Quest

• ‘Comfort’ rating is based on a ‘standard’ woman having a comfortable night’s sleep.
• ‘Limit of comfort’ is based on the lowest temperature at which a ‘standard’ man is deemed to be able to have a comfortable night’s sleep. This is the figure we use in our product descriptions.
• ‘Extreme’ rating is a survival rating for a ‘standard’ woman. According to ISO 23537-1, ‘a strong sensation of cold has to be expected and there is a risk of health damage due to hypothermia’. This is a survival rating only, and consumers should not rely on this rating for general use. The best guidelines are the comfort and limit of comfort ratings.

As a general rule, our sleeping bags are a little roomier than other brands.

The Quest quilts are filled with our 700-750 loft Hydrophobic Down.

700-750 loft Hydrophobic duck down is our best value down, used for applications where minimum weight and packed size are not critical.

Down is the best insulation for lightweight sleeping bags due to its loft, compressibility and durability. However, this golden fibre has a failing: its ability to insulate drastically decreases when it is wet.

The solution is now here – Hydrophobic Down. This down has been selected to meet our rigorous standards, with a durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment applied after the cleaning and sorting process.

The benefits of Hydrophobic Down are:

• It absorbs less water in damp conditions
• It retains higher loft (insulation) in damp conditions
• It dries faster

Ethically sourced down
Our down is ethically sourced, harvested and cleaned before purchase, with both the down and our supplier passing independent International Down and Feather Laboratory (IDFL) audits relating to ethical traceability. This means that the white down and feathers we purchase are from animals that haven’t been live plucked or force-fed at any point during the supply chain.

The IDFL has been around almost 40 years and has a solid base in China, from where around 75% of the global supply of down is sourced. There are more details on the IDFL here: www.idfl.com/whytest

Care:

Storage and stuff sacks

Your sleeping bag is delivered in a stuff sack, as this is easiest way to transport it. However, it should not be stored in its stuff sack long-term as this compresses the fill material and may cause damage. Hang the bag in your wardrobe over a large hanger, in the supplied storage bag, an old pillowslip or flat under your bed.

When putting your sleeping bag in its stuff sack, do as its name suggests! Don’t roll or fold it, simply stuff it in with your fist, pushing it down to the bottom of the sack. This allows the fill to settle in pockets rather than being squashed flat.

Be careful not to place excessive force on the compression straps. Compress the bag first, then tighten the straps.

Don’t over-compress your sleeping bag. If it is compressed too much, the small feather content can be forced through the sleeping bag’s shell. This fill leakage won’t affect the performance of the bag; it is more a nuisance or cosmetic problem. However, storing your bag in a highly compressed state for long periods will permanently damage the fill material, resulting in an inferior performance.

Cleaning your sleeping bag

Washing a sleeping bag can be a daunting process. However, your bag will perform better for longer if it is kept clean. There are two ways to do this:

Use a professional

This is the easiest way to get your bag clean. ONE PLANET don’t just make the bags, we look after them, too. Send your dirty, bedraggled bag to us and it will come back fresh, clean and fluffy. Too easy! Contact ONE PLANET by email or phone for further details on our services.

If using another professional service, ensure they specialise in cleaning down products.

DIY sleeping bag washing

• Fill a bath with enough warm water to cover your sleeping bag and add a small amount of non-detergent soap. (We use and recommend Nikwax Down Wash.) Be very gentle with your bag when it is laden with water and do not lift it clear of the water.
• Gently massage the bag, pressing down with your open hands, until the fill material is saturated.
• Leave to soak for one to four hours, depending on the dirtiness of the bag. Drain the water from the bath, add fresh, warm water and repeat the gentle massage.
• Continue draining and adding fresh, warm water until all the suds have been removed and the water is clear.
• Drain the bath and, without moving the bag, press water out of the fill material until it has all gone and the bag is merely damp.
• Fold the damp bag into a bundle so you can manage it by yourself without letting it sag.
• Lay the bag in a clean, shady spot and open it out.
• Regularly massage and separate the drying fill material until an even loft is achieved.
• In cold, wet or humid weather, the bag may be placed in a small room with a heat source to aid drying. Remember to separate the fill material regularly.
• A sleeping bag with natural fill will take several days to dry completely. It is important to have good air flow around the bag, and it should be moved regularly to assist the drying process.
• Finish the process by tumble-drying the sleeping bag on low in a commercial-sized tumble drier. It is very important to keep the temperature low so you don’t cook your bag.