, there is no doubt there is quite a lot less down in them. The rest of the bag is OK and hearing yours is the same clears up some of my concerns.

It's hard to explain but another half a pint or so of down in each of those three baffles and I would not have found any issues at all but it was something I noticed straight away. If this is a normal bag then will I have to just deal with it I suppose?


Steve.

 

[Col_M]

Now you have photos up it looks ok to me.
If you look at most 20F (-7C) quilts from across the pond they have about 2.5" of loft. The chest area in your photos is 4", if we assume the the loft is 2" on the top and bottom that sounds about right to me for a -3C rated bag (you mentioned that the bottom of the bag is thinner than the top so the top should be more insulation, I was just simplifying things).

 

[ateallthepies]

Thanks everyone for the input, I think I may of been panicking thinking I had a Friday afternoon bag! Will still speak to Alpkit on Monday as I already emailed them, so as to clear things up.

I think maybe I was expecting too much loft from a 400 gram filled light-weight bag? Not having used down before and only using cheap synthetic bags that weigh a ton it just seemed un-substantial at the time.

Trust the weather to turn into a mini-heatwave just when I need a bit of cold to do some testing!! Will have to go down the local Butchers at this rate and ask to have a kip in the meat cold-store Still, I'm going to Wales camping next weekend so will get to test it there?

I really like the kit from Alpit, I got the PD 400 bag, a Hunka bivi, 8 litre Air-loc xtra bag and a Airo Mat.

I tried the bag and mat in the bivi and while snug was fine for me a 5ft 10" 13.5 stone lad. No room for any other kit though and if needed will have to get the Hunka XL but they were out of stock.

The PD 400 bag and Hunka easily stuffed into the 8 litre Air-loc bag. Was thinking of getting a 13 litre bag so as to stuff the mat, bag and bivi all in one but they are out of stock again.

I even went mad and ordered last night the 30 litre stealthy Gourdon day bag and a 5 litre air-loc xtra bag. My thinking is that the PD 400 and Hunka will be in the 8 litre bag, the mat will be in the 5 litre bag and the rest of my kit in the Gouron? Will have to find a secure way of attaching the three bags together then I will have a waterproof hiking set-up.

All in all the sleeping bag, mat, rucksack and bivi including the dry bags will weigh in at 2492 grams or 5.4 pounds add another pound or two for a tarp/tent, haven't decided what to go for yet, and there you have my base pack weight? Does this seem OK, not trying for ultralight as it just costs too much but for a couple of nights away it ain't too bad is it?

Now I gotta go through all my other kit and try to think what I need but that can be another thread.

Steve.