AlpKit PipeDream 400 Sleeping Bag - First Look

AlpKit PipeDream 400 First Look

Price: £100

Weight: 768 grammes (bag only) / Quantum stuff-sac 9 grammes / Compression bag 86 grammes

Features Lightweight sleeping bag with 400 grammes of 90/10 700+ (European scale) full power white goose down, Pertex Quantum fabric, box-wall construction, hood with elasticated draw-cord, two-way YKK half-length side-zip, zip and chest baffles, 400 version comes complete with cotton storage bag, compression sac and Pertex Quantum Stuff-sac. Comfort rated down to -3 C. 600 version also available with full-length zip but without Quantum stuff sac.

Light, compact, effective and great value. Hood needs refining, which AlpKit themselves point out.

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The Concept AlpKit's original Alpine Dream sleeping bags were great value, decent spec' all-round bags, the new PipeDream models - the 400 and 600 - take things a stage further by using super-lightweight Pertex Quantum fabric and a snugger cut to reduce weight.

As with the AD bags, the AlpKit guys have used top grade 700+ fill power white goose down, but because they sell direct from their own web site, there's no retail margin, making the new bags great value for money.

To put that in perspective, the Rab Quantum 400, which weighs in at 900 grammes, uses the same Quantum fabric and costs around double the price of the PipeDream 400. The Rab bag uses better spec 96% pure white goose down with a fill power of 750+EU/850+US. The cut of the bag is arguably more sophisticated, but it gives you an idea of what good value the PipeDream is.

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Features Super-lightweight, silky Pertex Quantum fabric wrapped around a soft inner filling of 90 per-cent, 700+ fill power white goose down. Box-wall construction, a half-zip with a two-way zipper so you can remain tied in while in the sleeping bag, a hood with an elasticated zipper, down-filled zipper-baffle, classic mummy shape - six horizontal box wall baffles, seven vertical hood baffles and three foot baffles.

There's nothing extraordinary, it's all proven sleeping bag technology, but without cunning elasticated linings or differentially-cut foot sections.

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In Action Sleeping bags are always hard to test in comparative terms, but we can already tell you much of what you need to know about the PipeDream 400.

Based on a couple of months of use, it's light, packs down really well, lofts well and is nice and warm for its weight and bulk, which is basically what it says on the tin. That makes it ideal for lightpacking, adventure racing - if that's your thing - and lightweight alpinism, if you like the idea of going light and fast. It's also worth noting that while we haven't felt the need to tie into our tent, you can use the two-way half-zip to remain tied in to the rope while on exposed bivvy platforms.

The zip also gives you a handy venting option and makes the bag useable in milder spring/summer conditions, though you might find your feet getting a tad toasted in a proper heat-wave, but hey, that's life.

The fit of the bag is snug without being tight and we didn't get that nasty, restrictive feeling some lightweight bags major in. The silky soft Quantum fabric feels nice against the skin too, though we'd suggest using a lightweight liner to keep things clean and sweet smelling.

The Pertex Quantum stuff sac at a mere nine grammes is a nice touch for weight freaks - 400 version only - and saves 77 grammes over the robust four-way compression sac without any significant bulk penalty.

Downsides? Like all down bags without a water-proof or seriously water-resistant fabric, you'll need to keep things dry or lose performance in a clumping together, wet porridge sort of way. If you have big feet, you may find the toe box tight, it was fine with our 43s / UK 9s though. And the hood, while it will keep you warm, is a tad unsophisticated and voluminous, though next year's version will be updated slightly.

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Initial Verdict

Based on our initial impressions, AlpKit has done it again with a great value lightweight sleeping bag that does everything you'd expect it to. By cutting out the retailer, designing their own products and sourcing direct from the factory, you get a quality product at a great price.

The materials are all pukka stuff and the design, while it's hardly revolutionary, is based on proven principles and well executed. You can pay a lot more and get a more sophisticated bag using higher spec down, but whether you'd feel the difference in most situations is questionable.

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AlpKit web site

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