NEW DIMENDION OF DOWN – ABOUT YET’S COOPERATION WITH THE INDEPENDENT TESTING GROUP

In the beginning of 2011 we decided for a new opening in the Internet. We have launched new website, with an English version, we have entered Facebook as well. We have contacted the Independent Testing Group (NGT) in order to get permission to set up a company account on the forum. In that time we didn’t realize how profound and excellent the fruits of this collaboration were going to be.

In the answer to the inquiry which we had sent we received a message from one of the NGT administrators. Szczepan Dobrowolski, under a nick ‘Braavosi’ on the forum, offered us a cooperation in preparing a new type of summer sleeping bag – meant specially for the users of NTG portal. After a short exchange of e-mails, clarifying the expectations and conditions of the cooperation, we decided to take part in the project.

It was a unique opportunity to create a sleeping bag together with its users. Listening to their needs and ideas we tried to propose something that would best answer their expectations. At first we proposed two variants. First – a minimalistic sleeping bag without a hood or a zipper. Second variant was based on our Pure 0 sleeping bag and was meant to have both a hood and a zipper, as well as feet ventilation. After presenting our draft projects on the forum there were many contradictory opinions. Although the cooperation predicted creating only one bag we soon decided to do the minimalistic version as well as the more advanced. Basing on the further conclusions and the forum users’ ideas we have prepared two projects visible below.

The minimalistic version was named ZERO+NGT.pl

Tube = sleeping bag + coverlet The sleeping bag is tube-shaped. It allows us to use it as an additional warming bag, or to undo it and treat as a coverlet. Collar = thermals In hoodless sleeping bags sustaining the right thermals is the biggest challenge. Because of this the collar has been equipped with a welt and a down trimming surrounding it. Thanks to that it is possible to control the loose of warmth from the sleeping bag. Pocket Originally the pocket, besides its normal functions, was supposed to be a cover for the sleeping bag. In progress of tests and designing, together with the ITG, we have decided to resign of this solution. L-shaped zipper = ventilation One of the main assumptions was good ventilation of feet. We thought about solving it by using an L-shaped zipper which allows to undo the sleeping bag to a coverlet.

The version with a hood was named 1+NGT.pl

Light hood = cushion + cover The main difference between these two versions is the introduction of a hood in the second one. The hood is not filled with down however it has a pocket which serves two purposes. First – after putting a fleece/blouse/sweater into it the hood becomes a cushion. Second function – the pocket serves also as a cover for a folded sleeping bag. L-shaped zipper = ventilation Similarly to the ZERO+ sleeping bag its L-shaped zipper secures good feet ventilation. Fastening tapes = no more sleeping on leaves This particular solution was introduced for the request of the users who claim that “they always wake up on leaves”. Now, thanks to little loops, they can attach their sleeping bags to the sleeping mat and wake up where they have fall asleep. Fastening tapes are in both bags.

Our projects were well received on the forum. There was nothing else to do but to prepare the prototypes and send them to testers chosen by the ITG administration. They were people involved in the project from the start, with a great knowledge of the equipment and outdoor experience. For us, as a company, this was the deciding moment. New materials and solutions had to pass their tests in various conditions. We knew that no one was going to spare those sleeping bags any trouble and even the slightest flaw was going to be detected by the experienced users. The testers were the users nicked: Bravossi, PRS, gumibear, ptb, animal and Doczu. For the whole holiday season the bags have undergone all sorts of trails – from sleeping inside a tent, on cones , on a boat, down to sleeping in a cave with 100% humidity. Moreover, they were used as a dogs’ sleeping place and were repeatedly soaked by rain and dried afterwards. All this test were challenging not only the materials used to sew the sleeping bag but also the down.

After the tests each tester had to rate the sleeping bags in 4 categories: thermals, materials, realization and introduced solutions such as the little loops (fastening tapes) or the cushion. The grades were granted in 1-6 range, where 6 meant the highest grade.

As it can be seen the sleeping bags were well received by the testers of the Independent Testing Group. Each tester kept reporting his findings on the forum during the time of tests. The notions and remarks were discussed together with all other users of the forum. Together, although not unanimously, it was decided that the ZERO+NGT.pl bag should be made narrower from the hips down, which we did. As a matter of fact that was the only remark of a bigger importance for the final shape of the products. Other comments concerned with things such as enlargement of a zipper protecting flap by 1,5 cm. Specially much attention was paid to the ZERO+ sleeping bag’s thermals both on the test and on the forum. The bag, as out of definition, does not protect the head and shoulders only partially. It should be noted that it is a typically summer or additional sleeping bag. However we decided to meet the forum users’ expectations and we added extra 50 grams of down to the bag.

Summing up, the sleeping bags have passed their test, which is confirmed by the forum’s posts – we present here only some of them (we have kept the original wording):

Author: Doczu
‘The sleeping bag hasn’t caught any moisture (humidity c.100% - drizzle)’
‘The integrated cover is brilliant.’

Autor: Doczu
‘The thermal flap is finished with trimming thanks to that you don’t have to try hard to close the sleeping bag. It all happens with one stroke of the zipper. SENSATIONAL!’
‘I also noticed that the inner fabric doesn’t stick to the body’
‘After few minutes I shook down the water and put it on to the sun, after c. 2 minutes there were no traces of it on the bag. The moisture just vanished on my eyes.’

Author: animal
‘As to the materials much has been said already on the subject and I totally agree with all my predecessors. The bag makes a very good impression if not ideal. The materials – organoleptically – first class! And when you go into the bag it feels as if you were in a little light and cosy nest’

Author: gumibear
‘The questions of underlining, quality, new solutions, etc. are answered in perfect and refine way.’

Author: bravossi
‘In my opinion it is a ready and thought-out product. The changes that can be introduced are only cosmetic.’

After the test phase the time had come for the final work on the details. In ZERO+ sleeping bag we worked on the esthetics and introduced pistachio coloured zippers. In both bags, going after a user’s suggestion, the mat fastening tapes are reflective which makes fastening the bag in poor light conditions considerably easier.

The project as a whole was a very important and interesting challenge. Thanks to the ongoing and fruitful cooperation with the Independent Testing Group forum users we managed to create unique sleeping bags fitting the specific requirements of experienced users. We want to thank the forum’s administrators and the users for the past cooperation and the time devoted to realize the project.