Crux Sleeping Bag Update

In our recent report on the new Crux eVent shelled sleeping bags, we were a tad dubious about the zip used on the sample we saw - it looked like an ordinary, decidedly non-water resistant zip, but it looks like we were wrong and the zip on the bag is actually highly water resistant after all.

The production sleeping bags use the Swiss-made Riri Aquazip, which works along quite different lines to the more common YKK PU-coated zips. The latter, says Crux, leave a small enough gap for water to get in and, with use, the action of the zipper can eventually abrades the PU coating reducing water resistance further.

The zip on the sample we saw - highly water resistant for production.

The Riri zip on the other hand, is made from plastic moulded teeth that actually mesh together and form a seal that's far more water resistant than the coil zips used elsewhere. On top of that, the zip slider only contact the teeth so avoids abrading the PU coating.

That means that the Crux Torpedo bags should be much more water resistant than we first thought making them a more viable alternative to a bivvy bag / sleeping bag combination. Our reservations about the hood coverage still hold good, but as an all-in-one mountaineering rather than rain-resistant solution, we think the Torpedo looks like an interesting option.

Interestingly the same zip is going to be used on a new Crux waterproof eVent jacket called the Torq due out this winter. It's a similar design to the existing Flak jacket, but with handwarmer-type rather than Napoleon pockets making it slightly more versatile for more general mountain use.

More zip details at www.crux.uk.com