PHD - Sleeping Bags

[ranger]

Have any of you experience of a Company called PHD (Peter Hutchinson Designs)? I’m pondering getting a new sleeping bag (a Minim 400) and they offer a sort of bespoke service in that you can have one of their bags adapted to your own requirements, i.e. have it made with a central zip, or double zip and have internal pockets added, choose colour etc.

I was initially thinking of a central zip, but after speaking to someone in a respected independent outdoor shop, who does a lot of camping in mountainous environments, I was advised that this is the most thermally inefficient zipping placement on a sleeping bag. I am now veering towards the double zip option as on the military Nanok bags.

I’d be glad to hear of any of your opinions of this bag/experience with this company, and views on zip placement.

Thanks

 

[Ed]

Stuart is your man for this, he has a couple of custom builds from them. They are superb bags, excellent quality down and materials. They use down with a fill power upto 800 which you wont find in most bags, and has an excellent temperature to weight ratio (stuarts goes down to about -8 and weighs about 800g :yikes
Probably the best bags I have seen in the UK. Alot of money... I wish I could afford one, but you do get what you pay for.


Ed

 

[tenbears10]

What about Mtn Equipment extreme range? They do 800 fill power I think (just ceecked and it is 700+). I don't know how much PHD are but I would think silly money if they are custom made. Rab do special projects, I think, so you could get a couple of quotes.

Bill

 

[tomtom]

Rab do are great bags, especially their compression system i have not seen rivaled!.. and there are lots of other great bags around.. as bill says theres Mountain Equipment too and nanook and snugpak all making great bags.. have a good look round before you order a custom bag as they have a large range between them and i will be surprised if you cant find something to suit your needs..

on the subjects of custom bags i know Stuart has at least one custom bag.. drop him a PM it might well be it was by PHD i shouldn't think there are many custom sleeping bag companys around!

 

[Stuart]

Hi ranger

I have a custom PHD minim 600 with a waterproof breathable outer which is good to -13 and weights under 1 kilo (close Ed )

The quality of PHD bags is unsurpassed and will not disappoint, if you can afford it there is nothing better in my opinion.

On the subject of zips, my custom bags were made without zips I prefer not to have them at all.
It removes the hassle of snagging or failer and saves a great deal of weight whilst improving insulation.

Rab do are great bags, especially their compression system I have not seen rivalled

The rab bags are very good, however DO NOT use a compression system on down. Compressing down by force will damage it, and remember to store the bag loose.

 

[tomtom]

my rab bag is stored in a big cotton thing about twice the size of a pillowcase most of the time but it is compressed when im in the feild and its a down bag :shock:

 

[ranger]

Thanks chaps. Originally I was thinking of buying a Rab Quontum 400, however, they are not able to supply the bag with either double zips or a central zip. Believe it or not the cost differential on a double zip PHD bag, to the same spec as the Rab I was considering is only £20.

 

[Stuart]

my rab bag is stored in a big cotton thing about twice the size of a pillowcase most of the time but it is compressed when im in the feild and its a down bag :shock:

storing the sleeping bag in a big cotton bag is ideal for storage but using a compression system which utilizes straps to compress the bag will damage the down, just put it into a stuff sack by hand

 

[tomtom]

huum but they supplied it :?:
i will look in to trying something else!

 

[ranger]

How do you store your bag when you're using it Stuart?

 

[Stuart]

packed in the bottom of my drybag by hand or else just packed into a normal stuff sack by hand

 

[ranger]

Sorry to keep pestering you Stuart, but how do you find using bags without zips? I primarily want to use the bag as a year round bag in the UK, and especially in the summer if it’s very warm I rather liked the option of either a central zip to open out the bag or the double zip set up as on the Nanok mil spec bags. Further, do you think the central zip option is thermally inefficient for winter use?

Thanks
ranger